Gareth Gates shares rare photo of daughter, 16, as she celebrates milestone birthday
Yep! He's old enough to have a 16-year-old kid!
Noughties popstar Gareth Gates has reminded us of how old we all are after sharing a photo of his daughter on her 16th birthday.
Gareth, now 40, was only 17 himself when he famously auditioned for the first edition of Pop Idol in 2001 – the contest was was eventually won by Will Young.
Unable to speak confidently during his audition due to a nervous stammer, young Gareth stunned judge Simon Cowell with his angelic voice and eventually finished second to Will.
After a brief but bright pop career in the early 2000s – during which he scored four number one singles – Gareth settled down and married his first partner, Suzanne, in 2007.
The couple split in 2012 after being married for five years, with Suzanne giving birth to their daughter Missy in April 2009 – meaning she’s now turned 16.
And the Anyone of Us hitmaker celebrated Missy’s milestone birthday over the weekend with a sweet Instagram post, dedicated to his pride and joy.
Gareth celebrated Missy’s 16th birthday over the weekend (Picture: Instagram)‘Today my little princess turns 16. Missy Moo, I love you more than the world. The little lady you’ve become makes me beam with pride, I’m truly the luckiest Daddy,’ he wrote alongside a photo of the two.
In the family photograph, Gareth and Missy can be seen looking summery and smiley, with the Unchained Melody singer wearing a white casual shirt.
He then described Missy as ‘the most beautiful soul, inside and out’ and asked her to ‘keep being my angel’ before wishing her the happiest of birthdays.
‘I love you more than the world. The little lady you’ve become makes me beam with pride’ (Picture: Instagram)After splitting with Suzanne in 2012, Gareth was partnered with actress Faye Brooks for seven years, eventually starting a relationship with stage star Allana Taylor in 2023.
Gareth has said in the past that he wants to keep Missy out of the spotlight in order for her to have as normal a childhood as possible, but says his ability to perform has been passed down.
Speaking to MailOnline about her last year, he said: ‘She’s got a great voice. She’s a great dancer. The more that she gets to be in and around that music world, the more that she learns.
It’s been nearly 25 since a 17-year-old Gareth was introduced to the world with Will Young on Pop Idol (Picture: Getty Images) Gareth shares Missy with his ex-wife Suzanne (Picture: Instagram)‘She dances every night after school. You know, she’s kind of going through all of her grades. I actually would like to try to sit down and write songs with her first and try and get her a record deal that way.’
If he’s writing songs with Missy in the future, Gareth might only need to shout over his garden fence for advice from his Pop Idol rival and friend Will Young.
Will revealed in 2024 that he and Gareth are neighbours, almost 25 years after they were first introduced to the nation by Simon Cowell’s Pop Idol.
‘I recently moved to the countryside and I love it, my dogs love it, everyone’s happy,’ he revealed on the Magic Breakfast Show last year.
‘[After moving there] I got in the cab and I found out who else lives in this town, when the cabbie says to me, “Oh are you going to Gareth Gates’ house?” Gareth Gates lives in the same town I’ve just moved to!’
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