The girls have admitted that not even their family and friends know about their reunion plans – and they’ve been avoiding people for the past week.
Cheryl Tweedy, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh – she and the late Sarah Harding – are set to hit the road in May and June 2024 to mark 21 years since the hit Popstars: The Rivals.
During their appearance on Zoe Ball’s Radio Two show on Thursday morning, the four discussed the reunion and acknowledged the loyalty of their fans, which drew them back to the stage after 22 years.
When Zoe was asked how long they kept the news a secret, Nicola said: 'Months and months, we didn’t tell our family and friends, our families didn’t know.’
Nadine later admitted: 'We’ve been ignoring people all week when we put out the teaser’, while birthday girl Kimberley admitted: 'We’ve been ignoring people on the school run’, while the other girls laughed.
Speaking to the radio host, the girls admitted that hearing their set of music left them ’emotional’ and 'excited’.
Joe asked the girls how the decision to reunite came about, to which they said: 'It’s been a crazy experience, we’ve had so many great songs and times together, and then the conversation came up and we feel so passionate about it…
’Then a few weeks ago we were filming a tour promo and it felt like a 2002 underground era sound’.
Kimberley interjected: 'Over the last few years we’ve seen romance grow and it’s been hard, but something pulled us in’, Cheryl added: 'Something has changed between us – it feels magical, let’s go! ..
’We are very lucky to have our fans and loyalty. That’s 21 years later. That’s madness’.
Kicking off their rehearsals, Kimberley said: 'We start rehearsals in April, which is a month’, but Nicola said: „I think we need more than a month!’ Cheryl replied: 'It’s muscle memory… we’ve done it a thousand times’.
Joe asked what they had planned for the tour – and the girls admitted it was 'starting to get out of control’. Nadine said: 'We’re known for going above – flying under the stage, running through the arena…
’We’re gluttons for punishment but we’re all for fun.’
Asked about her son Bear, who she shares with ex Liam Payne, Cheryl said: 'Bear is delicious, not a baby anymore. We blinked and almost seven people arrived!’
Nicola hilariously admits that when she goes to shops, staff loudly blast women – leaving her red-faced: 'If you’re in a shop and they put your songs on, I think I’ll put this lipstick down. Shop’.
Cheryl revealed that they had been discussing the plans for some time, but put the idea on hold when Sarah was diagnosed with cancer, who died in September 2021.
She said in a statement: 'A few years ago we all started talking about doing something to celebrate Girls Aloud’s 20th anniversary. An anniversary seemed like an obvious thing for us to celebrate.
But all priorities changed when Sarah fell ill. She died a year before the anniversary and it didn’t feel right, it felt too soon.
The group plans to use the tour to „celebrate” their late friend.
Cheryl added: 'But now, I think it has the power to make it feel right. It’s time to celebrate Sarah, it’s time to celebrate the band and it’s time to celebrate the fact that we can still do this 21 years later. It is a great honor in many ways.
Kimberley said: 'Over the past year, we’ve felt this outpouring of love – obviously towards Sarah, but really towards all of us as a team…
’I think it re-ignited something in all of us. It feels like something has changed and it’s the perfect time to celebrate Sarah and celebrate a 20 year anniversary that we didn’t celebrate then.
The team hopes fans will enjoy the tour as much as they do.
Nadine said: 'Girls Aloud is a band that has had a huge impact on people’s lives. We grew up with the band, but so did many.
’It would be a shame and a waste for me not to do something again. We want to be with the fans to enjoy that moment together.’
„Totalny pionier w sieci. Specjalista od piwa niezależny. Ewangelista popkultury. Miłośnik muzyki. Nieprzepraszający przedsiębiorca”.