He became a household name via reality-show band Hear’Say, but Noel Sullivan says his current stage career is a much better outcome than Popstars could ever have offered.

When the hit US musical Rock of Ages hits Kent this week, there will be a lone Welsh actor among the all-American cast who will wear that fact like a badge of honour.

“I was the first Brit to be cast in Rock of Ages, so it’s an enormous achievement and it tells the industry I’m a good vocalist,” says Noel Sullivan.

The 33-year-old from Cardiff is rightly proud that he has proved himself as more than a flash-in-the-pan TV reality singer from the 2001 series Popstars, a forerunner of
X Factor.

Noel, who will be playing lovestruck 1980s rocker Drew when the musical hits Bromley’s Churchill Theatre this week, still has the baby face and smiling eyes that won him legions of fans in Hear’Say, the five-piece pop group created by ‘Nasty’ Nigel Lythgoe.

But they are very mixed memories for Noel who, despite his youthful looks, had already started establishing an entertainment career for himself in resorts like Ibiza before Popstars came his way at the age of 20.

“Popstars wasn’t the aim, I didn’t know what it was about really, I just fell into it for audition experience,” remembers Noel. “Hear’Say went on for two and a half years for me, and we got quite good mileage out of it considering, but it was a very difficult environment to live in. I was having my hair done and being told how to dress.

“Now on X Factor they take the winners away for a year and turn them into stars, but for us it went mad overnight and by our early twenties we felt dropped and on the scrap heap.

“Fortunately I had my family there for me, and I made a very conscious decision to learn my craft.”

Noel refocused on his first love, musical theatre, and has spent the past few years appearing in the touring shows of Grease, Fame and Flashdance among others.

“I couldn’t be happier now, I’m doing exactly what I wanted to do. A ‘big reunion’ idea [with Hear’Say] doesn’t interest me because I’m still performing – I’ve never stopped.”

There was also that cameo appearance in BBC comedy Gavin and Stacey.

“It was so much fun, I was a massive fan of the show. The story went that I had previously shared a pad with Nessa,” says Noel.

His showbiz pals don’t stop there; during Rock of Ages rehearsals in London Noel was staying with his BFF from the Hear’Say days, Myleene Klass.

“It’s been lovely to see her kids, and I’m still in touch with Suzy (Suzanne Shaw) too.

“They are the two from Hear’Say I’ve stayed in touch with – they’ve been long friendships through thick and thin.”

Rock of Ages is at Bromley's Churchill Theatre from Monday, June 16, to Saturday, June 21. Tickets from £17.90. Call 0844 8717615.