My child was in a S Club Juniors, ask me anything

[BeEagerEagle]

In 2001, my child auditioned for a CBBC show called ‘S Club Search’ and got a place in a child pop group who initially were meant to support S Club 7 on a one time support gig basis. This band was called S Club Juniors, later known as S Club 8.

The band ended up taking off and we basically had to sign or children away to Simon Fuller’s management to release a single. The kids were given tutors and chaperones, and spent most of their time in hotels (the ones London based stayed either their parents) or on the road. After that, they went on tour and I only saw my child once every couple of months. It was brutal but I knew that’s what they wanted to do.

they released two albums and the second one didn’t do that well, Simon Fuller tried them on a TV show called I Dream, however that also tanked. My child will admit that themselves. They all got dropped when aged 14-17. He said they had grown out of their roles a bit.

Now they are in their late thirties and trying to get back into the entertainment industry fully but it’s difficult. They’ve never quite got over their time in the band. They released music but it never really went anywhere. They would never say so, but it doesn’t help them that two of their fellow band members went on to become big stars, both were in a chart topping girl band and now are TV presenters.

their band (minus the two still-successful members) were meant to reunite for a TV show a long while ago, but for various reasons it didn’t happen. When S Club reunited, S Club juniors didn’t get asked to reunite as there was ‘no call’ for it and only a few were up for reuniting. (My child, and another boy and girl member)

they are still acquaintances with S club 7 and went to Paul Cattermoles funeral.

I know my (now adult) child doesn’t regret the choices they made as a child, but feels sad as an adult.

AMA- child (now adult) is also here to answer questions too and is happy to answer questions about specific members and music!

@LilDeVille my daughters friend did a short uk tour a couple of years ago. Parents didn’t go- unrelated chaperone.

we went to see her in the show and were not allowed to take her out for food. Just see her at stage door.

she wasn’t young young but another child in their performing arts school went on a tour at about 7/8 and I cannot help think that so young.

Are you their manager or publicist?

If they did before, they probably won't be after the mother of one of them posts an AMA about it all on MN.

Who said they were trying to do that??

Judging by the comments there are plenty of people who are interested- it’s just not for you.

Honestly, such miserable people on here - find the negativity in anything.

I agree. I just can’t imagine the conversation when you got him to ask his fellow ex band mates if his mum could post about them on Mumsnet. Sorry OP but you’ve embarrassed him (or her!) a bit there…! It is all a bit cringy.

Have to say, Bradley used to visit the club where I worked back in the day and he was a bit of a dick. Acted like he was an A-List celebrity when he really wasn’t. I once served him a drink and he laughed at me when I asked him to pay as if he was too famous and important to pay for drinks (he was not). And then tried to pay with a receipt. We got a lot of Z list celebrities in that place and I didn’t know who half of them were.

If you don’t mind me saying OP you seem really, really stuck in your adult child’s past career. You seem really attached to it. I have to wonder why you would want to do this AMA. What dynamic is at play here - it brings past glory and attention to you as a ‘mum of a famous child’ or you didn’t learn to say ‘no’ enough at that age (because contract) and that dynamic has carried through?

Why do you think that?

Your child seems a bit disappointed about their lack of fame / success after S Club 8 ended.

Ideally, what would they have liked to happen afterwards?

Did they want a solo singing career, pop or otherwise? Or to be in lots of West End musicals?

What would “success” have looked like for them?

I'm getting that sadness from this thread, I'm guessing not quite making it in the entertainment industry can be tough emotionally.

My next door neighbour was in a sixties group that had a few number ones, when it tapered off he completely changed direction, and started an engineering business - which is very successful - when we've chatted about it he says that he knew that was it and it was time to excel at something else or be left perpetually trying to regain that moment.

I loved S Club Juniors when I was a kid.

I always felt bad for Hannah because she never, ever sang by herself when even if some of the other kids didn't sing solo often, at least it actually happened. Was there a reason for this? Or did Hannah just get a bit of bad luck with there been so many of them?

I love this thread! Some people saying they don’t see the point of it, I do, I’m genuinely finding it all interesting and intriguing.

A few people have mentioned a tv show they were on…anyone able to tell me what it’s called and where it’s streaming? Someone upthread said they watched it recently and I’m curious!

🎶 Stacey's mom has got it goin' on.. 🎶

🎶 Stacey's mom has got it goin' on.. 🎶

🎶 Stacey's mom has got it goin' on.. 🎶

I was wondering if as well as tutoring in the usual school subjects, they also kept up with their performing arts/ musical education or were they too busy with their job? I can imagine a situation where you have selected very talented young singers, dancers, performers etc but they get a bit stunted because they are always performing in the same style/ genre. You said some of them were in performing arts schools before the band. Did they keep up with voice lessons, ballet class etc?

I’m pretty sure I know you ….

“Now they are in their late thirties and trying to get back into the entertainment industry fully but it’s difficult. They’ve never quite got over their time in the band. They released music but it never really went anywhere”

Do you ever feel like saying it’s time to move on, forget the dream. Move into a different industry where they can progress and feel like they’ve been successful rather than flogging a dead horse.

What a fascinating thread!

Not a question but there’s a really interesting book I’ve just finished called Reach For The Stars, that covers pop music in the Uk from mid 90s to mid 00s. There’s reference the Sclub juniors in that. Worth a read if pop culture is an area of interest for anyone.

I’ve just added this to my basket on Amazon, I find things like this so interesting!!! Thank you!

No, I am a parent.

1. Not really. The boys got a lot of attention from teenage girls when out and about and were followed sometimes. I guess they only got ‘good’ attention in public and social media wasn’t a thing back then. They’d occasionally read negative comments in the press but they were few and far between. Noel Gallagher didn’t like them at all but weirdly Liam was nice about them.
2. At first there was a little bit of shyness but my child said nobody really seemed anxious. Maybe because they’d all had some experience before the band. Rochelle was always a calming influence.
3. they were somewhat shielded, but management couldn’t stop them picking up a paper or magazine in the shop if they saw it. If anything upset or confused then we’d discuss it.
4. I’m not sure, as their manager seemed awfully keen to concentrate on 2 of them/push a couple forward. I think this might have still been the case if there was half the members. The kids have talked about resentment over this but none hold a grudge now.

I’m also loving the thread. Thanks OP. For those of us a specific age s club 7 were massive and a band made of kids our age or a bit older really represented the dream.

I don’t think it’s surprising they still have a WhatsApp group or that they asked about this. I don’t think OP means the other members are sat waiting for questions excitedly - just that they run it past them as an idea and they said yeah sure as long as nothing personal. Presumably over the years they’ve had “where are they now” interviews or articles so it’s not an odd request.

OP you mention that there was jealousy about who got more lines in songs etc and I can see this looking back with how it was divided unevenly. Specifically, poor Hannah didn’t seem to get to sing at all.

She must have been able to sing very well to pass the auditions but it felt like she was there to be the young cute one and sing harmonies. Was this difference with Hannah noticeable within the band and acknowledged or was it more just a general feeling of it being uneven for everyone?

I noticed shes the one who seemed to go straight into normal jobs and “normal” life whereas a lot of others seemed to at least attempt fame after.

Did you feel they were pushed to be certain “roles” and play up to that? Eg the cute one, the one all the girls fancied etc like is common in manufactured pop bands? I am thinking sort of like the spice girls.

they are actually enjoying answering!

the ones in rented accommodation got told the lease was up on the house they stayed in with the chaperones. Everyone got told to go back to school and that management would be in touch. But they never got back in touch.

i will say two of the members got offered a shared record deal after but declined.