Claire Richards
Encyclopedia
Claire Ann Richards (born 17 August 1977) is an English
singer
best known for being the lead singer of Steps from 1997 to 2001. She was a contestant on the second series of Popstar to Operastar
before being voted off in the Semi Finals. Richards possesses the vocal range of a soprano
.
TSD with Cossie and Bonnie. They had little success and were dropped by their record label
after the release of their second single
"Baby I Love You". Richards went on to work as a receptionist
for seven months, winning the temporary worker of the month award for May 1997.
, and the dance steps were included with most of their single releases. Steps formed on 7 May 1997 and disbanded on 26 December 2001. In total Steps have sold more than 15 million records, and achieved 14 consecutive Top 5 singles - a feat only surpassed by Boyzone
(with 17), Oasis
(with 18) and The Beatles
and Westlife
(who had 20).
H & Claire
. The pair experienced success with their debut single "DJ
", which reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart
, and their next two singles, which both charted in the Top 10. While the duo had initial success, their album Another You, Another Me, which was released in 2002, did not chart high. Richards also co hosted alongside Brian Dowling
and Cat Deely on SMTV Live
in 2002. She took a break from singing
to plan her wedding
to Steps dancer Mark Webb. H & Claire disbanded in 2003. Richards married Webb on 2 August 2003; the couple split in 2005.
on 5 June. Richards appeared on OK! TV
on 6 June to promote the show. Despite a much-praised performance of the Queen of the Night aria from Mozart's Magic Flute in the semi-final, she lost out on a place in the final to Cheryl Baker
.
were criticised by the Anti Fascist Action organisation for making allegedly xenophobic remarks against asylum seekers. Latchford-Evans said "there should be more jobs for English people". Richards said, "Why are we paying for all these people to come into the country anyway?" All accusations were denied by both Latchford-Evans and Richards.
After her Steps career she gained more than 4 stones (25.4 kg) in weight. Richards went from a size 20 to a 16 and when she planned to slim down to a 12 in time for her winter wedding in November 2008. She exceeded her goal by fitting into a size 10 dress. On 13 September 2008, she performed "Tragedy" on the show Everybody Dance Now without the other members of Steps. Richards appeared on Celebrity MasterChef on 25 June 2009 as part of the programme's "comeback" week. Claire Richards: My Big Fat Wedding, a programme following Claire on her journey to lose weight before her wedding, was shown on BBC Three
in May 2009. The programme featured her wedding and a reunion of all Steps members and drew an audience of over 763,000. Richards released a fitness DVD Five Step Fat Attack on 26 December 2008.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
best known for being the lead singer of Steps from 1997 to 2001. She was a contestant on the second series of Popstar to Operastar
Popstar to Operastar
Popstar to Operastar is a British television programme singing competition based around the training of pop stars of current to be able to sing opera. The show began airing on ITV on 15 January 2010 at 9pm. The show is repeated on TV3 Ireland on Saturday evening. The programme is produced by...
before being voted off in the Semi Finals. Richards possesses the vocal range of a soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
.
1996–97: Early career
Richards began her career in the pop trioTrio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
TSD with Cossie and Bonnie. They had little success and were dropped by their record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
after the release of their second single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Baby I Love You". Richards went on to work as a receptionist
Receptionist
A receptionist is an employee taking an office/administrative support position. The work is usually performed in a waiting area such as a lobby or front office desk of an organization or business...
for seven months, winning the temporary worker of the month award for May 1997.
1997–2001: Steps
Richards auditioned for the lineup that would become Steps. She was offered a place in the group on the condition that she lost weight. Their name was based around a simple marketing gimmick: each of their music videos was choreographedChoreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
, and the dance steps were included with most of their single releases. Steps formed on 7 May 1997 and disbanded on 26 December 2001. In total Steps have sold more than 15 million records, and achieved 14 consecutive Top 5 singles - a feat only surpassed by Boyzone
Boyzone
Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...
(with 17), Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
(with 18) and The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
(who had 20).
2001–03: Quitting Steps and H & Claire
After she and her fellow group mate Ian "H" Watkins resigned during the last leg of their final tour, the two continued singing as the duoDuet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
H & Claire
H & Claire
H & Claire were a pop duo, consisting of former Steps members Claire Richards and Ian "H" Watkins. They released one low-charting album and three top ten singles in 2002 before disbanding.- History :...
. The pair experienced success with their debut single "DJ
DJ (H & Claire song)
"DJ" was the debut single from former Steps members H & Claire. The song was their most successful single. Debuting at #3 and spending 11 weeks on the British charts.-Music video:...
", which reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, and their next two singles, which both charted in the Top 10. While the duo had initial success, their album Another You, Another Me, which was released in 2002, did not chart high. Richards also co hosted alongside Brian Dowling
Brian Dowling
Brian Patrick Robert Dowling is an Irish television presenter who rose to fame after being crowned the winner of the second series of UK reality television show Big Brother in 2001. He also won Ultimate Big Brother in 2010, making him the ultimate Big Brother housemate...
and Cat Deely on SMTV Live
SMTV Live
SMTV Live , also written SM:TV Live and in early promotional material SMTV://live, was a British Saturday morning children's television programme, first broadcast on ITV on 29 August 1998 and last broadcast on 27 December 2003.On the surface, the programme did not seem to stray away from the format...
in 2002. She took a break from singing
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
to plan her wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
to Steps dancer Mark Webb. H & Claire disbanded in 2003. Richards married Webb on 2 August 2003; the couple split in 2005.
2004–10: Break from media and Weight issues
After leaving her music career Richards wanted to take a break from music and concentrate on other projects, she was set to release a debut solo album but due to falling pregnant Richards decided to not pursue music any further.2011: Popstar to Operastar
It was announced in May 2011 that Claire would be taking part in Popstar to Opera Star 2011 making it her first major high profile appearance in nearly ten years. The series started on ITV1ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
on 5 June. Richards appeared on OK! TV
OK! TV
OK! TV is an early evening magazine programme, broadcast on Channel 5 as a brand extension of celebrity title OK! Magazine. It replaced Live from Studio Five on 14 February 2011, and was presented by Kate Walsh and Matt Johnson, both of which have since left the programme. Jeff Brazier and Jenny...
on 6 June to promote the show. Despite a much-praised performance of the Queen of the Night aria from Mozart's Magic Flute in the semi-final, she lost out on a place in the final to Cheryl Baker
Cheryl Baker
Cheryl Baker is an English television presenter and singer. She is most famous for being a member of 1980s pop group Bucks Fizz, and has performed for the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, winning it the second time.-Early career:After leaving school and a series of secretarial jobs, Cheryl...
.
Controversy
In 2000, both Richards and Lee Latchford-EvansLee Latchford-Evans
Lee Latchford-Evans is an English pop singer, actor and dancer, most famous for being a member of the British pop group Steps.-Biography:...
were criticised by the Anti Fascist Action organisation for making allegedly xenophobic remarks against asylum seekers. Latchford-Evans said "there should be more jobs for English people". Richards said, "Why are we paying for all these people to come into the country anyway?" All accusations were denied by both Latchford-Evans and Richards.
Personal life
Richards' first child, Charlie, was born on 8 May 2007. In January 2008, Richards and long-time partner Reece Hill announced their engagement and were married 1 November 2008. Richards announced in the 30 June 2009 edition of Woman magazine that she is expecting her second child with her husband, and gave birth to a baby girl named Daisy on 29 December 2009.After her Steps career she gained more than 4 stones (25.4 kg) in weight. Richards went from a size 20 to a 16 and when she planned to slim down to a 12 in time for her winter wedding in November 2008. She exceeded her goal by fitting into a size 10 dress. On 13 September 2008, she performed "Tragedy" on the show Everybody Dance Now without the other members of Steps. Richards appeared on Celebrity MasterChef on 25 June 2009 as part of the programme's "comeback" week. Claire Richards: My Big Fat Wedding, a programme following Claire on her journey to lose weight before her wedding, was shown on BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
in May 2009. The programme featured her wedding and a reunion of all Steps members and drew an audience of over 763,000. Richards released a fitness DVD Five Step Fat Attack on 26 December 2008.