Gates has 'no plans' for new album

Gareth Gates has confirmed that he has no plans to record a fourth album in the near future.

The Pop Idol runner-up has vowed to concentrate on theatre work after securing the lead role in the West End version of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

Asked if he is plotting a return to music in an interview with the Daily Mail, Gates replied: "No. Maybe in the future I will. I'm just really pleased I've got this role. It's what I've wanted since I could sing. When I rang my dad to tell him I'd got the part, he said, 'I'm more happy about this than I was when you were in Pop Idol.' For him, it's really, really big."

Gates was dropped by Simon Cowell's record company following disappointing sales of his second album Go Your Own Way in 2003. He later released a third disc, Pictures of the Other Side, on the UMTV label.

"Simon and I never argued. I had lots of success with his record company, but, in truth, it wasn't as the artist I wanted to be for the rest of my life," he explained. "I wanted to be happy with the music I was making - not feel a little bit embarrassed when it was on the radio."

Gates makes his debut as Joseph next month.