Rochelle Humes has directly addressed persistent rumours of a feud with her former The Saturdays bandmate, Frankie Bridge, firmly shutting down speculation and insisting the group always shared a deep mutual respect. The presenter and singer, 36, made the comments in a new interview with Hunger magazine, where she also debuted a striking blonde pixie cut wig.
The Cryptic Posts That Fuelled Speculation
Despite both women repeatedly denying any fallout, rumours of a rift went into overdrive last year. The speculation intensified after Frankie posted a cryptic TikTok video just weeks after the pair were reportedly seen keeping their distance at the Wimbledon tennis tournament in June. The video, set to Avril Lavigne's 'What The Hell', was captioned: 'You're so quiet… Thanks, you said something five years ago and I've just realised you're actually dead to me.'
An onlooker at Wimbledon claimed Rochelle and Frankie sat on opposite sides of a hospitality suite and 'kept to themselves', though they were said to be pleasant when they briefly crossed paths. Their fellow bandmate Mollie King was also at the event but was not seen interacting with either. Representatives for both stars have consistently stated there is 'absolutely no feud'.
'We've Always Had Such Respect'
In her Hunger magazine feature, Rochelle was unequivocal in dismissing the gossip. 'We've always had such respect for each other,' she stated. Addressing the band's 2014 split, she suggested the public often craved drama that wasn't there. 'Everyone wanted that drama for us. They couldn't understand the idea that, actually, five girls [could] get on.'
She elaborated on their dynamic, describing it as familial. 'Don't get me wrong, we had disagreements, but we were like sisters. Everyone expected [being in a girl band] to be really traumatic, but it wasn't.' Rochelle explained the split was more a natural evolution than a dramatic breakup. 'I don't think we even planned to not do anything again... We were all interested in doing our own thing for a bit.'
A Friendship Forged in Childhood
The bond between Rochelle and Frankie predates The Saturdays by years. The pair first met as children when they were selected for the pop group S Club Juniors in 2001, a spin-off from the hugely popular S Club 7. That group released six top 10 singles before disbanding in 2005.
Their paths converged again in 2007 during an open casting for a new girl group. Ironically, both had reservations. Frankie was initially reluctant to join 'another girl band', while Rochelle thought 'putting five girls together in The Saturdays sounds like a recipe for disaster.' However, they joined forces with Una Healy, Vanessa White, and Mollie King, finding major success with 13 top 10 singles.
The Elusive Reunion
Despite occasional hints, a full-scale Saturdays reunion has failed to materialise. The group last posed together as a five-piece in 2017 for Mollie's birthday. In recent years, members have given mixed signals. Una Healy told The Sun she was 'always poking' the group chat to organise a comeback.
However, Frankie expressed doubt in April 2024, saying on a podcast, 'I don't think there will be [a reunion]. Never say never… but I'd feel a bit old and a bit silly.' Rochelle echoed a similar sentiment in June, stating, 'Never say never, but I can't picture it.' She blamed busy schedules, noting their group chat is 'full of drink invites but nobody can pick a date.'
Developing a 'Thick Skin' in the Spotlight
Elsewhere in her candid interview, Rochelle reflected on growing up in the public eye from her early teens. She powerfully declared she has probably 'got the thickest skin in the world'. 'I've been in [the industry] for such a long time,' she said. 'Being young, [I] always heard the negatives or focused on the things that [I] needed to improve on, but I'm actually really grateful for that, because it made me want to really master the craft.'
Rochelle graced the cover of Hunger's January edition, modelling a series of sophisticated ensembles alongside her dramatic blonde pixie wig. While the rumours of discord continue to circulate online, her latest comments serve as a firm and nostalgic rebuttal, painting a picture of a successful, respectful, and enduring sisterhood from the world of pop.
