Hear'Say and Liberty X are reuniting for a joint UK and Ireland arena tour, titled Popstars: The Originals, to commemorate 25 years since both groups were formed on the ITV series Popstars. The tour will feature four original members of Hear'Say, excluding Myleene Klass, alongside Liberty X.
Popstars origins and chart success
Hear'Say was formed in 2001 when Danny Foster, Myleene Klass, Kym Marsh, Suzanne Shaw, and Noel Sullivan won the first British series of the international Popstars franchise. The ITV reality competition was billed as a documentary on the formation of a pop group, with no public vote. Instead, the documentary-style series followed hopefuls as they were whittled down from thousands of auditions to just 10, from which judges Nigel Lythgoe, Nicki Chapman, and Paul Adam selected the winning group.
The programme documented the new band recording and promoting their first single, Pure and Simple, ending on the night the single charted at number one on the UK Singles Chart. After hits such as Pure And Simple and The Way To Your Love, Kym quit the band in February 2002, and Hear'Say officially split months later after less than two years together. Liberty X was formed with the show's five other finalists: Michelle Heaton, Jessica Taylor, Kelli Young, Tony Lundon, and Kevin Simm.
Members' careers since the split
Since the split, Danny Foster met his wife, Victoria Goddard, in 2003, and the pair formed Danny Foster & The Big Soul Corporation. In 2013, he auditioned for The Voice UK, but no coaches turned around for him. He is now said to be a meditation and yoga practitioner, sharing routines on social media.
Kym Marsh pursued a solo career, releasing the album Standing Tall in 2003, which peaked at number nine in the UK charts. She joined Coronation Street in 2006 as Michelle Connor, winning British Soap Award for Best Newcomer in 2007 and the Newcomer category at the 2007 National Television Awards. She left the soap in 2019 after 13 years. She has since hosted BBC's Morning Live and Murder in My Home, and appeared in The Syndicate in 2021 and Waterloo Road in 2023. She has also performed in stage tours including Greatest Days, 101 Dalmatians, Fatal Attraction, and Single White Female.
Kym has said the reunions are "going to be emotional" in an interview with the Press Association. "We were just young famous kids who had a dream, and that dream came true for us," she added. "We had amazing fans, and we had a wonderful time… and we did an arena tour all those years ago. So the prospect of being able to go out and do it again and not only with each other, but with Liberty X, is really exciting."
Reunion details and Myleene's absence
Suzanne Shaw turned to acting, with West End roles in Summer Holiday, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, and The Rocky Horror Show. She joined The Bill in 2007, won Dancing On Ice in 2008, and played Eve Birch in Emmerdale until 2011. She has since launched her own health and fitness brand. Of the reunion, she told PA: "This is really big, and this is brand new again for us, so it's been really emotional. We're loving every minute of it."
Noel Sullivan starred in Fame, Love Shack, What a Feeling, and the lead role of Danny in Grease in the West End, as well as the lead in the world premiere of Flashdance. He is co-director of London International Theatrical Arts (LITA), and is married to choreographer James Bennett.
Myleene Klass is the only original member not joining the reunion. She has had success with classical music albums, hosting The One Show and Popstar to Operastar, and her own radio show on Smooth Radio. She appeared on I'm A Celeb in 2006 and won the All Stars spin-off in 2023. Speaking on Loose Women, she said: "They were really sweet, and they did include me in the discussions, but it's not something I can commit to at the moment. I just really can't... I'm just super busy. I've got my work and I love the guys dearly. It was an incredibly important time in my life."
At the announcement, Hear'Say said: "Coming back together after 25 years is something that's incredibly special to all of us. It's a chance to celebrate an unforgettable chapter in our lives, reconnect with each other and relive so many amazing memories. We are so excited to be celebrating with everyone and honestly can't wait to reconnect with the Hear'say fans. To relive those amazing memories together and create some new ones along the way is going to be very special. We are counting down the days and can't wait to see you there."
