Gareth's new image - April 18 2007
Gareth Gates has apparently insisted his squeaky-clean days are behind him.

The former Pop Idol runner-up - who failed to make the Top 10 with his comeback single Changes last week - says he's sure he'll hit the tabloids for his partying, reports the Daily Star.

"I'm only 22. I'm sure there'll be plenty of pictures of me falling out of clubs drunk," he's quoted as saying. "I like to go out and have a good time - why not?"

The singer doesn't seem to be upset about his new track entering the charts at 14, as he believes it will take time to win chart success.

"It's not going to be like the old days. This time we've got a great album and it's more personal," he said.

"If it makes the Top 10 that'd be great but I'm realistic that I've been away for a while so it's going to take a couple of singles to get where I want to be as an artist."

Gareth's new album, Pictures Of The Other Side, is out this month.

No top 10 comeback for Gareth Gates - April 16 2007
One-time darling of the charts and the original Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates has failed to make the top 10 with his latest track.

Gates, now 22, recently launched a second tilt at the charts after his first taste of pop stardom, off the back of the television talent show, ended in 2003.

But Changes, the new song from the singer, who came second to Will Young on the first ever series of Pop Idol, only made it to number 14 - in contrast to his earlier successes.

Cult Scottish folk twins the Proclaimers also fell short - missing out on four weeks at number one after being knocked off the top spot by Timbaland’s new track Give It To Me.

Timbaland’s song rose seven places up the chart to take the number one slot, while (I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles fell to number four.

Mark Ronson’s track Stop Me, a cover version of The Smiths’ track Stop Me If You Think That You’ve Heard This One Before, rose four places to number two - eight places higher than the 80s Manchester indie band ever scored in the UK charts.

Canadian rocker Avril Lavigne’s latest offering Girlfriend fell one place to three.

Beyonce and Shakira’s collaboration Beautiful Liar climbed from 10 to five, with Gwen Stefani featuring Akon with The Sweet Escape behind them at six.

Fray’s How To Save A Life fell three places to seven, Fergie and Glamorous were at eight, Alex Gaudino and Destination Calabria at nine and the Kaiser Chiefs’ Ruby at 10.

Kings of Leon and Because Of The Times held on to the number one spot in the album chart, with Cascada and Everytime We Touch at two and Take That’s Beautiful World a non-mover at three.

Gareth praises home town support - April 13 2007
Gareth Gates has continued his comeback bid with a performance in his home town of Bradford.

The Pop Idol runner-up, whose last album release was in 2003, appeared at HMV for a signing to promote his new album Changes.

Gareth, 22, who suffered from stammering during the ITV talent show, praised fans and the people of Bradford for continuing to support him.

"It feels great to be home, I try to get home as often as I can as my family still live here and Bradford will always be home to me," he said.

"I spend a bit of time in London obviously because of work but it always feels really great to be back.

"The people are great and the amount of support that everyone’s given me and continue to give me is fantastic," he added.