11:06am Thursday 8th October 2009
By Marc Meneaud
Just hours after cancelling last night’s appearance in Bradford due to ill-health, reality TV star David Gest took to the stage across the Pennines.
Fans were given just 24 hours’ notice that Gest’s all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza show scheduled for St George’s Hall was off because he had ‘flu, but he carried on with a performance on Tuesday night.
Around 500 tickets had been sold for the 1,200 capacity hall, and fans were left disappointed when it was announced his David Gest… My Life! A Musical Extravaganza had been called off.
But although the theatre’s staff issued a statement from Mr Gest at 3.52pm on Tuesday that the Bradford show was cancelled, Mr Gest took to the stage with a star-studded show in Southport, Merseyside the same night.
A spokesman for Southport Theatre confirmed he had performed but added “no comment” when asked if he seemed ill.
A Bradford Theatres release said on Tuesday: “Please be advised that it is with regret that we have been informed that, due to ill health, David Gest is unable to appear at St George’s Hall tomorrow, Wednesday, October 7.”
A statement from Mr Gest said: “Unfortunately the show is being cancelled in Bradford as I have a flu (sic) and need to rest my voice in order to continue with the rest of the tour. I hope I can come back to Bradford.”
Soul fan Noleen Rhodes, who had bought two tickets for £94, had been excited about seeing her idol Jimmy Ruffin, who was also on the bill.
The 55-year-old grandmother said: “I’ve been mad on Jimmy Ruffin since I was 16, he was the reason I bought the tickets.
“We found out the show had been cancelled at 6.30pm on Tuesday when St George’s rang to say that due to Mr Gest having flu, they would not be able to put the show on.
“We are both really disappointed because we had both been looking forward to it.”
After reading that the concert had been cancelled in the Telegraph & Argus, Mrs Rhodes found out he was due to appear at Southport Theatre on Tuesday night.
She said: “He was on at 7.30pm in Southport and we had been told an hour earlier that he had ‘flu. He can’t have been very ill.”
David Gest…My Life! Includes performances from some of the biggest names in soul.
Percy Sledge heads a line-up which includes Peabo Bryson, Jimmy Ruffin, Deniece Williams and The Temptations.
Mrs Rhodes said she had wanted to see Jimmy Ruffin again, who she had first seen at the former Batley Variety Club as a 16-year-old girl.
St George’s Hall has offered refunds to those who bought tickets.
David Gest was unavailable for comment.
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