Cheryl Tweedy was close to tears as she spoke about making the Girls Aloud reunion tour “magical” for her late bandmate Sarah Harding during an appearance on The One Show on Friday.
The 40-year-old singer will join Kimberley Walsh, 42, Nadine Coyle, 38, and Nicola Roberts, 38, on stage at several arenas across the UK next year.
Sarah tragically died two years ago, when she was just 39, after a battle with breast cancer.
And Cheryl said it felt strange to be getting back together without Sarah after she was initially included in discussions about a reunion tour to celebrate the group’s 20th anniversary last year.
She said: “It’s very strange, if I’m being completely honest.” We found every step a little strange. “Honestly, it will never be the same again.”
Emotional: Cheryl was moved to tears as she spoke about making the Girls Aloud tour “magical” for her late bandmate Sarah Harding during an appearance on The One Show on Friday
Devastating: Sarah tragically died two years ago, when she was just 39, after a battle with breast cancer
She placed a hand on Nadine’s knee to give her moral support and burst into tears as Nadine held her hand. Cheryl added: “But we’re just doing our best to make it magical with Sarah in mind.”
Kimberley explained how the reunion tour came about: “We had had a lot of conversations leading up to our 20th anniversary and obviously those conversations involved Sarah.”
“After her death, that sadly went out the window.
“We focused on other things.” Then we probably spent a lot of time together over the summer. I suppose there was some kind of change, we felt a great love for the group and for Sarah.
“Suddenly it felt like maybe we were ready to celebrate these 21 years and celebrate them too.”
The girls plan to tour in May and June 2024 to mark this month, which marks 21 years since they and the late Sarah won “Popstars: The Rivals.”
However, the group has not recorded any new music, but simply wants to celebrate their back catalogue.
Cheryl revealed they had been discussing the plans for some time, but put the idea on hold when Sarah – who died in September 2021 – was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Band: Cheryl, 40, will join Kimberley Walsh, 42, Nadine Coyle, 38, and Nicola Roberts, 38, on stage at several arenas across the UK next year (from left: Kimberley, Nicola, Nadine and Cheryl)
Tour: Kimberley (pictured) explained the reunion tour, saying: “We had had a lot of conversations leading up to our 20th anniversary and obviously those conversations involved Sarah.”
She said in a statement: “We all started talking a few years ago about the possibility of doing something to celebrate Girls Aloud’s 20th anniversary.” The anniversary seemed like a no-brainer for us we would celebrate.
“But when Sarah got sick, everyone’s priorities changed. She passed away a year before the anniversary and it just didn’t feel right, it felt too soon.”
The group plans to use the tour to “celebrate” their late friend.
Cheryl added: “But I think there’s an energy that makes it feel right.” It’s the right time to celebrate Sarah, it’s the right time to celebrate the band and the right time celebrating the fact that we can still do this 21 years later. “This is a great honor in many ways.”
Kimberley said: “Over the last year we’ve felt this love coming through – obviously towards Sarah, but really towards all of us as a group.”
“And I think it has re-ignited something in all of us.” “It feels like something has changed and it seems like the right time to celebrate Sarah and the 20th anniversary that we didn’t back then celebrated.”
The group hopes fans will enjoy the tour as much as they do.
Missed: Cheryl said it felt strange getting back together without Sarah after she was initially included in talks about a reunion tour (Sarah pictured in 2017)
Nadine said: “Girls Aloud is a band that has had such an impact on people’s lives. “We grew up with the band, but so did so many other people.
“For us it’s a shame and a waste not to do something again.” “We want to experience this moment with the fans where we can all enjoy it together.”
Nicola added: “I think what’s really encouraging is that when people ask us about a reunion, they don’t ask ‘Would you ever do that?’ but ‘When will you do it?’ Knowing that we still have that love from our fans and people who watched us growing up gives us the confidence to do the tour.
“It’s going to be a big celebration of everything we’ve accomplished so far.” We want people to go home and say, “Wow, I just had one of the best nights of my life.”
Girls Aloud originally formed on ITV’s Pop Stars: The Rivals in 2002 and rose to fame with 20 top ten singles and five BRIT Award nominations.
Girls Aloud initially took a break in 2009 to pursue other projects before finally splitting up in 2013.
Symbols: The girls are together again – in honor of Sarah Harding (all pictured together)
Sarah tragically died two years ago, when she was just 39, after a battle with breast cancer.
After her time on Girls Aloud, Sarah starred in Coronation Street and appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017.
In 2020, she revealed that she had breast cancer and it had spread, before releasing her memoir titled “Hear Me Out” in 2021.
After Sarah’s death, bandmate Nicola said: “Time is the most precious thing we have as humans, it can run out at any time.”
“I think that over time it’s very easy to become extremely anxious when someone so young and so close to you is no longer interested, and I think it’s important not to become obsessed with it, because things still happen on their own” in your own time.
“I think it’s important to still live your life as you are and not get upset that your time may be coming to an end or that someone else you love may have their time coming to an end.” I think this is a dangerous place.”
In 2022, the group hosted the Primrose Ball, a charity gala for Christie NHS Foundation Trust and Cancer Research UK, as part of the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal – but did not perform together.
Kimberley Walsh is currently a regular presenter on Morning Live and has been a finalist on Strictly Come Dancing and starred in several West End productions including Shrek, Elf and Big.
Reunited! The group hasn’t recorded any new music, but simply wants to celebrate their back catalog
Fast! The group hopes fans will enjoy the tour as much as they do
Nadine Coyle continues to successfully release music and tour headlining festivals across the UK.
Nicola Roberts is known for her solo recording career, her songwriting, winning the first season of Masked Singer UK in 2020 as Queen Bee, and her lobbying to successfully push through the tanning bed ban for under-16s in the UK.
Cheryl in particular has remained in the spotlight over the years thanks to her position as a judge on The X Factor, her turbulent love life and most recently her appearance on 2:22 A Ghost Story.
Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, November 29th at 9am, with general sales on Friday, December 1st at 9am, all via girlsaloud.com.
Where are Girls Aloud touring?
- May 18th – 3Arena Dublin
- May 20th – SSE Arena Belfast
- May 23 – Manchester AO Arena
- May 24th – Manchester AO Arena
- May 27th – Cardiff Utilita Arena
- May 31 – Newcastle Utilita Arena
- June 1st – Newcastle Utilita Arena
- June 4th – Aberdeen P+J Live
- June 8th – Glasgow OVO Hydro
- June 12th – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
- June 15th – Leeds First Direct Arena
- June 18 – Birmingham Resorts World Arena
- June 22nd – London The O2
- June 23rd – London The O2
- June 29th – Liverpool M+S Bank Arena