Gareth Gates has revealed that his daughter has passed her driving test. The singer, 42, is father to 17-year-old Missy with ex-wife Suzanne Mole, whom he split from in 2012 after four years of marriage.
Proud father's Instagram announcement
On Thursday, the star took to social media to reveal that Missy had managed to obtain her driving licence, six months after she celebrated her seventeenth birthday.
He wrote on Instagram: "My beautiful (not so little) princess passed her driving test today. Well done @missygates_x Daddy is super proud of you How do I have a daughter that’s 17 and can drive?!"
Fans congratulate the family
Gareth was inundated with messages of congratulations to pass onto his daughter.
One fan wrote: "Many congratulations to Misty for passing her driving test. You must be so proud of her. I’m still eagerly waiting for my full driving license. I’ve got my test next January."
Another said: "Fabulous and congratulations.. toot toot," and a third said: "Well done Missy! can't believe you have grown up so much into a lovely young adult,it seems like yesterday when you were a little girl, congratulations."
Gareth's own driving history and career
Gareth himself learned to drive in his late teens, and was seen taking lessons on the set of Celebrity Driving School for Red Nose Day, on which he featured alongside Loose Women star Nadia Sawalha, the late Paul O'Grady and EastEnders' Natalie Cassidy - although none of them actually passed their test whilst on the show.
Gareth shot to fame as a teenager when he competed on Pop Idol in 2002, eventually finishing as runner-up behind Will Young. Following his stint on the show, he released hit singles such as Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake) and a cover of Unchained Melody.
He then transitioned into a successful stage career, starring in shows like Les Miserables and Legally Blonde. In more recent years, he has toured with The SpongeBob Musical and Boyband in the Buff.
Personal life and relationships
Gareth, who has won Celeb SAS: Who Dares Wins in 2023 and previously competed on Dancing on Ice, does not often share glimpses of his family life on social media but he is currently in a relationship with dating West End actress Allana Taylor.
It's believed the couple met when they appeared in a pantomime production of Jack and the Beanstalk at the Hull New Theatre towards the end of 2022. Gareth played the title role, Jack, at the theatre in Hull whilst Allana is understood to have played his love interest Princess Jill.
Following his split from Missy's mum, Gareth found love again with fellow stage star Faye Brookes, who is known to TV audiences for her role as Kate Connor on Coronation Street. The two met during their time in the musical Legally Blonde and went public with their relationship in 2013. Gareth proposed to Faye in 2019, but by August of the same year, their relationship had ended.
In the following year, Gareth was romantically involved with DJ Chloe McLennan, whom he met in Ibiza but they parted ways in December 2022.
