TOTP PRESENTS. . . STEPHEN GATELY

Stephen's gone solo and in his first outing to the Pops without the other boys we caught up with the Gatester to find out how he's doing!

TOTP+: Stephen, how's it been doing TOTP on your own - is it different?

SG: It's definitely different not having four other guys to bump into on stage - it's different, but it's good.

TOTP+: Your single came in at No.3 - are you disappointed it didn't come in at No.1?

SG: A little bit, but I'm very happy with No.3 - anything less and I would have killed myself! It was a very difficult week. I've got the album coming out and I think people are waiting for the album, which is out on 19 June.

TOTP+: What's on the album and will there be any duets on it?

SG: There's some ballads on it, some uptempo songs and some R&B. But there's lots of pop music on it because that's what I love, but with a little bit of an edge. I've worked with some fantastic people - I went to Sweden, New York and England. I've collaborated with the same people who've worked with 'N Sync, Britney, 98 Degrees and Ronan Keating.

TOTP+: How much material did you write on the album?

SG: I think it's important that you write some of your own stuff and I wrote as much as I possibly could. I've got a couple of songs on the album.

TOTP+: Given your Boyzone commitments, how far can you take this solo career - will you be able to tour?

SG: Hopefully, if this album goes huge, then I'll be on the road - I'd love to do a tour. I'm enjoying the success with this single, but I'm hoping the second one will be a nice ballad from a movie soundtrack.

TOTP+: Is that single from the movie 'A Monkey's Tale'?

SG: I was supposed to be doing that, but Westlife robbed the song and robbed the movie as well! So, I'm not doing that anymore.

TOTP+: How did they tell you that you weren't doing that single anymore?

SG: Well, actually I read a magazine and saw a piece saying Westlife were doing it. I had even done work on the song, but it's all record company politics! It's fine, because the movie I've done a song for is a fantastic and it got a standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival. 'A Monkey's Tale' is gonna flop anyway (laughs)! Only kidding, it's a good movie!

TOTP+: 'A Monkey's Tale' is a cartoon movie - you like cartoons don't you?

SG: I love Disney, anything by Disney, like 'The Lion King'. The stage show is amazing!

TOTP+: Now, rumour has it that you'll be doing a duet with your boyfriend, Eloy for his new album?

SG: No, but I wouldn't rule it out. I wouldn't do a big slushy ballad. I might end up writing for his album, but I don't know whether we'd do a duet. If we did do a duet, we'd do something very clever, nothing too camp!

TOTP+: Your single, 'New Beginning' is very personal isn't it?

SG: I think people are reading too much into the title. With the title, a lot of people can relate to it - it has different meanings for different people - new day, a new beginning, a new baby, a new job, a holiday, moving abroad, whatever. I just wanted people to enjoy the song.