Duncan James, Jon Lee and Gareth Gates join forces for Comic Relief supergroup Boys Allowed. The boys will dress up as Girls Aloud to perform their hit track Biology. The former boyband members are getting together to form Boys Allowed, in aid of this year’s Comic Relief. Following in the footsteps of McBusted and Boyzlife, the new group will also be made up of 5ive’s Ritchie Neville and Phats & Small star Ben Ofoedu. In a rather random twist, the singers will be dressing up as Girls Aloud as part of the BBC’s Let’s Sing and Dance For Comic Relief, performing hit song Biology. “This is a dream come true for 90s pop fans,” a source told The Sun. “The Girls Aloud cover will be great entertainment but hopefully it will not be their only performance.” The insider added: “Imagine how much fun it would be if the lads stuck together for a full tour.” “With five of the most memorable British pop stars from the past two evades together it’s going to be a proper nostalgia trip.” Speaking about the new gig, James said: “It’s such a great cause and looking forward to wearing heels again, which I haven’t done since my injury. It should be like riding a bike…I hope.”
– standard.co.uk

Alongside the outstanding songs from the 1950s and before, there is also humour. The humour really does make the show as the audience are left laughing so hard that their faces hurt, with comic moments that you just do not expect. ‘The Plaids’ have a hard time remembering the set list, the songs, the words and the moves, but alongside the awkwardness, the messing around and the shyness is the music. The songs that are chosen for Forever Plaid are not necessarily ones you will know but there are a fair few catchy numbers that will stay with you long after leaving the theatre. Tracks that stood out were the well built up ‘Perfidia’, the funny ‘Crazy ‘Bout You Baby’ and I have to mention the ever impressive Jon Lee’s vocals in ‘Cry’. Jon’s character Jinx is extremely shy but when he sings the change is outstanding.

As the show carries on you see each of the guys growing in stature at having performed the songs they have loved for so long. ‘The Plaids’ take on the Beatles classic ‘She Loves you’ was impressive and extremely well arranged and performed.

A beautiful night of music and humour that will have you laughing from the get go – so much so that your cheeks will hurt once the interval kicks in. Mesmerizing vocals that are consistent throughout and humour that will have you forgetting all your personal woes and struggles. The stunning piano arrangement was by Anthony Gabriele.
– Review by Hayley Thorpe for londontheatre1.com

Jon Lee is currently starring in Forever Plaid at the St James Studio. His previous credits include Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys (Prince Edward Theatre) and Marius in Les Miserables (Palace and Queen’s Theatre). He is also well known for being an original member of S Club 7. We caught up with Jon and asked him: “If you were stranded on a desert island, which five showtunes could you not live without?”

1. “Who Will Buy” from Oliver!
– This was my very first job when I was 12 and it really cemented that this was what I wanted to be doing as a career. I have so many great memories from this show and still have some amazing friends from this production 22 years ago.

2. “Mame” from Mame
– This is my favourite musical of all time. It’s such a brilliant, funny, touching and hugely entertaining show. I was lucky enough to do a BBC Radio 4 production as a kid playing opposite Julia McKenzie as Mame.

3. “A Heart Full of Love” from Les Miserables
– Another show that has been a big part of my life, from my parents taking me to see it as a child to playing Marius at the Palace and Queens theatres.

4. “Fallen Angel” from Jersey Boys
I’d been a massive fan of The Four Seasons music all my life so it was a real honour to play Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys for three years and get to meet the man himself. It was also the inspiration and title song for my first solo album.

5. “Love is a many Splendored Thing” from Forever Plaid
This is the finale song for my current show which I just love. The harmonies and melodies from this era of music are just beautiful. I’m having a ball being part of the cast and can’t wait to open at the St James Theatre Studio next week.
– whatsonstage.com

| 06 | Forever Plaid / Claire Bilyard (Jon – Photoshoots/Scans)

Jon was placed at #90 in Attitude Magazine’s Hot 100 list!