A familiar face from one of Britain’s biggest groups spent a week in November 2006 blending into everyday seaside life.
Ian “H” Watkins, the charismatic star from Steps, was in town for his leading role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Weymouth Pavilion.
While his 12‑metre silk coat dazzled audiences each night, locals were just as delighted to find the singer quietly going about his days in the town.
Ian Watkins (H) as Joseph in Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat
During his stay, residents recall spotting him relaxing over dinner at the Italian restaurant Prezzo or fitting in trips to the gym between performances.
According to the town’s then‑tourism spokesman Paul Beecroft, H was hard to miss but impossible not to like.
He described him as professional, dedicated, and warmly received by everyone he met, adding that Watkins delivered an outstanding performance every single time he stepped on stage.
Ian Watkins from Steps performs in Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat
Following his week in Weymouth, H went on to appear in Celebrity Big Brother in 2007, earning a respectable fourth‑place finish.
Steps later reunited after a five‑year pause, returning in 2017 with new music and renewed popularity.
More recently, Steps have continued their reunion with fresh momentum, celebrating their 25th anniversary and releasing the Platinum Collection, a number one album that marked yet another milestone in their long run of chart success.
The group have also remained active on stage, producing the new jukebox musical Here & Now, featuring many of their best‑loved hits and keeping their music firmly in the spotlight.