Here at The X Factor we don’t go by a one strike and you’re out policy.  You just have to look at Alexandra’s success with her second attempt on the show and Rikki Loney’s triumphant return at the auditions to see why the judges sometimes offer a second chance.

Well, it may be Stacey McClean’s first time on The X Factor, but as a former member of S Club Juniors she feels her audition is a second shot at stardom.  After forming in 2001, the eight piece group had eight singles and reached Number 2 three times.

With her fellow band mates Stacey made three albums, enjoyed two UK tours and made regular TV appearances, so it’s no wonder the Blackpool babe has had trouble living life out of the limelight

“Obviously, being in the band, I’ve had that taste of music and performing. I’ve had a nine to five job for the past five years, but it doesn’t really make me happy."  Revealed Stacey, still buzzing after her performance.

"I’ve always wanted to come on The X Factor, but my past has been one thing that’s held me back every year, but I just feel so proud of myself to have come today and be given another chance!”

Despite the 20-year-old's previous experience in the all-singing, all-smiling gang she admits the auditions in front of a 2,000 strong audience still had her fighting back the nerves.

“I wasn’t expecting it to be so nerve racking! It was really overwhelming but I really enjoyed it.”

And so too, it seems, did the judges who gave Stacey some kind words and some invaluable advice following her performance.

“I think the judges were happy with my song. Although, Simon and Louis did say I need to choose some different songs because they were too big for me. Danni and Cheryl were really nice… they said that thank god that S Club Juniors broke up!”

So with her first brush with stardom coming to an abrupt end - what makes the 20-year-old think this time will be any different?

“It’s so many years ago that I was in the band, I feel like I’ve grown up and I’m more mature… I’m just really excited!”

Roll on bootcamp!

Credit

EQ Interviews Frankie From The Saturdays - "Getting drunk on tequila is not something The Saturdays would sing about..."

Aaron's Quotes:                                               

''I still have to tidy my room like any other kid.''

''I think we're really lucky as a group because we have some of the nicest fans you could imagine. Thank you everyone for your support.' '

''Calvin's a really laid-back and very caring person. I've been really fortunate to find a great friend in him.''

''Don't let anybody get you down. Always do your best. That's all anybody can ask of you. Oh, and keep dreaming.''

''I love performing live and seeing our fans having a fab time and singing along.''

''I wouldn't kiss any of the girls - they wear too much lip gloss and it's all sticky!''

''We’re just a normal bunch of kids''

Calvin's Quotes:                                                      

''Frankie is always ready first, so she tells us to hurry up and get ready''

''It's a really weird feeling having strangers call your name out. Sometimes I'm not sure if they're shouting at me. I just don't see myself as the guy everyone fancies.''

''I hardly get any attention from the girls. They all love Aaron.''

''It's always important to believe in yourself. Don't ever pretend to be someone else and always set your mind to doing the best that you can do.''

''I've had people ask for autographs on the soles of their shoes. I can't help thinking that the autographs are just going to come off anyway, so what's the point?''

Daisy's Quotes:

''I love roller coasters! I’d go on any ride''

''My advice to anyone who wants to to be a pop star is to go to lessons and auditions. If you don't get one audition don't give up. Keep trying.''

''You know, when I went for my audtition to get into SCJ I didn't even think that I would get through the first round. All the kids there were so talented and all I had was my little dance routine. There was even one girl who was doing back flips.''

''Hannah's really funny and she's always there when I need someone to talk to.''

''I went to Hannah's house at the weekend. We both went out and a boy came up to us and asked us to sign his forehead. It was hard because the pen kept getting stuck between the lines on his forehead. He was only about nine and he was really sweet.''

Frankie's Quotes:

''I need the toilet skippy!''

''I like biting people!''

''I love that people know they can come and talk to me about whatever's on their minds. I guess you could call me the mother figure of the SCJ.''

''You know, I feel like I've know Stacey, Hannah, Daze, Roch, Calv, Jay and Aaron all my life. A couple of years ago I'd never have thought I'd be surrounded by such a wonderful bunch of people, doing the thing I love most in the world. I guess it's true what they say - you never know what lies around the corner.''

''Our fans are the greatest. They've been so generous with all their support and I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart.''

''I've know Rochelle for ages and I'm very close to her. In fact, we went to the SCJ auditions together.''

''It doesn't matter how old or young you are, if you work hard enough at what you love you'll get to exactly where you want to be.''

Hannah Quotes:

''Even our folks sing along to our songs. They know all the words - it's so embarrasing!''

''I met Victoria Beckham and she was lovely. I was so excited I got an autograph for Roch and Frankie, but I forgot to get one for myself.''

''I can't really cook anything aside from cakes, but my all-time fave is chocolate cake with melted chocolate.''

''Although I don't pick up a routine straight away I always try my best.''

''I share a room with Stacey and I think she's lovely, sweet and really kind.''

''I really like performing to uoung children. I love watching the energy in their faces and I love seeing them singing along and enjoying themselves.''

''Keep trying and never give up, even if you don't succeed the first time. Nothing works if you don't try hard enough and keep giving up.''

Jay's Quotes:

''We met Emma Bunton – she was really short''

''I'd love to be like Usher one day. I just think he works really hard at what he does and that inspires me.''

''I think people are going to be very surprised by some of the material we've recorded. The album's going to be phat.''

''When we went to Scotland we went to McDonald's and there were people looking at us everywhere. It was strange.''

''Rochelle and I have a good bond. I can tell her anything. We often get up to trouble and mischief together.''

''All you have to do is start off with a dream and, with hard work and persistence, watch it blossom into a reality.''

Rochelle's Quotes:

''I like looking after everyone - I’m not bossy, just caring''

''I enjoyed the auditions to get into SCJ so much I want to go and do them again. They were just so much fun.''

''I like to see everyone around me happy at all times. It's almost like a mission of mine.''

''I love all the Juniors dearly and I can't imagine what it would be like without them in my life.''

''Jay and I are always playing around. We especially like to take the mickey out of our tutors. But in a good way of course.''

''I was in the car with my mum being stupid and siging to music. We pulled up at the traffic lights and all these kids were watching me. That will teach me.''

''Keep trying. It may take a while but never give up on your dream. And always remember that if you believe in yourself you could be in a magazine like this.''

Stacey's Quotes:

''I'd never danced before Juniors. I just pick it up!''

''I love being tutored. My favourite subject is drama. I have been known to be a bit of a drama queen from time to time.''

''I was in McDonald's with my mum and a boy asked me to sign his face. He only had a permanent marker pen but he still wanted me to do it. Just imagine - there could still be a boy out there with my name on his face.''

''Daisy's quite mad and funny and I can tell her anything. She's fun to be around.''

''Keep a smile on your face and always do your best. Oh, and try to stay focused on your dreams.'

S Club are hitting the road again, and this time they'll be getting a little help from the Juniors.

In a top tour of pop fun - called S Club United - both S Clubs are joining forces for a UK tour in 2003.

The bands will be playing 12 dates in six different cities, and tickets are already on sale.

The S Club Juniors did appear on the same stage as S Club on the Carnival tour, but only as special guests - this time they're the support act.

			Fact File
	The dates
		2 & 3 April - Glasgow SECC
		5 April - Newcastle Telewest Arena
		8 & 9 April - Sheffield Arena
		12 April - MEN Arena
		15 & 16 April - Birmingham NEC
		19 & 20 April - London Docklands Arena
		23 & 24 April - Wembley Arena

S Club said: "We just can't wait to get back on the road! There's nothing like being up on stage with the crowd singing along with you - it's awesome."

S Club Juniors said: "Supporting S Club on tour last year was a dream come true for us. It was our first experience of performing to big crowds and we can't wait to get back out there, especially now we have our very own fans to perform to."

Tickets are already available on the S Club Tour Ticket Hotline, 0870 163 3406 or from the concert venues.

 

 

 

Boys Interview

Time to hit the roller disco - are you pros or would you spend most of the time on your bum?
Aaron: I'm alright. I'm quite good at rollerblading with the other kids all the time.
Calvin: These ones with four wheels are harder to manoeuvre. I used to go rollerblading with Jay quite a lot actually, didn't I?
Jay: Yeah, You know when you're little, everyone usually has a bike or something-I always had rollerblades. I haven't been on them for ages but I'm getting some new ones for my birthday.

Did you ever have any accidents?
Calvin: Jay went into a wall! He went down a steep hill and there was a sharp bend at the bottom,but instead of turning, he went into a wall.
Jay: I actually flipped over the wall and landed in the bush behind it. It was really funny!
Calvin: Once I fell over on my rollerblades in a shop. Jay's mum was inside and we were told to wait outside, which is a bit boring, so I went in. But the floor was so slippery I fell right over on my bum!

Who in S Club 8 is the biggest party animal?
Aaron: Rochelle or Frankie.
Calvin: Yeah,they're always going out to under-18 clubs and stuff.
Aaron: We don't go out with them cos we live in different areas. I don't know if they're lying to us, though, and are actually going out to kids' places!
Calvin: I think they'd get embarrassed if we went along with them.
Jay: Yeah, they're all looking at boys, but if we went out with the girls, boys won't be interested in them!

Any embarrassing dance moves, boys?
Aaron: The thing with the girls is that they all do this...[ Wiggles his shoulders and moves his feet from side to side.]
Calvin: All girls do that! I think it's cos they do it on those dance machines. They also know exactly what's coming up in a song and they've got the dance routine worked out already.
Jay: You know that song Hey, Baby ? They all do a dance to that.
Aaron: Or they all copy each other

You're dancing away at a disco when Fool No More comes on - what do you do?
All: Run away!
Aaron: Sometimes DJs think it's funny to play our songs if they know we're there.
Jay: It happened to me once and I just left!
Aaron: I went back to my old dance school to present an award the other day. I just sat at the back and watched and then they performed Automatic High. I went bright red and everyone turned around and looked at me. It was the most embarrassing thing ever!

When did you last slow dance?
Jay: Frankie's party.
Calvin: When we first got into the band, Frankie got us boys to dance with some of her friends.
Aaron: And the BBC were filming a documentary of us at the time. It was so embarrassing!
Calvin: We were dancing away and we didn't know who the girls were! It was funny.

Does being in the band make it harder to meet people?
Calvin: Yeah, cos when you're at home you go out with people and then you'll still see them around. But in London you don't get to know people. It's like when we went to Frankie's party - we never saw those people again. It's a one-off thing.

When did you last get to know a girl?
Calvin: Actually, Aaron's got a girlfriend!
Aaron: Yeah, her name's Jess. I met her when I went home for three weeks. She joined my school but I'd left to join the band, so I didn't really know her. But it's good she's from where I come from cos I've got to know her. We don't want it to get too serious though cos I'm away a lot.

Are you guys jealous of Aaron having a girlfriend?
Calvin: She is hot!
Jay: Yeah, she's really cute.
Calvin: She looks like Mary-Kate and Ashley. Me and Jay are gonna go out on the pull every night now!
Jay: Nah, I'm gonna get Aaron's girlfriend! She's gonna leave you!
Aaron: No she won't!
Jay: She doesn't like you anyway, ha-ha!

Who would spend all night chatting up the babes?
Calvin: I think it'd be the girls! Boys get more embarrassed.
Jay: Girls don't care. Like Stacey will just keep going 'hee-hee' [does an impression of a high-pitched girlie giggle] to everything a boy says.
Calvin: Girls don't chat boys up. They just go all giggly. I think it's daunting for boys cos girls are usually out in a big group.

The party's stilll going and your curfews up - what do you do?
All: Stay!
Jay: I'd text my parents and ask them if I could stay longer.
Aaron: Or you could put your watch back half an hour. I used to do that when I was little.

Finally, any embarrasing party moments?
Jay: I fell flat on my face at the ice rink and everyone laughed!
Aaron: We had a party at my house and I went to check out the new pond in the garden. I was standing there looking when a friend pushed me in! I still had my phone in my pocket. When I got out I was dripping wet. Everyone was laughing and I had to have a shower!

Party On!

Guests
Calvin: Robbie, he'd probably be quite funny and Rachel Stevens cos she's really hot.
Aaron: Beyonce - She'd be really good at dancing - and the Olsen twins.
Jay: Yeah, Beyonce would be good. I'd invite Harvey So Solid and Alesha Mis-Teeq, too - the'yre wicked, I really like them.

Food
Jay: We'd eat hot dogs, Indian and Chinese food and loads of popcorn!
Aaron: I'd have burgers at my party.
Calvin: I'd eat lots of chunky chips.

Venue
Jay: I'd have mine at the Trocadero in London - I went to the after show party for the premiere of Spy Kids there. It rocks!
Calvin: I'd have mine at Alton Towers.
Aaron: Mine would be at some kind of waterpark, like Splash Landings at Alton Towers. That would be cool.


Girls Interview

Right girls, now it's your turn. Are any of you good at skating?
Hannah: I'm rubbish at skating!
Rochelle: I don't spend a lot of time on my bum, but I ain't great either!
Stacey: My mum used to be manager of a skating rink and we'd go there every night so I' m not that bad. Well, I dunno, it's a long time since I did it.
Frankie: I haven't fallen over today yet - but I did just crash into someone with a cup of water and spilit it all over her back!

What's the best party you've ever been to?
Daisy: My 11th birthday party was brilliant. We hired a big hall and my dad DJ-ed. I didn't think anyone was going to come but everyone turned up.
Stacey: I had a suprise party for my 13th birthday. I was gobsmacked. I hadn't made an effort to dress up or anything so I just wanted to go homw and change!
Hannah: A good party has good music,nice food....
Rochelle: And boys!
Frankie: I went to a disco the other day but the boys weren't that good looking. I haven't got a boyfriend at the moment but I'm on the look out!

What's your most embarrasing party moment?
Daisy; Frankie had a bubble machine at her party and it made the floor slippery. I went to walk over the dancefloor and just went whoosh! I had a skirt on, too!
Frankie: When i was younger I was doing the hokey cokey and I went zooming in and i banged my head. I was in so much pain, it really hurt and I was really embarrassed!

If you were at a house party and everyone started trashing the place, would you join in?
Rochelle: It always looks cool in films when they have pillow fights and all the feathers go everywhere - that'd be lots of fun!
Stacey: I'd join in and then help clear up after!
Frankie: I'd get everyone to stop. It'd make me so mad cos I hate people making a mess - it's so rude! If it were my house I'd be like, 'Get out right now!'

Have you ever slow danced with the S Club 8 boys?
Rochelle: We did at Frankie's birthday disco - but only for a laugh, not in a boyfriend or girlfriend way.
Stacey: There weren't any other boys there I really wanted to slow dance with.
Frankie: You can slow dance with someone even if you don't fancy them. I've had loads of slow dances....that makes me sound terrible, ha-ha!
Daisy: The first time I slow danced with a boy, my older sister, Alice, kept coming up to me going,
'Oooh, you're slow dancing with a boy!' It was so embarrassing!

Have you ever snogged a boy at a disco?
Hannah: I haven't.
Rochelle: Well Hannah's in a long-term relationship. They're really serious with each other, its so cute.
Hannah: Yeah, iI'm going out with a boy called Matt. I met him at my sister's school disco. We've been going out for seven months now, he's really lovely and he gets on well with everyone in the group.
Rochelle: I've got one, too. I met him through my aunt. His name is James and I've only been seeing him for a couple of weeks. I text him and ring him all the time and he's coming down to my house this weekend.
Hannah: I first kissed Matt in the swimming pool, well not in the pool but at the place.
Rochelle: I first kissed James at the train station. You've got to remember your first kiss with someone!

Who spends a night out chatting everyone up?
Rochelle: The boys haven't got much front, they kind of wait to be chatted up themselves. Me and Stacey are confident about going up to boys.
Stacey: It's always been successful!
Frankie: One time, me and Rochelle were talking to some boys as friends and she says, 'So, are you gonna buy us a drink?' And they did! We asked them to dance but as we walked off we lost them in the crowd.

Do your parents mind you going on dates?
Hannah: All our parents our cool. My mum and dad know Matt really well and I know his mum and dad.
Frankie: Normally dads ask questions but my dad just goes, 'Are you alright, mate?' You'd expect my dad to be funny about it but he's not and I like that. If he doesn't like them he doesn't tell me until I've broken up - he knows it's up to me.

If Busted invited you to a party but your chaperones said you couldn't go, would you sneak out anyway?
Frankie: I'd be very tempted to sneak out but I don't know if I'd have the guts. It'd be too good to miss though - you can't turn down a showbiz party!
Daisy: Maybe we'd just have to persuade our parents that we had to go.
Rochelle: I'd sneak out! I'd put some pillows in my bed, prop it up, put a little doll there so theres some hair showing and then go out!

If a boy you really fancied fell flat on his bum at the roller disco, what would you do?
Rochelle: I'd laugh! Well, if I liked him I'd go over and say, 'Are you alright?' then walk away. I'd play it cool.
Hannah: Aah, poor boy!
Stacey: You could ask if he wants you to rub it better!
Daisy: It'd be easy to start a conversation with him if you did fancy him.
Frankie: I'd laugh and help him up but I wouldn't let him live it down! If i knew he was ok I'd go, 'Ha-ha-ha!' Boys never let you live things down, do they?

Party On

Guests
Rochelle: Lemar, B2K and Posh'n'Becks.
Hannah: And their little kids, they're so cute!
Daisy: Celebrities, family, friends and boys!

Food
Stacey: Junk! Choclate, sweets, crisps and chicken vol-au-vents - I love chicken vol-au-vents!
Frankie: Chinese take-away! I like seaweed, spare ribs and special fried rice.
Hannah: At parties you don't usually eat - when you're excited you don't get hungry!

Venue
Rochelle: A rooftop in New York with a pool, it would be a bikini party. That'd be wicked!
Stacey: I'd go in the pool but I wouldn't want to get my hair wet!
Daisy: Miami beach I love beach parties. We'd have a barbecue and a massive DJ booth with lots of lights - I don't think my dad would be DJ-ing though!
Frankie: At home, and if there's no parents there that's even better!

It's a slobber fest! That's right, the S Club 8 boys spilled the beans on the secret of the perfect smacker. Pucker up buttercups...

TOTP: Is there anything that really grosses you out when kissing a girl?
Calvin: Studs! Urgh! Yeah studs in the tongue are really minging and it would probably crack your tooth.
Jay: Chewing gum would bug me...
Aaron:...Yeah, or bad breath!

TOTP: Would you ever snog a fan?
Calvin: Depends what they look like! We don't really get to know fans that well, as you can only have a short time with people. If I got to know them though and like them, I would...possibly..er...[Goes a bit pink!]

TOTP: Describe your ideal lady?
Jay: Beyonce or anybody that looks like her. That'd be fine for me! Everything about her is perfect.
Calvin: I'd like them to have nice eyes and have a good personality...
Aaron: Oh yeah, they've got to have a good personality and be fun.

TOTP: Name one thing that's better than a kiss.
Boys: [Fits of giggles]
Aaron: In what respect?

TOTP: Name anything else you'd rather do.
Aaron: [Blushes] Er...a snog! Or are you classing a kiss as a snog?

TOTP: Well yes, if you want to be exact about it. What's better than a snog?
Boys: [More giggles]
Jay: We're too young to know about that!

TOTP: We're not meaning rude stuff! Something like chocolate ice cream...
Calvin: A cuddle! [Aw! Sweet eh? - Ed]

Top tips

No longer the pop pip-squeaks of the charts, S Club 8 return with a funky new album and some nifty moves to rival Bustin Justin.

TOTP: 'Sundown' is a funky little number, are you pleased with it?
Rochelle: Yeah, it's quite similar to 'One Step Closer' really and it definitely gives you a taste of what our new album is like.



TOTP: There's some nifty moves in your new video, was it a difficult routine to learn?
Stacey: It was harder than some of the routines we did for the first album. The songs are more mature on this album, so the dance routines were too. It was definitely trickier to start with!

TOTP: So how long does it take to pick up the moves usually and did this one take you longer?
Hannah: It all depends what the song is like really. 'Sundown' is obviously very dance-y and upbeat, so the routine took us a two days to learn. Once we've learned the core moves of the routines though, it doesn't take us long to get it really polished.

TOTP: Do you have a fave routine or move?
Stacey: I think we've always enjoyed doing the dance routines, but 'Sundown' is probably our fave so far. It just more funky and cooler.

TOTP: Is there anyone that inspires you on the dancefloor?
Calvin: Well, our choreographer creates our routines, so we think he's pretty cool. We don't make up the routines ourselves really.
Jay: We all really like Justin Timberlake and his moves though. If we could, we'd add a few JT moves to our routines. But, we did have a little bit of input for the 'Sundown' routine. Our choreographer asked us to think of a move that each of us would like to put into the routine. So there's a little bit of each of us in the 'Sundown' number.

TOTP: Do you make up names for moves, to help you remember a routine?
Aaron: Yeah, the last one we did that with was for 'New Direction'. We did this move with our arms which we called 'Poppadom', because the track had an Indian feel about it!

TOTP: Ok, so who lags behind when learning routines and who's leaps and bounds ahead?
Frankie: Aaron and Daisy pick up the routines really quickly. They always add their own freestyle bits as well, while the rest of us are concentrating on getting the basic moves right.

TOTP: So boys, do you ever get teased for doing girly moves?
Calvin: Usually our choreographer puts in special moves for us. We're not usually doing exactly the same routine, just steps that complement one another.

TOTP: What's the dodgiest outfit you've ever had to wear for a routine?
Rochelle: We've never really had to wear anything we're not comfortable with. There is a different theme to each single though. The 'New Direction' routine and video was Bollywood-style, which was good fun and 'Automatic High' was summery. 'Sundown's' theme is all about how we've grown up more now, we wanted to show to everyone that we're not kids anymore. So, we're just wearing what any teenager would wear at a party in our latest video.

TOTP: Do ever break into a routine when out with friends?
Stacey: [Giggles] To be honest with you, it's a bit embarrassing for us. I don't think most of us would want to show off like that. When we hang out with friends, we just want to be normal with them.

TOTP: Ok spill the beans, have any of you ever had any dancing disasters or mis-haps on stage?
Frankie: [Sheepishly] I've fallen over a couple of times!
Everyone: [Giggles]
Frankie: I've done it twice now during live TV performances, and it's really embarrassing. The last time was on cd:uk, just the other weekend. It was during the actual show, I had to pick myself up and carry on, but I couldn't stop laughing!

S Club 8

Last year the colossal force of Gareth Gates kept S Club 8 of the top spot, but this year they clinch the Designer Magazine Best Pop Act of 2003 ahead of Busted and Blazin Squad. While everyone else is blinging and popping the crystal or clinging onto a guitar, the S Clubbers are keeping pure pop alive with a trio of classic singles "Fool No More", "Sundown" and "Don't Tell Me You're Sorry" released this year. The album "Sundown" is a modern day classic and sees the kids moving on from the 60s pastiches of the debut and embracing hi-energy electro pop that has "Kylie move over" written all over it. To celebrate their big win in the Designer Magazine Best Of 2003 Issue we caught up with Calvin Goldspink, who is so nice he really should be President or Prime Minister or something like it, and Frankie Sandford, who took us through S Club 8 in 2003.

Q: I believe today's going to be one of those once in a lifetime experiences. Tell our readers what it's like to be in S Club 8 for a day.
A: It's just a normal day of tutoring today, but we're going to the Lord Of The Rings Premiere tonight. It's the biggest thing ever cos I'm the biggest LOTR's buff ever. I'm so into it and with the first two it was like Oh My God I gotta wait till it comes out and tonight I'm actually going to meet them all. Last night as well we went to Leceister Square to do some Xmas shopping and ended up walking past where they were going to have the Peter Pan Premiere. But we didn't go it was too cold to hang around 2 hours for the start. But honestly mate, I so can't wait for tonight. It's going to be wicked.
 

Q: Some more good news for you then. You're the Best Pop Act of 2003 ahead of Busted and Blazin Squad in the Designer Magazine Best Of 2003 Issue. I know you're probably head to toe in Awards, but how does it feel?
A: Aaah, wicked. That's really good news. Wicked. Cool. We've only had one Award for the Best Newcomer in the Disney Channel Awards. Cos of our ages we don't really get into the MTV Awards and stuff because number were probably not old enough to be there which is a bit rubbish.
 

Q: How come you guys are so young and you always get all the best songs in pop?
A: I know we get some wicked songs written for us so it's really cool. We've got some really wicked people working for us and they're always a bit different, so it's cool doing something different every time I suppose.
 

Q: Some people lets be honest have lost it this year like Kylie, but you guys know what's best and you're still keeping it pure pop.
A: (Laughs) Yeah I know. It is pop music which I think is cool because there's not many big pop groups out there which are doing proper pop, it's all going R&B and stuff, so I think it's cool to keep pop going as well. Blue and a couple of other bands are the only ones out there that are doing proper pop, unless you include the Cheeky Girls but that's kind of cheese and I don't like that.
 

Q: I know, S Club are on of the few acts that don't do the whole sitting on stool shtick. Sad innit?
A: It's true cos there's a lot of bands who do. I think we are probably the only band, apart from Liberty X but they're still quite R&B-ey wouldn't you say, who do proper full on dance routines every time. I suppose that is better than just standing there and sitting on stools...everyones like eurgh by the end of it.
 

Q: How do you go about learning the dance routines then and more importantly who's the worst at learning them?
A: We've got choreographer called Gary and he's really good mates with us. When we did the auditions he was actually one of the people who decided the band and he's been with us ever since we started. At the start I gotta admit I was quite a pants dancer, I'm still kind of not very good, but I'm kind of getting accustomed to all his moves and stuff cos he's got a certain style with his moves and now we're kind of getting used to it. Out of everyone I'm still the slowest at picking all the dance routines up. Everyone's usually got it by the end of the day and then there's me 'oh no Calvin, not again'.  It must be frustrating for them if they can do it, but you can't do it - it is kind of funny though.
 

Q: Strangely enough aren't you a bit of a rock fan outside the S Club camp?
A: I used to be. It's quite old with me now. I used to be a skater and be really grunge. I know it sounds quite sad, but in my area everyone turned into a skater so I did before I got in the band. In the start of the group I really liked Linkin Park, and I know this is a really stupid change, but I like Will Young and stuff - more mellow sounds like Will and Jamiroquoi. I've moved onto that kind of bag, but I think it's just cos I'm getting older and the swearing thing every two minutes. All my mates used to like Slipknot and all that so you get bored of it.
 

Q: And the haircut's a throwback to your rock days then?
A: I actually got my hair cut the other day. I've still got it long on top and back, but I've got it shaved at the sides now. It's a bit of a mullet now I suppose (laughs). It's taken me a while to get used to it and I was wetting myself about going to the LOTR's premiere tonight.
 

Q: We've gotta ask you - have you and Alex Parks from Fame Academy got the same hairdressers then?
A: It's funny you should say that. Michelle, our hairstylist, actually went and did Alex the other day and she was like you and Alex and have got exactly the same hairstyle. I don't think mine's quite as long as hers, she's a bit longer.
 

Q: You've become a bit of a heart-throb to your teenage fans haven't you?
A: Do you think? It's quite cool I suppose. It's really nice to have people appreciate what you do and things. I don't take it the wrong way, but it is nice if people come up and ask you for an autograph and stuff. If you get a good feeling from doing something in your day playing Playstation or something, I get a good feeling from someone coming up asking for my autograph because it makes it a lot more worthwhile what you're doing.
 

Q: Did you get attention from the ladies before you were famous?
A: Not really. I've never been a massive all the girls flock round me type of guy. It's quite strange though because I don't really know how to describe it. It's strange but it's wicked none the less.
 

Q: What's the funniest banner you've seen from the stage?
A: Oh my god, that's really hard. We got thongs chucked on the stage once, that's was kind of funny. It's usually slogans that rhyme with your name and stuff, but I can't remember what they're like. It makes it quite special, because performing is the best thing ever. If I could do anything it would be to perform in people cos I love doing that. And it's even better if people are in the audience having a good time.
 

Q: Who gets the most fan mail out of you guys?
A: We all get some I suppose. Some people send it to your house - Calvin Goldspink, Aberdeen - and it usually gets to where you live. Or they send it to my mums shop and she passes it on to me.
 

Q: Goldspink's quite a rock n roll name isn't it?
A: Everyone always says that actually cos it's quite a weird name. I don't know where it's from but I was actually talking to one of my mates the other night and I said to him "I think it's Jewish or something" as a joke. And he was like it probably is, cos it is a weird name, it's not normal. But I think it's American. I think. It's weird (puts on strange dysfunctional voice) It doesn't matter to be different.
 

Q: It's that time when you have to start making New Years Resolutions. Where do you see you guys in 5 years time?
A: I suppose more albums and singles. That would be wicked. I don't know what the future holds. Hopefully we'll stay together and that would be wicked. Hey, we might even have dolls next year and be immortalized in doll form for ever and ever. Maybe a tour eventually because after doing to the tour with S Club it would be cool to do another one.
 

Q: And Calvin Goldspink international solo star?
A: I'd love to do that eventually, but I'm really enjoying it in the group. I think groups a lot of people do like to go solo, so I'm not going to deny it. It is something you have to aim for and I'd love to write my own music cos I'm learning to play the guitar at the moment.
 

Q: 2003 - the year S Club 8 grew up?
A: Yeah. I think it's nice to change and we grew older so we changed as well. This album was more what we were listening to.

Q: Did you not want to head urban and bling it?
A: I like listening to that sort of thing, but I don't thing we'd like to go like that. It's not us.

Q: What's been the best thing about being in S Club 8 in 2003?
A: When we went on tour it was so good. It was wicked. It went down with everyone really well. It's different every night as well because you get a different crowd everywhere you go.

Q: How do you cope with the change between tutoring and being a popstar?
A: It's fine because tutoring is the reality is of it and performing is the dream of it. So I think the tutoring keeps you down to earth. It's really nice to go home and be normal though.

Q: Is meeting all the other popstars still surprise you?
A: It's always really good cos you always have a such a laugh on things like SM:TV and The Saturday Show. Everyone's really nice everywhere you go.

Q: Who's the nicest popstar you've met this year?
A: Daniel Beddingfield is always good for advice.

Q: Who's the cutest guy you've met in pop then?
A: I like Will Young. I think he's cute. He's wicked as well. I'm not seeing anyone at the moment though, I'm still single.

Q: What are you getting for Xmas?
A: I don't know. I like clothes and money - I think that's what all kids of my age like. My mums good at keeping secrets though so I don't know what I'm getting.

Q: Tell us about your new single?
A: It's called "Don't Tell Me You're Sorry". Its a really cool song. A little bit older than what we've normally done. I think it's the best song we've done so far so I'm sure everyone else will like it.

Part 2

Has there been any inter-cast smooching?

George: Now, we were so busy out there (the series was shot in Barcelona). We'd see each other at our worst at 5.30am every day.

Frankie: No! We all bonded and became really good friends rather than checking each other out.

Rachel: There was no time out there for anything like that. We just had a laugh. I mean, I Love Matt to bits, but Brad Pitt he certainly ain't!

Aaron: We were more concerned about getting on with each other than romance. Next Question. (Oo-er, touchy!)

Is there a good process for learning lines?

Calvin: Just do it over and over again, all night long. I did a lot with Jay. We were meant to be best friends -  that was really difficult and a lot of practice needed, ha-ha!

Did you have any evil ways to put people off and upstage them?

Rachel: (Looking at Frankie) Kicking a glass of water everywhere?

Frankie: That wasn't me! We were doing a dance scene and first I knocked the bottle over, then i knocked a glass of water over it and it went everywhere.

George: Matt, who plays Felix, was terrible for that. If he wasn't on camera, he'd always be pulling faces and trying to make us laugh.

What's the cringiest thing you had to do?

Aaron: I always had bad costumes. I played Romeo in tights and boots with high heels, and a big feather hat.

George: Every time we'd go to costume, there'd be something silly hanging up and we'd be like, 'Bet that's Aaron's!'

What would you never do on film, even if begged?

Rachel: We're all professional actors so we'll do whatever is required for dramatic impact.

Aaron: I wouldn't do stuff with wasps and bees.

Calvin: Or snakes, cos I don't like them at all!

George: The worst experience we had was on a coach cos it got so hot. I'm going to have 'no coaches' written into my contact!

Frankie: I wouldn't go on a roller coaster -  I don't like them. I went on one in Fool No more video and cried the whole way round - it didn't even go upside down! They didn't get use it either cos i wasn't looking great.

Catch the senstational I Dream at 4.35pm from Wednesday 22nd September on BBC1, or catch the Sunday repeats on BBC2.

The name ‘From Above’ has been bought by a major global music management company with a strong base in Los Angeles, who on their acquisition of Airomusic (current management company) released all 5 members of ’From Above’ from their contract.

After a strategy meeting with regards to current music trends and industry requirements, it was decided ’from above’ would bring creditable melodic pop with an urban twist into a 5 piece harmony girl group.

All 5 members would not only have to look super sexy and be able to dance, but the vital ingredient would be all 5 have to be able to sing live harmony and not mime!

Bam music then set about closed auditions for a select few from past and present music industry. The auditions were held at the elite recording studios - Box Clever, Soho Studios, and London, managed by Robin Axford

Once the ’potential’ final 5 were selected, Hollywood Dance Academy and top Pineapple Studio’s UK choreographer Mark Battershall put them through their paces

From above are currently in the studio putting the finishes touches to their first track "Hummer" which has been written by top U.S.A. songwriters Audrey Martells and Gary Haase.

Audrey has written for many of the world’s greatest stars including George Benson and Randy Crawford ............................to name but a few. Gary’s credit are just as impressive having credits with Nsync, Celine Dion and Jessica Simpson.

Daisy is accustomed to the music world when at the age of 11 she was signed to 19 Entertainment where she became a member of ’Sclub8’. Having her first success under Polydor with ‘One step closer’ at the age of 12, ’SClub8’ followed this up by twice placing at number 2 with a further 4 successes in the record charts. ’SClub8’ also had 3 television shows with the most successful called ‘I Dream’ commissioned by the BBC. Daisy is young, charismatic and beautiful and is the bands very own “Baby Spice”. 


 

Ashley is the newest member of FROM ABOVE. 18 year old Ashley hails from Sheffield and shot to fame in 2007 as the lead singer of Team Arlene in the BBC’s Dance X. She’s never had any formal dance training yet became such an influential figure in the show.

Ashley’s already accustomed to success. In addition to her dancing, she was something of a child prodigy at gymnastics and by the age of 14 had already won more than 30 medals at various gymnastic championships. Ashley is very excited at the prospect of teaming up with Chelsey again and is relishing the chance to add an acro-ability to the already impressive line-up!

Seyi is the lovechild of several music styles. An accomplished and quick-witted singer/songwriter, her meritable talents and soulful tone have made her the newest addition to the music industry. For someone so young Seyi has a mind blowing catalogue of written music and has co-wrote with some of the greatest songwriters worldwide. Seyi has written for many superstars and has tracks on the albums of Jameliah, Mel C, and Ministry Of Sound......................to name but a few, and has over 20 globally published records. Seyi’s greatest success to date is African Twins - Thief in the night which she wrote and performed vocally. The single is on a mind blowing 11 compilation albums!!!

Seyi has rejected a major solo singer/songwriter recording contract to be "with the girls" in From Above. "I have enough time at my age to concentrate on a solo project down the road, but for now the thought of ripping the industry open with our diva sound and attitude is too exciting to ignore!! Seyi is the vocal captain and harmony line creator. To have her natural gift of music making and understanding within the group will set ’From Above’ apart from all the other ’wannabe girlbands’.

Fresh from BBC 1’s ’Dance X’ where Chelsey was a member of Team Arlene, she is bursting with excitement to continue her taste of stardom! Prior to ’Dance X’ Chelsey lived in sunny Skegness with her mum, dad and little brother. She worked in a bucket and spade shop owned by her dad on the beach. Chelsey from a young age showed her natural talent for dance as she took to classes like a duck to water. At school, Chelsey was a very competitive student and was teased about being a ’boffin’. She went on to do very well in her GCSEs, but realised that A Levels weren’t for her and her real ambition was to be a dancer. Chelsey took a two year course in performing arts at Phil Winston’s Theatreworks College in Blackpool.

After her experience of performing live on television every saturday in front of many millions of viewing audience, Chelsey is determined to become the star she set out to be and sees ’From Above’ as the perfect launch platform! The dance diva is elegant, sophiscated with looks to make the men melt!

Former Member:

Maria is used to the dizzy heights of chart topping success! Partnering Fragma, her debut single “Everytime You Need Me” sold over 250,000 copies in the UK alone presenting her, live on tv(CDUK) a ’silver disc! By 2001 Maria was a massive star bringing a huge fan base worldwide.The track and other Fragma songs have been on hundreds of different compilation albums and still are now and have been voted ’Biggest party anthem ever’,’Best dance track’etc and Maria is still seen on MTV ,the radio stations, ’Dance charts on TV’ nowadays which she is still proud of. Use to concert appearances in front of audiences of over 100,000 people and crowded football stadiums, Top of the Pops, TV shows all over the world, press giving her great reviews heavily featured in magazines and newspapers around the world, her life changed over night but her personality stayed the same. Maria then went on to co-wrote her second single “Say It”, which was remixed by DJ Rob Searle and reached top 5 in many countries around the world. Maria had another worldwide success with the Akyra version of “Here Comes The Rain Again Remix of the Euthrymics....again top five.’’ Maria recorded the Big Brother television series theme tune in Denmark working with Double N, this track shot in at number 1 over there in 2003 and all over Europe was a success.

An unfortunate incident resulted in Maria being confined to a wheelchair for a couple of years and told she would not walk for 4 years but managed to walk after a year and a half with sheer determination. (went from a size 6 to a size 18 and is now back to a healthy size 8 ).

She is now fully recovered and buzzing with excitement at the prospect of relauching herself within ’From Above’.

You might have seen some dodgy snapshots of The Saturdays knocking around online but here's the first proper (ie expensive) photo of the band. It was taken in a REAL alleyway.

Apart from the fact that a spooky supernatural arrow seems to be singling out two of the band members - for what, we wonder? - what we like about this photograph is that it continues the grand girlband tradition of brilliant hands being placed on hips. We have long suspected that this is some sort of secret language employed by girlband members desperate to communicate something to the outside world.

What, we wonder, is the significance of one hand on a right hip? How about the left hip? What can we decipher from no hips, or both hips? It's like girlband semaphore, or the pop equivalent of coded messages in hostage videos. One day, when we have some time, we will sit down and examine hundreds of girlband photographs in an attempt to decode this strange language, and once we have cracked the code we will present our findings to you in the hope that humankind can understand something new at the very heart of pop.

Here are some pictures where you can see the girls' faces properly.

	MONDAY!
	TUESDAY!
	WEDNESDAY!
	THIS 'DAYS OF THE WEEK' CONCEIT ISN'T WORKING!
	AT ALL!

Here's a clip of the band's debut single, 'If This Is Love', which is out in July and is also today's Popjustice Song Of The Day.

The song is deliberately or accidentally very clever - the introduction, first verse and bridge, propped up by the Yazoo sample, are so underwhelming that you find your attention drifting towards the clock as you wonder when the song will get going. And then, of course, when the chorus does hit you don't need to look at the time at all because you know exactly what time it is: GIRLBAND O'CLOCK.

It's going to be interesting to see how this one pans out. There will be immediate comparisons with Girls Aloud, but while Girls Aloud (and the Sugababes) only succeeded because their music crossed boundaries and appealed to people outside the core pop audience - both acts have succeeded in spite of being girlbands - The Saturdays' music recalls a very different era in which pop groups could sell records without having to attract anyone except pop fans.

What do pop fans want in 2008? Well, they've grown up with sonically adventurous songs from Sugababes and Girls Aloud, or bands like McFly, and they're buying everything from Robyn to The Hoosiers, so a band whose music is an extension of S Club 8 may sleep slightly at odds with the current pop landscape. But at the same time The Saturdays will also be chasing kids even younger: kids who've grown up with High School Musical and Hannah Montana, and whose perception of pop undoubtedly helped Alphabeat into the Top 10. So it might be a triumph. Watch this space etc.

Cast List

EnsembleAaron Renfree

Training: Laine Theatre Arts.

Theatre credits: Dandini, Cinderella (Assembly Halls, Tunbridge Wells); Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Theatre Royal, Plymouth); Believe In Yourself, Seeing Tomorrow and One Giant Leap (Epsom Playhouse Theatre); Workhouse Boy/Spider, Oliver! (Theatre Royal, Plymouth); Cinderella and Dick Whittington (Truro).

Recording credits: S Club 8 (previously called S Club Juniors); three albums and seven single releases including UK tours

and supporting act for S Club 7.

Television credits: S Club Juniors: The Story (BBC); I Dream (BBC); Top of the Pops (BBC); CD:UK (ITV); Greasemania (ITV); SM:TV Live (ITV); The Saturday Show (ITV) and GMTV (ITV).

Other credits: Dancer UK film premieres, High School Musical (Odeon, Leicester Square); and High School Musical 2 (O2 Arena, London).

 

Rochelle Wiseman is only 19 but already has a glittering showbiz career behind her. She joined kiddie-pop combo S Club 8 when she was 13. When that ended, she went on to present children's TV show Smile. Now, Rochelle has gone back to her pop roots and is one-fifth of new girl group The Saturdays. Their debut single, If This Is Love, is out today.

Are you the new Girls Aloud?
We’re five girls and we sing pop music but we’re a different band. It’s a compliment because Girls Aloud have done so well but we’ve worked with Rihanna’s producers and have a different vibe.

You don’t have a ginger one – will it prove a fatal mistake?
No, but we’ve got a blonde and a few brunettes. Having a ginger wasn’t at the top of our list of priorities.

What’s the biggest argument you’ve had in the group?
We don’t really argue. We get on well and that’s because we don’t all live together. There isn’t a Saturdays house, we’re not on top of each other. It was suggested we’d all live together but we’re happy living at home still. If someone’s a bit grouchy, it’s usually just because it’s that time of the month.

Why did you stop presenting?
Smile finished and my contract ended. They’ve stopped all those children’s morning magazine shows. I started dancing and singing lessons after the show ended and started auditioning again.

What was your worst presenting moment?
I had to cook on the programme and something went a bit wrong once. I said ‘bloody hell’ and got told off afterwards. It was very strict. I had to train myself not to say ‘s***’ and I couldn’t even say ‘Oh, my God!’ because it’s blasphemous. I really had to watch what I said.

No but we’ve got a blonde and a few brunettes. Having a ginger wasn’t at the top of our list of priorities

Is Charley from last year’s Big Brother really your mate?
No, and I don’t know how that rumour started. I’ve never even had a conversation with the girl. I know people who know her and we’ve said ‘hi’ but we’re not friends.

Would you do Big Brother yourself?
No. We did Channel 4’s Nokia Green Room recently where you sit ‘backstage’ in a room chatting with other performers. Afterwards, I was thinking: ‘Did I pick my nose? Did I pull a wedgie out?’ We were edited nicely but it’s not like that on Big Brother. You’re setting yourself up for a fall.

Were you exploited as an S Club 8 member?
When you’re that age, if someone asks you if want to come out of school and sing and dance, you’re going to say ‘yes’. I was going to dance lessons every weekend anyway. Our parents were involved and we were only allowed to work a set amount of hours a day. It’s so different now. Now I know what real work is, ha ha.

Some people said your management dressed you all too saucily for your age…
That’s ridiculous. The only make-up we were allowed was a bit of lip balm and, on special occasions, mascara. The outfits were jeans and T-shirts. If you think that’s bad, you need to look around at what young girls are wearing today – it’s definitely more scary. You see children of that age walking down the street smoking, that’s worse than a bit of lip balm.

Did you consider getting a proper job after S Club 8 ended?
When it ended it was a shock. We went from having every hour scheduled to waking up at home thinking: ‘What am I doing today?’ I landed Smile straight after. When that ended, I had a year with no money coming in. I was giving out leaflets for a local radio station in Essex. It was horrible. Everyone was like: ‘No, I don’t want your leaflet.’ That’s why I take leaflets from people in the street now because it’s so disheartening.

Did you get recognised?
Sometimes. It was a bit weird. They’d be like: ‘What’s she doing here?’ My friend sent me a link to an internet forum and the thread was: ‘Rochelle in leaflet shocker.’ It said: ‘Why has she lowered herself to that?’ I’m not too la-di-da to get a job. I wasn’t doing anything dodgy or making bogus benefit claims.

Do you get on with Girls Aloud or are you deadly rivals?
We were the support act on their tour. They had long sound checks and interviews, they were always working, but they’d sit down and have dinner with us which was nice because they didn’t have to.

                                                                

The Saturdays - Up

Following on from the massive success of their debut single, If This Is Love, The Saturdays release their new single and debut album this October.

The storming new single Up is released through Fascination records. Once again The Saturdays deliver an addictive pop anthem with a chorus that explodes.

Up is taken from The Saturdays debut album Chasing Lights is available from October 20th 2008. As well as the top ten single If This Is Love the album includes a wide range of sounds and styles. From the electro-tinged Keep Her to the epic ballad Fall and the club jam Work Work, it's an album packed with songs you can dance to, fall in love to and help you through the dreary autumn.

"We knew we wanted there to be a mix of sounds on our record as soon as we started recording," says Vanessa. There are five of us in the group that are into different styles of music and we wanted that to be reflected on the album. There was no way we could do an album where every song sounded the same."

The Saturday's winning formula has already found fans in the press with Sunday Times Culture declaring them "fantastic, stroppy disco" while Popjustice hailed them as 'very excellent' and Perez Hilton blogged'pure pop heaven… our latest obsession'

Una Healy, Rochelle Wiseman, Vanessa White, Mollie King and Frankie Sandford are the five girls that make up The Saturdays. They have spent the past year working on their debut album in London and Norway with producers who have been behind the likes of Rihanna and The Pussycat Dolls. Now with the album complete, they're ready to bring some fun and glamour back to the charts.

"How would we describe The Saturday's sound? It's pop," says Frankie. "We're not trying to do anything else. We're a pop group and proud of it."

Stop the clocks, people, I have found a new favourite thing to spend my working life doing, and it is interviewing the Saturdays!

Who else, in an promotional situation for their band, one in which their very thoughts were being recorded for broadcast to the entire world (ChartBlog division) would claim to have no idea what hang-gliding is? Who else would conduct interviews in the middle of what sounds like a full-on party situation, and then spend their time shushing their bandmates? Who else makes paper aeroplanes and draws Tom Cruise on them, to make them look like Top Gun?

Granted, probably Tenacious D do, but Rochelle from the Saturdays is prettier, and seems to have a dirtier mind, as you will hear...

(CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE MP3 VERISON)