Rob Lea on ITV Starstruck: The TV Journey that helped Put Majesty on the Map
- Majesty Queen Tribute
- Jan 1
- 4 min read
Rob Lea’s appearance as Freddie Mercury on ITV’s Starstruck remains one of the defining moments in the story behind Majesty. Reaching the final and performing to a national television audience, Rob’s Starstruck journey helped introduce more people to the stage presence, vocal power and Freddie-inspired showmanship that now sit at the heart of Majesty’s live show.
Public coverage of Rob’s career since then has continued to reference that Starstruck run as a key milestone, while live reviews of Majesty have linked Rob’s television recognition to the impact he now brings to the stage as frontman. So let's dive into the story that helped catapult Rob Lea and Majesty into the powerhouse production it is today.
Stepping onto the Starstruck stage
When Rob appeared on Starstruck, he stepped into one of the most iconic roles in music history: Freddie Mercury. As part of Team Freddie, he took on Queen classics in front of a judging panel that included Adam Lambert, Beverley Knight, Sheridan Smith and Jason Manford, before progressing through to the final. Rob then advanced from the Team Freddie sing-off to the final, where he performed “We Are the Champions.”
“Starstruck was a huge moment for me. Stepping onto that stage as Freddie Mercury was exciting, surreal, and something I’ll always be proud of.”
A memorable Team Freddie line-up
One of the things that made the Freddie episodes so memorable was the strength of the line-up. Rob shared the Team Freddie spotlight with Joe Gash and Michael Spence (Mickey Callisto), both of whom brought their own style and personality to the performances. That added to the energy of the show and made progressing through the Freddie rounds even more meaningful. Rob advanced through the Team Freddie battle and reached the final.
Since the show, it’s also been great to see others from that Freddie line-up continue finding attention in their own way. Mickey Callisto has gone on to attract a fresh wave of publicity through his recent Britain’s Got Talent appearances, and ITV News also covered his role in a viral Paris “Bohemian Rhapsody” flashmob with pianist Julien Cohen. It’s a nice reminder of how strong that Team Freddie group really was — and of how Starstruck gave all three performers a platform.
“It was great sharing that experience with Joe and Mickey. We were all stepping into Freddie’s world in our own way, and I think that’s part of what made those performances so special.”
Praise from the judges
The judges’ reaction remains one of the standout parts of Rob’s Starstruck journey, and it is one of the reasons the show still carries so much value for Majesty today. Adam Lambert’s praise in particular has become a lasting endorsement, with comments that continue to be referenced time .and time again.
Adam's quotes:
“When I close my eyes, I hear Freddie.”— Adam Lambert
“I’m so impressed with what you do.”— Adam Lambert
Rob Lea:
“To get feedback like that meant a huge amount to me. Adam knows that world, he understands the pressure of singing those songs, and hearing those words gave me a real boost.”
What the experience meant to Rob
For Rob, Starstruck was never just about dressing like Freddie or hitting the notes. It was about stepping into the energy, confidence and theatrics that made Queen such a powerful live act in the first place.
Rob Lea:
“Freddie is such an iconic figure, so there’s always pressure when you step into that world. For me, it was never about imitation alone — it was about capturing the energy, the showmanship and the spirit of those songs.”
“The show gave me exposure to a much wider audience, but more importantly it gave me confidence in what I was building as a performer.”
External coverage of Rob’s music career after Starstruck continued to identify him as a Starstruck runner-up and Freddie Mercury performer, linking the ITV exposure to the next stage of his career. That matters because it shows the appearance wasn’t just a TV moment — it became part of a larger story that continued to grow afterwards.
From Starstruck to Majesty
Starstruck helped shine a bigger light on the performer Rob Lea was becoming, but the real value of that moment is in what came next. Since the show, Majesty has continued to grow as a major live Queen production, touring across the UK and internationally. Reviews of Majesty have explicitly mentioned Rob’s Starstruck connection, while describing the live show as electric and praising the energy he brings to the front of the band.
“That experience definitely helped shape the next chapter for me. A lot of what people now see in Majesty grew from that period of my journey.”
“I’ve always wanted to give audiences a real live experience — something exciting, emotional and memorable — and Starstruck helped shine a light on that.”
For audiences, the Starstruck story adds another layer of excitement, but most importantly, it helped reinforce the qualities that still define Majesty now: vocal presence, theatrical confidence, and a live celebration of Queen that audiences respond to night after night.
A key chapter in the Majesty story
From the Starstruck stage to theatres, festivals and international tour dates, Rob Lea’s Freddie Mercury journey remains an important chapter in the story of Majesty. It introduced a wider audience to the performer behind the frontman, brought national TV recognition, and helped lay part of the foundation for the success that followed.
As Majesty continues to grow, Rob’s Starstruck journey remains one of the clearest examples of why the show continues to connect so strongly with audiences — and why it continues to stand out with venues, promoters and Queen fans alike.
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