Singer Gareth Gates will not appear in Footloose: The Musical in Glasgow's King's Theatre next year.

The Evening Times reported last week that the Pop Idol runner-up will play Willard in a brand new production at the theatre on Monday to Saturday, June 13 to 18 next year. 

But the theatre has confirmed that he will miss the Glasgow leg of the tour due to prior commitments.

Fans of the singer can instead see him perform in the role at Edinburgh Festival Theatre from February 16 to 20 and Aberdeen His Majesty’s Theatre from June 20 to 25.

A spokesman for The King's Theatre said: “It was incorrectly announced last week that Gareth Gates would be appearing in Footloose at the King’s Theatre Glasgow.

"Gareth is confirmed for certain dates on the tour, but casting for dates at the King’s is yet to be confirmed.

"The producers would like to apologise for this error, and look forward to announcing casting for the Glasgow dates in due course.”

Gareth rose to fame through the inaugural series of Pop Idol in 2001, going on to sell over 5 million records worldwide and have hits across the globe.

His version of Unchained Melody sold over a million copies in the UK and is the 3rd best-selling single of the Noughties. Gareth is also the youngest ever-male solo artist to debut at number 1.

More recently Gareth has enjoyed a successful career on stage, with credits including Les Misérables, Legally Blonde and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

In 2014, Gareth appeared in the final series of Dancing on Ice, and joined boyband 5th Story as part of ITV’s second series of The Big Reunion, touring arenas with bands including Blue and Five.

He said: “I have been so lucky to perform in some of the greatest musicals over the years, from Joseph to Les Misérables and Legally Blonde, and I am so excited that Footloose will be my next. It’s such a high energy show full of incredible dance and music, and this brand new tour is going to be a fresh and exciting new take on it."

Based on the 1984 screen sensation starring Kevin Bacon, Footloose: The Musical tells the story of city boy Ren, who has to move to a rural backwater in America where dancing is banned. All hell breaks out as Ren breaks loose and soon has the whole town up on its feet. 

Featuring classic 80s hits including Holding Out for a Hero, Almost Paradise, Let's Hear it for the Boy and the unforgettable title track, Footloose: The Musical is set to take the world by storm once again in this brand new production, bursting with youthful spirit, dazzling dance and electrifying music.

When the film was released in 1984, it became the highest-grossing February release in US film history.  The soundtrack album ended the year-long reign of Michael Jackson’s Thriller at number one and went on top album charts all over the world, eventually selling in excess of 17 million copies.  Footloose was nominated for a Golden Globe, and both the title song and Let’s Hear It for the Boy received Academy Award nominations. Footloose: The Musical first opened on Broadway in 1998 where it ran for 709 performances, with a London production following in 2006, opening at the Novello Theatre following a UK Tour.

Casting is to be announced and tickets are on sale now.