IT'S not the usual post show party - a glass of cider and a pastie.

But former Pop Idol and West End star, Gareth Gates, insists its the best way to relax after another sell-out gig.

"Nothing beats a pastie and a little cider to help you wind down,"he laughs

"I always look forward to being back in Somerset. It's a beautiful part of the country and I've a lot of friends there."

Gareth rose to fame in the inaugural Pop Idol TV show in 2002. Although he came second to Will Young, he went on to have five number one hits before a West End career in shows such as Les Miserables and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Gareth returns to Somerset next month in the hit show, Mad About the Musicals where he performs a host of numbers from hit shows over the past five decades.

"I get to sing songs I love from musicals like Sunset Boulevard, Phantom and We Will Rock You," he adds.

"Its great to hear the audience sing-a-long."

For someone who loves singing,the past two months have been a nightmare for Gareth. A serious of vocal surgeries meant he was unable to sing for weeks, let alone talk.

"It was tough because I love doing both," he smiles.

Friday October 2. The Octagon, Yeovil. £24. Box: 01935 422884