Hope everyone going to Southend has a fantastic time.
I'm sure it'll be a special evening.
Well, even more special than usual!
Maggie, Lee will make it all better. 
Oooh, that sounds fab! Can't wait to hear about it!
Just a couple of SD photos - He looks gorgeous!!! 
And it's official - he signed for another year of Casualty and begins recording his 4th album next week!!!!!
Great photo on the home page - and lots more to come!
Excellent! Another year of something worth watching on Saturday nights!
Thanks Jazzy for review,I know they were good friends when Lee and DVO lived together they were neighbours of Rhydian
Love your Mead-mushing, Clare - and I totally agree with your feeling of just wanting Lee back onstage, even when the guests are wonderful.
More Mead, please.
Thank you, Jazz, for your review and for the lovely photos you have posted on Facebook.
Hopefully we will hear from more who were there . . . when they have recovered a bit.
Thanks ladies for the reviews so far!
Hello everyone,
thanks a million for the reviews of Southend, and the lovely pictures. It means a lot to me, and probably a whole lot other people who were not there. My God, I wish I was. I am glad Lee signed up for one more year already for Casualty. I only started watching it because he is in it, but hey, now I am an addict as well!!
On the 17th of October I celebrate my birthday, and people ask me what I would like to have... I say, a tweet from Mead....hahahahahahahah
Here in Belgium nobody knows whom I am talking about...shame shame shame.
Greetings to all of you from Belgium,
Leen (pronounced Lane)
A few stage door photos. Credit Jazzylou.
The best stage photos are on the timeline. I can't and don't need to compete.
OMG!!! 
Gorgeous!!
Love the one where he's bursting his buttons . . . 
Thank you, Jazz!
Thanks for your reviews Clare & Jazzy & thanks for those photos as well. They're gorgeous!!!
Please can anyone who went to concert tell me how Lee and Rhydian sang Anthem did they sing it together right through or did they take turns to sing parts then join in together?only with not being there I am trying to imagine what it would sound like? probably awesome!!!
Thanks Jazzy and Clare for your lovely reviews and, Jazzy, those photos are stunning 
. (Lee always makes me laugh when he says he's putting on weight, there's not an ounce of fat on him. Yes, he lost weight when he was desperately unhappy, but to me he looks to be back to the size he was before). I can't really add a lot to what you have both said about the concert and it was indeed a fabulous evening. Even though the set list of songs on Lee's current tour are obviously the same, each time his interpretation is slightly different, wow, does that guy put you through the wringer, from tears to laughter and sheer joy at his obvious enjoyment at performing. He was so emotional at the end wasn't he at the reception he got from the audience and I loved how his guests and the band stood back and looked so pleased for him. I can't recall exactly what Rhydian said but it was to the effect that Lee was multi-talented, and that he doesn't know how he fits in acting during the week, doing concerts and putting together another Album, particularly with the hard time he's had recently. Rhydian said he couldn't do it. He also said Lee was a wonderful Daddy. On that note, just before Lee sang 'Here Comes the Sun' which he always dedicates to Betsy 'because she's my sunshine' he said she was getting ready for bed the night before and was brushing her teeth and asked Lee 'am I doing it right Daddy', Lee just said one word 'Melt'
Yes, Acer you're right, Lee and Rhydian took turns at singing Anthem and then they sang together for the last part. It was brilliant.
You're welcome maggiemay, Lee is indeed a great Daddy
Thank you for the fabulous photos, ladies.
One thing I can add is a bit naughty! Lee told the story of his first day on set, which I think he said was during his guest episode, not as Lofty, when he was very nervous and had to do his first scene with Charlie. I'm trying to think of a polite way to put this - let's say, Charlie went 'parp' (if you get my drift ... 
)! This was a funny story in itself, but then Lee launched into Singing in the Rain, complete with trombone backing which perfectly imitated the imagined sound. We were absolutely hysterical with laughter, and I think Lee realised what was going on, but carried on like the trouper he is.
We were sat quite near to you Another Liz and we could see you all giggling away! It was really funny and Lee was definitely trying hard to keep it together.
This is a pic of Lee just after Rydians speech
Thanks everyone for your reviews and gorgeous photos.
Loved the 'Charlie parp' story too...
I cannot add very much to what has been said already, except that after a heartfelt standing ovation at the end of the concert, seeing Lee with his head on the microphone (captured beautifully in Joan's Photo) was a real emotional moment, not only for Lee, but for the audience too.
A moment so special, I know it will remain in many memories for ever...
What a performer, and what a gorgeous guy.
A wonderful, wonderful concert.
Thanks Lee. Thanks to all your lovely guests, and band too.
Blimey, those pics are simply stunning. Thank you Jazzy.
I can't add much to what has already been said in all the lovely reviews but must say that this concert stood out for me because of the palpable emotion. This was obviously a very important venue for Lee and it showed so much. From his yell "Hello Southend" as he first came on stage, to his bowed head on the mic and raised arm at the end. We could clearly see his tear filled eyes as he finally lifted his head after what felt like ages but was probably only a few moments.
He said a couple of times in the first half that he was very nervous but as he settled he then said something like " I'm ok now". As he said this he sort of shook and jiggled his arms and legs about as though he was relaxing his whole body.
I don't think anyone who was there on Sunday night will ever forget the duet with Rhyddian. It was SO beautiful. Their voices blended perfectly and when they joined together for the final thunderous lines it was just so spell binding. I really couldn't get my breath.
He told us some performers won't invite guests they fear would outshine them. He said he didn't care about that and just wanted to include everyone, regardless of them out singing him. Bless him, he still really doesn't see that his talent always shines through above anyone.
Rhyddian was amazing, I've never seen him live before and was blown away with his beautiful voice but oh boy, Lee was AMAZING too !!! No way will he ever be put in the shade by anyone. It just goes to show how humble he still is.
It was lovely to see a big family turn out of course. As we walked into the foyer our hearts skipped a beat as we thought Lee was standing there. Nope, it was Casey, haha. Gosh, he looks so like his brother, just slightly shorter.
Sorry Clare that we disgraced ourselves during Singing In The Rain. Coming immediately after the "Charlie" story the trombone made the identical noise, not once but all through the song, as A/Liz has said. Once we had started giggling we reverted to teenage school girl mode and couldn't stop. I felt hot with panic that we might get chucked out and be made to stand outside the headmasters door, lol. Naughty ladies going on 14 years old
It was great to see Kirsten and Karen there. Sorry I didn't get to say hello to you both. As always, there is never enough time to chat to everybody.
We must encourage Lee to do a concert where we could operate a "lock in" policy and spend a whole week catching up with everyone. On second thoughts, we would just stand gazing at our man as usual and still bemoan we hadn't spoken to everyone
Must just finally mention the opening and closing music which is becoming such a joy. It buzzes round your head for days afterwards and on Sunday we nearly had a dance off going on, as we bopped our way out of the theatre to the beat.
My goodness! That was something special! Nothing could have prepared me for the wonderful concert at Southend Cliffs Pavilion.
I went with my daughter and her friend (a first timer) After picking up 2 of the tickets from the box office,( and bumpin g in to familiar faces outside!) , we headed right to the other end of Southend for a meal at Ocean View. Lovely meal watching the sunset then back to the Cliffs.
For those who were’t there, the place is huge and, as its name suggests, is set up high from the sea and road below. We parked at the bottom and walked up. The place was heaving. I quickly found people to chat to and it was soon time to take our seats.
It has been a long time since Guildford so I had mega butterflies waiting for the show to start. On he came to what must have been overwhelming applause from Lee’s perspective. It took ages to stop and I felt so chuffed for him. It was touch and go whether the clapping would stop in time for the start of Pure Imagination!
I felt Lee’s voice was particularly strong right through the concert. He was extremely chatty and obviously enjoying himself although he still confessed to being nervous.
As usual, there were many memorable moments. I think most have been mentioned already but all the anecdotes were amusing. I especially loved hearing about Lee’s work experience at the Cliffs all those years ago when he was 14 or 15. He said that he had been thrilled to be working in the theatre even if it was doing menial tasks like sweeping the stage. He explained how he had gone to ask Joe Pasquale (appearing at the theatre at the time) for some tips for how to succeed in show business and how terrified he had been to speak to him. He did say that Joe had actually recognised him many years later which was really sweet.
I thought Lee and Amanda singing their duet was the best I have heard it. My daughter and her friend were amazed at how good Amanda was.
The last time I saw Stephen, he was in Rock of Ages. I couldn’t stop smiling thinking back to that as to say I saw a different side to him is an understatement!
Rhydian coming on was such a surprise and their performance of Anthem brought the house down….massive standing ovation at the end of it. I found Rhydian’s little complimentary speech about Lee so touching. What a special moment. Another one was the moment shown in the picture above when Lee stood with head bowed at the microphone just taking the whole thing in because the whole evening had been an absolute triumph.
Afterwards I cheekily asked if my daughter’s friend would mind waiting at the stage door. It was a yes, so we waited. I felt really guilty as Lee was an age coming out. But who could blame him with family and friends to see and needing to recover from such a wonderful performance. There was a large crowd. My daughter turned the corner and said “OMG, it’s just like Joseph all over again!”
I took a couple of over the heads blurry photos. Only one is worthy of sharing I am afraid. I just quickly said a thank you to Lee. Seemed inappropriate to take up too much of his time.
One lovely thing was there was a little Italian lady who spoke to Lee just before me who said she remembered him coming to their Ice Cream shop as a boy. She said her husband always liked him as he was so polite compared with all the other lads and they had always remembered him. How sweet and how utterly believable.
The Lee first timer was extremely impressed by the way.
What an amazing, emotional evening!
(As usual, apologies for rambling on!)
More photos have been posted on the home page. Gorgeous!
And I love all the reviews. Getting excited for Wycombe . . .
Here goes
Phew, That's a relief Clare 
. We'd hate to lower the tone so to speak.
Cassie, thanks for that pic. I've gone hot all over again but not with panic.....
Thanks for all the great reviews, ladies!
I wonder if that boy sweeping the stage ever imagined that he'd be perfoming on it one day?
