Popstars’ most shocking moments from nose break to fat shaming as show turns 21 and Myleene Klass reveals secret diary
One contestant tragically died in 2022
NOUGHTIES TV fans have been reminiscing about the iconic show Popstars – but it hasn’t aged gracefully.
The show aired for two seasons in the early 2000s and created the chart-topping group Hear’Say.
The reality show followed aspiring singers in a documentary-style series.
Contestants would battle it out to impress judges ‘Nasty’ Nigel Lythgoe, Nicki Chapman, and Paul Adam in hopes of being in a pop group.
The winners – Danny Foster, Myleene Klass, Kym Marsh, Suzanne Shaw, and Noel Sullivan – went on to form the iconic Hear’Say.
Now two decades later, fans are revisiting the series with fresh eyes and are shocked by its fat-shaming, misogyny, and exploitation of contestants.
And Myleene herself has locked away her own diary from the time claiming it could land her in legal hot water should it ever see the light of day.
She said: “I think they’re just too libellous. Honestly. I really don’t think I could! I think it’d just be a litigation nightmare. Everyone’s in there. I wrote about everything, everybody we met. And you have to remember, we met everybody.”
Here we take a look back at some of the most shocking scenes to air on the ITV show.
BONE BREAKING
The contestants were made to do trust exercises with each other to help them form stronger bonds.
The group had to fall onto their peer’s arms from a height order to create “trust” between them.
Unfortunately, one girl fell face-first and ended up breaking her nose.
She immediately burst into tears with Myleene Klass trying to comfort her.
“Should we stop playing that game?” asked one of the guys.
FAT-SHAMED
Kym might be well known for her role on Coronation Street, but she found fame on Popstars.
Despite going on to win the show, she still battles with her body image after being humiliated about her weight on the show.
Popstars judge Nigel was filmed telling her: “You need to lose some weight.
“Christmas is over and the goose has gotten fat.
“I think you’ve put weight on over Christmas and I think you needed to lose weight before Christmas.”
At the time of the show Kym was a healthy size 12, but it left her with insecurities for years because she had previously battled an eating disorder.
In 2019 she told Fabulous magazine: “It did affect me. Of course it did.
“I’d already had a little bit of an eating disorder when I was younger. He saw a weakness and picked on it.”
RADIO BOOB
During a radio appearance, a DJ read a question from a listener asking if Suzanne Shaw’s boobs were real.
He said: “Can you ask [Suzanne] if her breasts are real because they are lovely!”
Suzanne, who would go on to appear in Emmerdale, appeared shocked before showing them off and declaring: “They’re real.”
She was quizzed further about “what size” they are, but Suzanne exclaimed “No! I won’t tell you. I’ll let you guess.”
FAMILY SECRET
During the show, Kym was the mother to David and Emilie.
Judge Nigel summoned Kym to his office to speak after being informed about some “devastating” news.
He said to the camera: “I got a phone call from a solicitor that’s informed me of some news regarding Kym that has absolutely devastated me and I want to get of the bottom of it.”
It turned out that Nigel had been told that Kym had two children.
“The press are gonna find out if there are any skeletons in the cupboard,” he told her.
Kym broke down into tears as she told Nigel: “I just didn’t want it to ruin my chances.”
DIRTY TACTICS
While living in their shared home, Hear’Say had their bins raided by radio station Kiss.
The station went on to publish the contents on its website.
The camera then panned to the radio hosts chuckling: “Taking a peek in their bin – alcohol cans, pizza, an Abdotrim box – who’s hitting the gym? Beer.”
The group were later quizzed about the Abdotrim box when they appeared on the radio show, with one presenter telling Kym: “I knew it was yours because you’re the fat one”.
A BRIT MUCH
Before becoming a household name, Darius Danesh auditioned on Popstars.
The late singer entertained the nation with his rendition of Britney Spears’ Baby One More Time but was mocked by the judges.
Judge Paul said of his performance: “He has talent, but I’m not sure if he’s the right person to fit into a five piece band or even a 100 piece band.”
Darius was sent packing but told the judges: “It is my goal in life to have a No1 single as a solo artist, and I will by the time I am 35. I will succeed.”
The star had the last laugh the following year as he appeared on the first Pop Idol, finishing in third place behind Will Young and Gareth Gates.
His debut single, Colourblind, was released in July 2002 and went straight to number one.
Sadly, Darius was found unresponsive in his home in August 2022 and pronounced dead.
An autopsy found that he died from inhalation of chloroethane, which he was using to treat neck pain.
His death was ruled an accident.
Where are Hear'Say now?
Danny Foster
Danny, 45, stepped out of the spotlight after Hear’Say split.
He is married to Victoria Goddard, who he has been with for nearly two decades.
Danny popped up on The Voice in 2013 singing Spice Girls hit Wannabe but none of the judges turned for him.
Two year later he suffered a terrifying car accident where he was forced to flee a burning vehicle.
These days he runs a retro soul act called Danny Foster & The and is heavily into meditation.
Kym Marsh
Kym, 47, was the first member of Hear’Say to leave the band, later saying she’d had huge bust-ups with Myleene.
She was replaced by Lisa Scott-Lee‘s husband Johnny Shentall while she forged a solo career.
The star went on to marry EastEnders favourite Jack Ryder and Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas.
Kym, who appeared on Coronation Street as Michelle Connor and starred on Strictly, has three children – David, Emily, and Polly.
She and Jamie had a son called Archie who tragically died soon after being born in 2009.
These days the actor and singer is wowing audiences in a stage version of 101 Dalmatians.
Suzanne Shaw
Hear’Say split just after Suzanne’s 21st birthday with the star, now 42, launching a career in musical theatre.
She also appeared in both soapland, as Emmerdale‘s Eve Birch, and reality telly on Dancing On Ice.
Suzanne has an 18-year-old son called Corey from her relationship with Darren Day and eight-year-old Rafferty with businessman Sam Greenfield.
She is now a fitness fanatic and plant-based diet enthusiast.
Noel Sullivan
Noel, 43, said he’d been “thrown on the scrapheap” in his early 20s when the band split, but he quickly found a new career on the stage.
He even moved to Las Vegas for 18 months fronting Strictly Ballroom and had a scene-stealing cameo as himself in Gavin & Stacey as Nessa’s mate.
In 2019, he shocked This Morning viewers after he put on two stone to play Jack Black’s character in the musical School of Rock.
He is married to James Bennett and the pair have been hard at work renovating their 16th century house in the foothills of the Pyrenees in France.
Myleene Klass
Myleene, 46, has had a varied media career from hosting The One Show, to presenting shows on Classic FM and of course a stint on I’m A Celebrity.
Myleene has three children, Ava and Hero with her ex-husband Graham Quinn and Apollo, three, with her fiance Simon Motson.