LEE'S DREAM COMES TRUE
Exclusive by Stewart Whittingham
LEE Mead shed tears of joy when he was named Joseph - but it was no surprise to his nan. She'd known it was his destiny from the age of eight.
Lilian Horning, 77, said: "When he was little he went to see Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat with his other gran.
"He saw Joseph and pointed to him and said, 'That's who I want to be.' Acting and singing is all he ever wanted to do. We are so proud of him."
But as a youngster Lee, who won Any Dream Will Do on Saturday night, suffered cruel gay taunts at Eastwood School in Southend-on-Sea, Essex over his love of performing.
Best friend Ben Adam, 24, said: "Everyone thought Lee was gay because he was into drama and would be really camp.
"He didn't care though. He even played up to it.
"He liked falling around and being the centre of attention.
"As he got older girls loved him and he went out with a few girls at school."
School pal Katie Read, 26, said: "Boys called him gay names when he was 12 or 13.
"But I don't think it ever really bothered him, he just liked playing to a crowd. Anyway later he proved them all wrong as he had lots of girlfriends. And look at him now - he is a real hunk."
Dark-haired Lee's good looks won him plenty of admirers when he worked as a cruise ship cabaret singer.
Passenger Marjorie Swinton, 56, vividly remembers him winning hearts on a trip around the Med five years ago.
The mum-of-two said: "He was a real looker and such a charmer. I went to see all the shows when he was a cabaret singer.
"All the women had eyes for him. It was rumoured he was seeing one member of staff and a passenger.
"He always liked to be the centre of attention and was a big flirt and comedian. I'm so glad he has done so well for himself."
Lilian added: "Lee is very handsome, all the girls like him. He has always had them chasing him.
"However he has been going out with a girl called Kerry since they were at drama school."
Lee, 25, grew up in a semi-detached home near a busy dual carriageway in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
He lived with postman dad Stephen and mum Joan, both 53, and his younger brother Casey who was on the books at Championship side Southend United.
He worked as a postman and at KFC when he was first making his way in showbiz. Now those years of hard work have finally paid off.
features@mirror.co.uk
