Yahoo News S Club 7's Rachel Stevens honours Paul Cattermole as she returns to work on radio
The singer dedicated her 00s show on Heart Radio to her bandmate's memory following his death aged 46.
S Club 7 star Rachel Stevens dedicated her Heart Radio show to bandmate Paul Cattermole's memory, as she returned to work for the first time since his death.
Cattermole was found dead at his Dorset home at the aged of 46 on Thursday 6 April, just weeks after confirming he would be part of an S Club 7 25th anniversary reunion tour.
Stevens, 45, made her first appearance as guest host of the Heart FM 00s Party show on Saturday 15 April.
Read more: Rachel Stevens moves house following split from husband Alex Bourne
She opened the show - standing in for Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts - by saying: "‘Thank you so much for joining me.
"And as much as I love being with you for the Heart 00s party, playing all my favourite songs, it’s a bit of an emotional show for me today, but it feels so incredibly special to be able to honour Paul.
"We are heartbroken, but we are all grateful for the memories we shared together.
"So I'd like to take a moment to play you this, which is a song that holds lots of memories for me, it's S Club 7 Two In A Million."
Watch: S Club 7's Paul Cattermole died 'unexpectedly' at the age of 46
Cattermole’s family and S Club 7 released a joint statement announcing his death on Friday 7 April. It read: “It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved son and brother Paul Cattermole.
“Paul was found yesterday, 6th April 2023 at his home in Dorset and was pronounced dead later that afternoon.
“While the cause of death is currently unknown, Dorset Police has confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances.
“Paul’s family, friends and fellow members of S Club request privacy at this time.”
Stevens and the rest of the band Jo O'Meara, 43, Hannah Spearritt, 42, Bradley McIntosh, 41, Tina Barrett, 46, and Jon Lee, 40, released a tribute to their bandmate on their official Instagram account.
They said: "We are truly devastated by the passing of our brother Paul. There are no words to describe the deep sadness and loss we all feel. We were so lucky to have him in our lives and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. He will be so deeply missed by each and every one of us."
In February S Club 7 announced an arena tour of the UK and Ireland to celebrate the 25th anniversary of when the band was formed, by former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller back in 1998.
The manufactured pop band entered the public eye when they starred in their own TV series, Miami 7, on CBBC.
Their hit singles included Reach, Two In A Million, You're My Number Once, and number ones Bring It All Back, Never Had A Dream Come True, Don't Stop Movin' and Have You Ever.
Cattermole was the first to quit S Club, leaving in 2002 to form his own nu metal group, before the band split a year later
The Bring It All Back singer was declared bankrupt in 2014 and reinvented himself as the 'Psychic Wizard', offering his services on premium rate telephone lines in paranormal investigation and clairvoyance, as well as spiritual and tarot readings.
Cattermole made an awkward appearance on on Channel 4 dating show First Dates Hotel in 2019 in which he insisted on singing and playing the guitar.
Shortly before the show aired he gave an interview claiming he and bandmate Spearritt were pushed into a relationship by their management.
The Reach singers - who met as teenagers in the National Youth Theatre - began dating two years after the band launched in 2001 and stayed together until 2006. They dated again for several months in 2015, when all seven members of the pop group reunited for a comeback tour.
Read more: S Club 7: Bankruptcy, Big Brother and fortune telling - what have the band been up to?
Cattermole made headlines in 2018 when he sold his Best Newcomer Brit Award from 2000 on eBay, raising an impressive £66,100.
Watch: What happened to S Club 7 before they announced reunion
