In the first of a special two-parter, Louise Redknapp talks to Kate about the heady days of the 90s, leaving Eternal, taking the leap to return to work after a 17-year hiatus and the release of her Greatest Hits album

White Wine Question Time with Kate Thornton is the podcast that brings together well-known guests to answer three thought-provoking questions over three glasses of wine. Discover the friendships behind the entertainment headlines, and listen in on their conversations for a side to the celebrities you've never heard before.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
To keep up to date with the latest guests follow on Instagram: @whitewineqt & Twitter: @WhiteWineQT.

Video transcript

LOUISE REDKNAPP: You had people like Rodney Jerkins--

KATE THORNTON: Yeah.

LOUISE REDKNAPP: --wanting to work with us. So all of a sudden, we're in New York with the Winans recording and Luther Vandross just sat on the sofa outside. And I'm like, just-- and you know when just-- you're so gobsmacked that you almost don't become starstruck anymore because you're just like, it's fight or flight here. I just need to step up to the plate and be everything I'm meant to be for being in this room.

I just walked in and said, I'm-- I don't think I can stay in the group. I think I'm going to leave. I'm so sorry, because I know how much time and effort, money you've put into us. But I can't do this anymore. Not in a million trillion years was I expecting, well, you can carry on with the rest of the five album deal on your own.

I just thought I was going to walk out there and they were probably going to sue me. And I thought, well, I haven't got anything to give you, so you could just sue me anyway.

KATE THORNTON: [LAUGHS]

LOUISE REDKNAPP: I was like, I still live at home with my mom at the moment.

[LAUGHTER]

When work become a real reality-- and not only did I want to work, I needed to work. I needed to find a life for myself. That's when the real nerves kicked in.

KATE THORNTON: Yeah, because your circumstances had changed.

LOUISE REDKNAPP: My circumstances had changed. I was now single. I needed to go to work for so many more reasons, like not just-- not to be famous. I mean, let's make one thing very clear. That was never-- I want to be-- I sometimes read a comment, and it's like, oh, she wants to be famous again. It's like, I never wanted to be famous again. That was the last thing on my mind.

I wanted to work because it defines a huge part of who I am. I love what I do. And also, I needed that purpose.

[MUSIC PLAYING]