Former Pop Idol star Gareth had a hair transplant in 2017 but is worried he might need another one
Gareth Gates is reportedly under so much pressure following his split from Faye Brookes that he’s worrying about his hair falling out again.
The former pop star has been going through a high-profile break up from Coronation Street’s Faye, following rumours of “jealous rows” and his “controlling behaviour”.
And Gareth has been feeling so hard done by that he’s become even more fixated than usual on his hair, following his hair transplant in 2017.
"Gareth is very twitchy about his hair and is constantly adjusting and styling it,” a source told The Sun.
"He’s worried that the stress and strain of all this business with Faye will mean that the work of the surgeons will fail and he’ll have to go under the knife again."
Gareth shot to fame in 2002 and quickly became known for his noughties-style spikey hair do, but in recent years shared his dismay at his thinning mop.
CHECK OUT Pop Idol 2002 - then and now
Pop Idol series 1: Where are they now?
1 of 12Will Young
Will obviously beat Gareth Gates in the final and went on to release a string of massive singles including Light My Fire and Leave Right Now. He released a greatest hits album in 2009 and just missed out on a spot on The Voice UK panel to The Script's Danny O'Donoghue. In 2016 he joined Strictly Come Dancing; only to leave the show three weeks later due to 'personal reasons.' Will still makes music and will be releasing his book To Be A Gay Man in September 2020.
2 of 12Gareth Gates
Gareth released three studio albums after finishing in second place, including the absolute tune that was Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake). In 2014 he competed in Dancing on Ice: All Stars and joined supergroup 5th Story on The Big Reunion. He was in a relationship with Coronation Street actress Faye Brookes from 2012 to 2019 before being linked to DJ Chloe McLennan in July 2020.
3 of 12Zoe Birkett
Zoe came fourth on the show and released a top twenty single (Treat Me Like a Lady, which reached number 12) before being dropped by Pop Idol creator Simon Fuller's label. In 2014 she entered Big Brother (not even the celebrity version) and came ninth.
4 of 12Korben Niblett
The first contestant to be eliminated from Pop Idol is also known as Chris Niblett. According to his LinkedIn profile, Korben's been a Regional Education Manager at Estee Lauder Travel since late 2014.
5 of 12Darius Cambell
Darius Campbell (who back then went by Darius Danesh) had previously auditioned for Popstars with his cover of Britney Spears' ...Baby One More Time; and returned to Pop Idol the next year. He went on to release five top ten singles and won ITV show Popstar to Operastar in 2010. Darius married actress Natasha Henstridge in 2011 but filed for divorce just two years later.
6 of 12Hayley Evetts
After finishing fifth, Hayley bagged a small role on Coronation Street and starred as Sandy in Grease alongside Robbie Williams' best mate Jonathan Wilkes. She auditioned for The X Factor in 2012 (though didn't make it past boot camp) and in 2016 was one of the candidates set to represent Romania at Eurovision before pulling out due to a severe knee injury.
7 of 12Rosie Ribbons
Rosie signed a five-album deal after coming sixth; releasing top twenty singles Blink and A Little Bit. After her record label went bust she was released from her contract, but Rosie did enter Australian Idol in 2007. Didn't make it through to the final 12, though.
8 of 12Laura Doherty
Laura now has a music degree after graduating from the University of Ulster in 2006. She also teaches hip-hop dancing in schools.
9 of 12Aaron Bayley
Aaron now plays weddings and functions as part of the Aaron Bayley Band (inspired.) He also joined fellow popstar-types Andy Scott-Lee, Stacey McClean, Rikki Loney and Kavana in supergroup G*Mania, who went on tour performing Glee songs.
10 of 12Rik Waller
Rik was replaced by Darius when he was forced to leave the live shows due to severe laryngitis. He released a top 10 single - a cover of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You - and appeared on Celebrity Fit Club in 2002. Back in March 2014, he was an exam invigilator.
11 of 12Korben Niblett
The first contestant to be eliminated from Pop Idol is also known as Chris Niblett. According to his LinkedIn profile, Korben's been a Regional Education Manager at Estee Lauder Travel since late 2014.
12 of 12Jessica Garlick
She might've only finished ninth, but Jessica went on to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest with Come Back. She even managed to come third, which is pretty bloody amazing.
WATCH Little Mix guess the lyrics from Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and more
READ MORE celeb news
Ryan Thomas’s ex Tina O’Brien shares CRYPTIC post following Lucy Mecklenburgh baby news
James Argent receives severe health warning as he puts on 10st in two years
“As a younger pop star, I was always well known for my hair. I had a big deal with the hair company Wella and I was known for having this great hair,” he told the same publication in 2017.
"However, as I’ve got slightly older, my hair is starting to thin a bit. I’ve always wanted long hair, but I’ll be happy with dense, thick hair with a better hairline — maybe I’ll even go back to my spiky days.”
Faye and Gareth announced their split earlier this month, less than a year afterbecoming engaged on New Year’s eve.
Since then, Faye has reportedly given back her ring and was spotted living it up at the Manchester Gay Pride event, while Gareth posted a cover of Michael Bolton’s How Am I Supposed to Live Without You to his Instagram.