Noel Sullivan - Early Life and Career

Early Life and Career

Sullivan was born in Cardiff, Wales. He grew up having trained as a chorister and came from a strong choral background. Having understudied for the Welsh National Opera, Sullivan established a love for theatre. He performed with many choirs, before finishing his A levels and touring the United States with The Black Mountain Male Chorus of Wales when he was aged 18, as a musical theatre soloist. Sullivan then spent two years working in Ibiza for Laser Entertainments, as a singer and a puppeteer with a Black Light Theatre of Prague style show. At this time Sullivan also worked as a videographer at a Spanish diving centre.

Sullivan first rose to fame in 2001, after his appearance as an aspiring pop singer in the first series of the reality television documentary Popstars, which aired on the British television channel ITV1. After impressing the judges of the series (which included Nigel Lythgoe and Nicki Chapman), Sullivan was selected as a founder member of the pop group Hear'say, alongside Danny Foster, Myleene Klass, Kym Marsh and Suzanne Shaw.

After the formation of the group on TV, Sullivan gave up his part time job as a waiter to move to London. Hear'say went on to enjoy international success, selling nearly three million records worldwide. The group's debut single "Pure and Simple" became the fastest selling number one single of the UK Singles Chart at the time. The group also released another UK number one single and a number one album, as well as performing a sell out arena tour across the UK and Ireland. The group disbanded 18 months later after four single and two album releases.

After the split of Hear'say, Sullivan refocused his career to his initial passion, musical theatre, appearing in productions such as Fame, Love Shack and What a Feeling and performed at the Royal Gala opening of the Wales Millennium Centre. In 2003, Sullivan appeared in Grease as Danny Zuko opposite Claire Buckfield as Sandy and Amanda-Jane Manning as Rizzo at the Jersey Opera House In 2006, Sullivan briefly returned to reality television to star in Trust Me – I'm a Holiday Rep, broadcast on Five. Sullivan then moved to the United States for 18 months, working in Las Vegas hosting Simply Ballroom and then moving to Reno and Branson as part of the Twelve Irish Tenors. Starting in July 2008, Sullivan played the lead role in the world premier production of Flashdance. From November 2009, he starred in the West End theatre production of Grease as the male lead, Danny.

Sullivan made a cameo appearance in Gavin & Stacey broadcast on BBC One on 1 January 2010. Sullivan sang with Jessica Cervi and Sarah O'Connor in the final of RTÉ One's Fame: The Musical in Dublin on 13 June 2010.

Sullivan has also occasionally guest-presented on Capital Radio in Cardiff, as well as performing with his funk and soul band in London. He is also a keen songwriter.