Jonathan Ansell and G4

[nicola]

Been listening to Jonathan's Christmas songs: 'Oh Holy Night' and with G4 'Silent Night', 'When A Child is Born' and 'Amazing Grace'. His voice is so pure, and it reminds me how much I would like Jonathan to do a solo album recorded in the same way as G4. You can hear his voice crystal clear on this albums, but his voice is hidden under all teh heavy production on his solo albums.

[stephen]

Hi all,
Tenor for a pound !!. I`m not a Jonathan fan but for those that are,his album Tenor at the Movies has made it to Poundland.My local store has three copies, so no doubt it will be available nationwide.

Stephen.

[nicola]

I always see Jonathan on sale shelves. It means he didn't sell enough. I wonder if he still has a record deal?

[Richard]

Hello Jonathan Ansell fans!

Here's a special treat from Andy Moore: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzv5mvVCRrI

Behind the scenes with Jonathan Ansell, A.J.Moore, Al Gurr and the Pavao Quartet during their sound check for October 10th's charity concert at Stoke On Trent's Victoria Hall. Canto Della Terra in its entirety

And here's another one: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n_Zn3VwtoY

Richard

[Sing]

Thank you so much Richard...loved those videos!
best wishes
Sing

[nicola]

I have tickets to see him in Milton Keynes. <3

[Richard]

Hello folks!

Here's an interesting article from This is Nottingham:

"I was inspired as a kid, not just by Pavarotti but also Michael Ball" – G4's Jonathan Ansell on doing musicals

Friday, February 19, 2010, 07:00

HE shot to fame with opera boyband G4 but now Jonathan Ansell feels it's time for something completely different. Hence the fact he's coming to the Theatre Royal on tour with Andrew Lloyd Webber's Whistle Down the Wind – the ballad-laden update of the wistful Hayley Mills classic film.

"I've never done a musical before. This is my debut," says Jonathan, 29, from Battersea. "It's a different challenge. It's quite hard music for Lloyd Webber. It's very dramatic and demanding. It's actually quite knackering."

Jonathan plays a stranger who takes refuge in a barn and gets mistaken for Jesus Christ by a group of children. He admits there are many musical theatre roles that would not have suited his powerful tenor voice.

"I wanted something that bridged the transition from opera to musical theatre," he says. "This one has a classical edge to it. It really suits me."

Jonathan insists he has always loved musicals. "I was inspired as a kid, not just by Pavarotti but also Michael Ball," he says.

That said, he's not sure if his career-switch is permanent.

"It's something I'm enjoying at the moment and I'm interested in exploring further. I don't know if it's what I'm always going to do," he says firmly.

For one thing, the touring is a strain. Jonathan is in his first year of marriage to Debbie, a businesswoman, who is on tour with him.

"She sets up her computer in my dressing room and makes it her office," he laughs.

He has been to Nottingham before – three years ago with G4.

"Funnily enough, G4 has a very similar fan-base to this show. It's a more mature audience who bring their grandchildren along," he says.

G4 haven't any plans to get back together. "We're still really good friends which is lovely. We don't have the pressures of career and work that started to tarnish those friendships at the end," he says. "I can't imagine getting back together but never say never."

The group met at the Guildhall School of Music, where Jonathan was doing a degree in opera and classical music. They shot to fame, of course, on The X Factor, coming second to Steve Brookstein.

"We had an amazing, intense three-and-a-half year career which was so unexpected. But we weren't all wanting to do it for the whole of our lives. It's asking yourself, 'Do I want to be permanently at the beck and call of a group?'" he explains.

"Coming second was a bit of a shame but we were blown away by how well we did in the show and thankfully somebody approached us very quickly with a record deal."

Since the group disbanded, Jonathan has enjoyed a solo career. He has no plans to release another album at the moment. Having toured with Hayley Westenra, he's keen to find a duets partner. "I've been trying to find somebody similar to her but it's not that easy," he sighs.

He's lost touch with Louis Walsh, his X Factor mentor. But he still follows the show.

"It's a monster of a show and really draws in the viewers," he reflects. "It was quite a naive programme when we were doing it. It's quite formatted and melodramatic now. But I'm gripped to every series. I can't not watch it. If I'm out, I Sky Plus it.

"Leona Lewis has achieved world domination and Simon is utilising it as much as he can. I think Joe McElderry should do fantastically well."

Whistle Down The Wind is at the Theatre Royal from February 22 - 27. For tickets call 0115 989 5555.

Richard

[Sing]

thank you for this article Richard, interesting article...

best wishes
Sing

[martindn]

Begs a few questions. Why look for someone "similar to Hayley", why not the real thing?

I hope to hear then sing together live one day. I couln't make the Valentines concerts last year for pesonal reasons unfortunately. Something I regret.

And no, it's not easy Jonathan. There is only one Hayley. You might wait 100 years for another singer of her quality!

Martin D

[grant]

Hi Martin

Reading between the lines I think Jonathan would love Hayley to be his duet partner, they clearly jelled on stage last year, but I suspect that he wants her sooner rather than later and we know that Hayley has an incredibly busy year ahead of her.

Maybe he will just have to wait until next year!

Best wishes
Grant

[nicola]

I have suspicions that UCJ have dropped Jonathan. :/

Largely due to the insensitivity of Stephen Bowman (from Blake) who tweeted Jonathan asking him as a fellow "independent artist" if he could support their nomination at the Classical Brits.

Jon did retweet it by request, but he took the word "independent" out.

Is there any news on Jon making a new album? I know West End is never good news for a recording artist, as if often means they've been let go from their contract, but I was hoping better for Jon?

[natalie]

I have seen Whistle Down The Wind few times
liverpool,Nottingham,Manchester Plymouth going to see him in Milton Keynes,Malvern, Woking and Wolverhampton(WDTW)
Chatting to him he does not want to commit to solo tour as things are in pipeline such as in Wales with Hayley and Faryl and he may do another musical and got concert in Ireland.
He still got his record contract.
If you do twitter do follow him he keep you up to date
If you go and see WDTW chat with him afterwards he doing signings in foyer after each performance

[nicola]

Thank you, Natalie. I already follow him on Twitter.

Good to know he still has his contract. I very much want another album from him.

[Sing]

from the Daily Mail yesterday

Ex-boyband singer Jonathan Ansell and his wife Debbie, to whom he proposed on stage at the London Palladium, are expecting their first baby.

Currently playing the lead on tour with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Whistle Down The Wind, Ansell and former Quizmania host Debbie married in August at the top of the Gherkin in London.

In keeping with the theatrical theme, I am told: ‘Debbie got pregnant after a romantic night when she joined her husband following a show at the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield.’

and from his website:
" Extremely exciting news, Debbie and I are due to have our 1st child this November!! We are both over the moon and are so grateful to you all for your supportive messages. Becoming parents is a huge life change but one that we are both going to cherish. Its an amazing blessing to be able to raise a family and it won't be long until that challenge awaits us. Its just truly amazing'.


Many, many congratualtions Jonathan and Debbie!!!

best wishes
Sing

[nicola]

Oh, wow! Congrats to them both! Such a beautiful couple!

xx