Gareth GatesDancing on Ice star Gareth Gates has expressed regret for how his pop career was handled after he competed on Pop Idol in 2001.

Gareth competed in the first series of the talent show - which spawned countless imitators - and came in second place overall, losing out in the final to Will Young. His first single, a cover of ‘Unchained Melody’, was a double-platinum selling hit and chosen as ‘Record of the Year’ of 2002 and his first two albums achieved a high level of commercial success, but by 2003 his success was waning and he was eventually dumped by his record label BMG.

Now hoping for a pop comeback after competing on the ice-skating show, he said recently: “Of course I have regrets [about how my career was handled] but we were the first and let’s just say it was not my plan to sing those songs.”

“My advice would be stick to your guns if you believe in your music.”