Ian 'H' Watkins
Background information
Birth name	Ian Watkins
Also known as	H
Born	May 8, 1976 (1976-05-08) (age 32)
Origin	Llwynypia, Rhondda, Wales
Genre(s)	Pop
Occupation(s)	Singer Actor
Years active	1997–present
Associated acts	Steps
Website	http://www.ianhwatkins.com

Ian Watkins (born 8 May 1976, Llwynypia, Rhondda, Wales), better known as H from Steps, is a Welsh pop singer, one of the five members of the now defunct pop group Steps. Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Llwynypia (also spelled Llwyn-y-pia or Llwyn y pia) is a Village in Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales, near Tonypandy in the Rhondda Rhondda ('rɒnðɘ or Rhondda Valley ( Welsh: Cwm Rhondda) is a former coal-mining valley in Wales, consisting of 16 communities built around The Welsh people ( Welsh: Cymro ("Welshman" Cymraes ("Welsh woman" Cymry ("Welshmen/women" Cymry A musical ensemble is a group of two or more Musicians who perform instrumental or vocal Music. Steps was a pop group that achieved a series of charted singles between 1997 and 2001 He has said that "H" stands for "hyperactive", describing his character. ^[1]

Career

Before Steps

Before joining Steps, he worked as a redcoat for Butlins holiday parks. Redcoats is the name given to the entertainment staff at Butlins Holiday camps Uniform When Billy Butlin opened his first he realised Butlin's Holiday Camps, presently known by the (non-possessive trademark Butlins, were founded by (later Sir Billy Butlin to provide economical holidays ( North As a result of his hyperactive, camp persona, he was voted number 8 in a 2003 poll of the 100 Worst Britons.

After Steps

After Steps split in 2001, he formed a duo with fellow ex-Steps member Claire Richards and became H & Claire. Claire Richards (born Claire Anne Richards, 17 August, 1977, Hillingdon, Middlesex) is an English Singer H & Claire were a pop duo consisting of former Steps members Claire Richards and Ian "H" Watkins. They released a few singles and then went their separate ways. Watkins then decided to take a musical theatre course at the Royal Academy of Music. The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a well known conservatoire and one of the leading music institutions in the world He was filmed through the course and it was broadcast as a reality TV series, H-side Story, which followed him as he tries to make a new career in acting. Acting is the work of an Actor or Actress, which is a person in Theatre, Television, Film, or any other Storytelling At the end of the course Watkins passed his exam and graduated from the academy. After graduating from the academy Watkins travelled to New York to continue refining his acting skills. The City of New York Following his extra tuition in New York, Watkins has successfully obtained a job on the West End, and toured the country starring in the production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in Autumn 2006. West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London 's "Theatreland" Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the second British Musical theatre show written by the team of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice In December 2006 he performed at Preston's Charter theatre in the pantomime Cinderella, as the character of Buttons. Preston ( ˈprɛstən is a city and local government district in Lancashire, England, located on the River Ribble. Cinderella ( French: Cendrillon, Slovak: Popoluška, German: Aschenputtel, Spanish: Cenicienta In Clothing and Fashion design, a button is a small plastic or metal disc- or knob-shaped typically round object usually attached to an article of Clothing In Summer 2007 he performed in the West End version of Fame. Fame – The Musical (based on the 1980 movie by Alan Parker) conceived and developed by David De Silva is a musical with a book by Jose During Christmas 2007 he will be reprising his role as Buttons in the pantomime Cinderella at the Grimsby Auditorium. In Clothing and Fashion design, a button is a small plastic or metal disc- or knob-shaped typically round object usually attached to an article of Clothing Cinderella ( French: Cendrillon, Slovak: Popoluška, German: Aschenputtel, Spanish: Cenicienta Grimsby Auditorium is situated on Cromwell Road in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire.

In June 2006, Watkins appeared in a special week of episodes of the BBC Radio Drama Silver Street on the BBC Asian Network. June 2006 was a month with thirty days The following events also occurred during the month Silver Street is a radio Soap opera, the first such to be aimed at the British South Asian community and is broadcast on the BBC Asian Network He played the character of former soldier Dave in episodes set in the Welsh countryside. In November 2006, Watkins featured on the BBC Children in Need Celebrity Scissorhands show, where Michelle cut his hair. BBC Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Celebrity Scissorhands is a reality show that is part of the BBC 's Children in Need charity campaign in which celebrities attempted to cut people's

On March 11, 2008 Watkins presented a documentary about growing up gay in Wales, shown on BBC1 Wales. Events 1425 BC - Thutmose III, Pharaoh of Egypt, dies (according to the Low Chronology of the 18th Dynasty 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common BBC Wales ( BBC Cymru) is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. ^[2] Whilst filming for this Watkins interviewed Christian Voice leader Stephen Green. There is an unconnected organisation called Christian Voice in the USA. Stephen Green is a British Fundamentalist Christian and Christian Zionist campaigner and the leader of the Christian Voice organization During the interview Green compared him to Jeffrey Dahmer. Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer (May 21 1960—November 28 1994 was an American Serial killer. ^[3]. Ian has recent starred in a production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang playing the part of the child catcher, with performances in Cardiff and Sunderland

Personal life

On 3 January 2007, Watkins came out as gay and in an interview with The Sun newspaper. Cardiff ( 'kɑːdɪf) is the Capital and the largest city and county in Wales. Sunderland (, or /ˈsʌn(dlən/ is a City in Tyne and Wear, England. Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Closeted Coming out (that is " coming out of the closet " describes the voluntary public announcement of one's Sexual orientation and/or Gender identity In the English language, gay is an Adjective that in modern usage refers to Homosexuality. The Sun is a Tabloid daily newspaper published in the United Kingdom and Ireland with the highest circulation of any daily English-language ^[4] He also revealed that he had been involved in a ten-year relationship with Steps' manager, Tim Byrne, though this had ended several months earlier. Prior to this, Watkins had hidden the fact he was gay from fans, although rumours were widespread. Fans in Little Italyjpg|thumb|right|Fans in Little Italy Manhattan celebrating the victory of the Italian association football team after the 2006 FIFA World Cup]][[Image Wm-oly-de-cr ^[5][6] His interview was published the same day he entered the Celebrity Big Brother house. Big Brother is a Reality television series broadcast in the United Kingdom and

Referring to the well-known catchphrase of Little Britain character Daffyd Thomas, he remarked,

Celebrity Big Brother 5

Watkins was the ninth housemate to enter the Celebrity Big Brother UK house on the 3 January 2007. Celebrity Big Brother 2007 was the highly controversial fifth series of the United Kingdom Reality television series Celebrity Big Brother Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[7] On his audition tape for Celebrity Big Brother he referred to his former group Steps as cheesy. Steps was a pop group that achieved a series of charted singles between 1997 and 2001 He said "I think people know me mostly for being in the group Steps. With cheesy dance routines and cheesy clothes. Everything about it was cheese".

He had complained to Big Brother about fellow housemate Shilpa Shetty being bullied. Shilpa Shetty ( Tulu: ಶಿಲ್ಪ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿ born 8 June 1975) is an Indian film actress and model. At times both Watkins and Shetty sat together in 'Nowhere' talking amongst themselves.

Watkins was cheered by the audience when entering the house, despite ranking 8th in Channel 4's 100 Worst Britons list (a list comprising votes from the British public. Channel 4 is a public-service Television and Radio broadcaster in the United Kingdom centred around a television channel of the same name which began )

He finished in fourth place on Celebrity Big Brother 2007 and was the first contestant to be cheered by the awaiting crowd on exit that series. Watkins was the highest placed British contestant in the show. He was proud to hear Davina McCall announce that he entered the house "as H" and left "as Ian".

References

External links

• His official site
• Celebrity Big Brother 5 Updates: Ian "H" Watkins
• Gay Singer Tells of 'Nightmare' - BBC News, 11 March 2008