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Keith Jack (born 2 March 1988) was the runner-up on the BBC reality talent show Any Dream Will Do, which offered the chance to be the next West End Joseph for the hit musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. He lost out to Lee Mead in the final on 9 June 2007.

Early life[link]

Before his appearances on Any Dream Will Do he was studying performance skills in Edinburgh and an HNC in Musical Theatre at Telford College also in Edinburgh.^[1] Since winning the 2006 Chicago Rock Café Rock Idol contest, held in the English West Midlands, he has been a student of celebrity vocal coach Carrie Grant, best known for belonging to Sweet Dreams, which came sixth in the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest and working on UK television talent contests, including Fame Academy, Comic Relief does Fame Academy and Pop Idol.[1] [2] [3] Keith Jack attended St. David's High School in Dalkeith where he performed in various Christmas concerts and other precarious events.

Any Dream Will Do[link]

Since the start of Any Dream Will Do, Keith Jack was noted as a strong contender. His vocals, in particular, were praised very highly. The main criticisms thrown at him were his diction and his physical appearance: some judges thought he looked 'too young' to play Joseph. However, by the end of the series, Keith was widely regarded as the strongest singer on the programme. John Barrowman and vocal coach Zoe Tyler in particular were full of praise. Barrowman said: "That was brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, son! You have a voice of gold."[4]. Tyler commented: "When I hear you sing now, you knock me for six" [5]. Denise van Outen described Keith as a "Young John Barrowman", while Bill Kenwright called Keith's talents "frightening". The panel was particularly impressed with his performances of Love Is All Around, Always on My Mind, Could It Be Magic and For Once in My Life.

After Any Dream Will Do[link]

'The Stage Quest student and former supermarket worker performed at 30 June 2007's Picnic in the Parliament concert outside Scotland's national assembly. "As my first performance since the final, I am proud it will be not only in Scotland but on a day celebrating Scottish talent,” the Scottish Parliament's website quoted him as saying.[6]

On 28 June 2007, The Scotsman published an article stating that Keith was entering a record deal with Louis Walsh, the fruition of which was to be an album of pop, classical and theatrical music.[7] Alas this was not meant to be, and Keith asked Adam Quest (StageQuest), his mentor and vocal coach of some 14 months to try to broker a new recording deal on his behalf. Within a week Keith was signed to John Mclaughlin's (Sandy Tomm, Busted, 911, Attic Lights, Teenage Fanclub) record label X-Phonics in Glasgow.

From October 2007, Keith has been in Bill Kenwright's national touring production of Joseph, starring as the Narrator, alongside fellow Any Dream Will Do contestants Craig Chalmers (who will be playing Joseph) and Chris Barton (who will be playing Benjamin). For some matinees, Chris Barton plays the narrator or Joseph.

Keith Jack recorded his debut album early in 2008. A charity single of "When a Child is Born" was released via download on 10 December 2007. "If an Angel falls from Heaven" was available to download from 8 December 2008. Keith will be recording his next album during the early months of 2009. http://keithjack.com/

In August 2008, Keith performed in the premier of the musical Only the Brave at the Edinburgh Festival.^[2] In June 2008 he performed in the "Choices for Life" tour, which is for children in Primary 7 across Scotland. Also in June 2008 Keith Jack performed at Bo'ness Children's Fair Day

His debut CD was released on 22 September and entitiled "This Time". He toured England and Scotland in September and October 2008 to promote the album. He also sang "Uptown Girl" with Daniel Boys and Ben James-Ellis on John Barrowman's album "Music Music Music".

December 2008 through to January 2009 sees Keith in Panto playing the title role in Peter Pan alongside Alan Fletcher ( Dr Karl Kennedy from Neighbours) at His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen. He also met Derek Anderson at this venue.

Also, on 31 December 2008, Keith performed for half an hour at the Aberdeen Hogmanay Street Party, alongside Sandi Thom and Amy McDonald.

A second tour for Keith will follow in late summer 2009. When Lee Mead's Contract went they asked Keith if he wanted to take over Lee Mead he rejected the offer and continued to tour with Chris and Craig.

Keith will perform as part of Showstopppers! at Musical Theatre @ George Square as part of the Edinburgh Fringe on 17 August 2009.

Keith will be performing in panto at the Kings Theatre, Glasgow in 2009 as Aladdin.

Keith and his current partner Alana Macfarlane have started their own performance school for children between 7 – 18 years named 'Gie It Laldy' which is based in Edinburgh. They have released their own single on iTunes called 'Standing Tall' which reached number 73 in the top 100. They are due to be entering a number competitions and be performing in theatres around Scotland.

At Croydon Saturday 17 July 2010 at the 2pm Show Keith took over the coloured coat from Craig and began his Debut Performance as Joseph.

From 2nd December - 8th January 2011 Keith was playing The Prince In the Kings Theatre, Glasgow production of Sleeping Beauty.

In 2012 Keith is still playing Joseph in the UK tour opposite Jennifer Potts as narrator.

[edit] Keith Jack's performances on Any Dream Will Do

Show One- Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen

Show Two- Who Am I by Will Young

Show Three- Crocodile Rock by Elton John

Show Four- Love Is All Around by Wet Wet Wet

Show Five- Always on My Mind by Willie Nelson

Show Six - Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison as well as That's Life by Frank Sinatra (group number; performed with Ben Ellis and Lewis Bradley)

Show Seven- Let Me Entertain You by Robbie Williams

Semi Final- Could It Be Magic by Barry Manilow and Only You from the musical Starlight Express (duet; performed with Ben Ellis)

Final- For Once in My Life by Stevie Wonder, Moondance by Van Morrison and Always on My Mind (encore).[8]

References[link]

Matthew "Hambo" Hampson (born 29 November 1984) is a former English rugby union prop who became quadriplegic and paralysed from the neck down after a scrummaging practice accident for England under 21 on 15 March 2005.^[1]

Hampson took up rugby as a 5-year old for Oakham, joining Syston when he was 12. He joined Leicester Tigers academy at the under 16 age group and was made an apprentice for the 2001/2 season. He was regarded as a promising prop and although he had not made his Leicester debut he had been an unused bench replacement. He had played both for Bedford Blues and Nuneaton R.F.C. while on loan. He had also played for England U18 and England U21.

Hampson's accident happened on Tuesday 15 March 2005 at Franklin's Gardens, when the England U21 team were preparing for an under 21 Six Nations match against Scotland. In what he described as a freak accident, a scrum collapsed and dislocated his neck, severing his spinal chord. Referee and former paramedic Tony Spreadbury was praised for his quick reaction to stabilise Hampson's neck, saving him even further damage that could have resulted in his death.

Hampson was taken first to Northampton General Hospital and then to the specialist spine unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he had an operation to relocate his spine. He spent several months in Stoke Mandeville, where he contracted a life-threatening Clostridium difficile infection.

Hampson requires the permanent use of a ventilator to breathe.

Hampson divides his time between raising money for spinal care both for himself and others, and spinal research, coaching youngsters at Oakham School, physiotherapy sessions and writing columns for the Leicester Mercury's Sporting Green and International Rugby News. He is particularly supported by his sister Amy, her boyfriend Adam Wheatly and former England U21 captain Matt Cornwell.

A biography, written by Paul Kimmage with much of it in autobiographical form, was published in 2011, entitled Engage: The Fall and Rise of Matt Hampson. This was shortlisted for the 2011 William Hill Sports Book of the Year, despite not being longlisted.^[2] It was however awarded the 2011 Irish Sports Book of the Year award^[3]. It was subsequently awarded the "Autobiography/Biography of the Year" prize at the British Sports Book of the Year Awards^[4]. The book is highly critical of the standards of care he initially received from the National Health Service, and the attitude of the RFU, which contrasts with that of the Leicester Tigers board.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Home site

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