Hear'Say and Liberty X are reuniting for a joint 13-date arena tour of the UK and Ireland, marking 25 years since they formed on the TV talent show Popstars. The tour, named Popstars: The Originals, will include a Newcastle show and tickets go on general sale from 9am on October 16.
Reunion details and lineup
Hear'Say, who won the competition in 2001, will be represented by Kym Marsh, Suzanne Shaw, Danny Foster and Noel Sullivan, with Myleene Klass not taking part. Liberty X, formed by the five other finalists, will feature Gateshead's Michelle Heaton, Jessica Taylor, Kelli Young, Tony Lundon and Kevin Simm.
The tour marks the first time the two groups will perform together. Hear'Say, known for hits such as Pure And Simple and The Way To Your Love, split in 2002 but are reuniting a quarter of a century later for these shows.
Tour dates and ticket information
The tour begins in April in Dublin, before visiting Belfast, Bournemouth, Nottingham, Brighton, Cardiff, Birmingham and Leeds, ahead of the Newcastle show. It will then move on to Glasgow, London, Manchester and Liverpool.
Local star Heaton said: "To be on such a big stage in front of that many people again at this point in life after 25 years, it's really humbling. We've all got children amongst us - and a couple of us have grandchildren - and they're going to see what we got to do years ago once again."
Stars reflect on the reunion
Heaton called it "the most exciting thing." Marsh, who forged a successful career from her noughties fame, said the reunions are "going to be emotional" during an interview with the Press Association. "We were just young famous kids who had a dream, and that dream came true for us," the former Coronation Street star added.
Taylor said: "We didn't know what we were letting ourselves in for - there had never been a show like that before. Now we're parents, so you look at it through different eyes." Shaw told PA that Hear'Say have "not sung together for 25 years" since their dramatic split, adding: "This is really big and this is brand new again for us so it's been really emotional."
