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!

But that will have been called 19 after his initial so it's 6 and half a dozen really

One sold mobile phones but is now a west end actor
one a choreographer and attends lots of PR events
one a regular mum works in a bank
two TV presenters and were in the Saturdays

one worked in a music venue in USA but has recently moved back to UK occasionally performs

one an MUA used to be in a smaller girl band

one various normal jobs (receptionist, shop work) but still tries hard to pursue regular performing

all bar two have children

Answering some of the earlier questions we missed

What was Nikki Chapman like? I never saw any of the S Club auditions/ shows (too old) but I remember her on other talent shows and she seemed very cruel at times. Not sure if it was to add a bit of drama to the show, or if she was genuinely like that.

She was definitely a perfectionist. I don’t know if you watched S Club search, but a lot of the finalists visibly exhausted after a 7 hour day. But she was reluctant to let them take a break before the final audition, purely so she could test out how they were ‘under pressure’.

She never watched all the rehearsals, but she did come and see the later ones/dress rehearsals and often nagged the kids for not smiling enough or smiling too much! The kids did have respect for her I think, but she was quite strict and a perfectionist. She’d often give the head choreographer a lot of flack too because the kids weren’t learning the routines quick enough.

She did calm down a bit after all the first live shows were over and the band was deemed popular.

The youngest was often homesick and remembers Nikki telling them firmly to “not let the audience see it” because it would depress them. Don’t even know if the kids knew what depression meant!

she’d worked with S club 7 and I think she often forgot how young the kids were compared to them.

Since the majority are now parents, would they let their children do something similar to S club juniors knowing what they know now?

Rochelle and Frankie are hardly just TV presenters - they’re CEOs and Founders of multiple businesses, are they not? I just started following them on instagram and that’s the impression I got anyway. Rochelle especially seems very accomplished.

They have lots under their belts, but most tend to know them for the Saturdays and presenting. If people want to know more they have wiki pages!

Most admit they would struggle, especially if the kids were as young. We’ve discussed this a few times, nobody’s really given a confirmed answer!

No idea why the first paragraph is in bold.

Do you think it’s in their best interests that they spend their life fruitlessly chasing a dream from their teenage years rather than another, more dependable, fulfilling career?

This a bit harsh lol! Some of them have done well in the entertainment industry since SC8 ended.

i remember telling my child it was imperative they got a good education when they moaned about tutoring. A lot of the members inc Frankie and Rochelle have had proper jobs too. Rochelle used to hand out leaflets and Frankie was a bar and shop girl.

I’m honestly not trying to be harsh (I watched the S Club Juniors search tv programme and was SO jealous! I was 10!), it’s just peaking so early and with such massive furore is a recipe for disappointment later as you try to endlessly recapture the past - unless you’re one of the ‘lucky’ few who manage to cling to fame. Do they ever consider just retraining and doing something else is what I meant.

Most of the others (not Frankie or Rochelle) despite not going to uni did retrain and do other stuff. One is a banker, one is an MUA, one is a choreographer. A lot realised they weren’t cut out for singing after the band.

I think rather than being bitter they are just grateful for what they did have, most describe it as a lovely tale to tell their kids too.

as I said far back, I can only think of 2 or 3 that admit they want to reunite. For most of the others it’s a flat out NO.

You did say though that your child is jealous/bitter of the success Frankie and Rochelle have had, and that they’re still pursuing opportunities in the industry. Do you think that they’ll decide to give it up at any point?

Oops forgot to type more. Just piggybacking off that answer:

I do think as adults they know deep down SCJ was never meant to be long term. Even when they changed their name to “8” looking back they say it was obvious there was a shelf life. I remember Fuller thinking I dream with the other members was meant to be the next big thing, but I don’t think people really liked the extras much.

Yes but in your daughter’s case it sounds like she’s stuck in the past a little - does her current work support her financially, does she have an independent life that she funds herself? Any plans to do something more concrete than continuously try to get her music career back?

I don’t think I said any of this about my child nor did I say it was a daughter.

Sorry I thought somebody said your child is female.

You just said in your OP that their work centres around trying to break back into the music industry, that it all makes them sad, that they’re a bit jealous of the ones who ‘made it’ etc

I wondered how much of a life they’ve really built for themselves since then.

They have an independent job as something completely unrelated to singing, as well as posting music privately as they don’t have massively high self esteem and I don’t blame them for that sometimes. I have spoke to them and they are happy about me saying this here.

Naturally they are a bit envious but hold no grudge to other members who are doing well, first to admit how proud of Frankie and Rochelle they are.

Would they all do it again if they could have their time again, knowing how it would go? Perhaps not so much F and R, as they have had ‘showbiz’ careers out of it, but the others?

Did any of them ever feel really homesick and like they might have made a mistake?

All would do it again as it made them who they are (even F and R admit they probably wouldn’t have got the sats opportunity without scJ) but only 2/3 want to reunite now.

RE homesickness, a lot did at first. Towards the end though a lot wanted to move out asap when they got back to their family homes.

my child said that one of the management dismissed homesickness as “not wanting it enough” which was ridiculously unfair!

RE making a mistake, I don’t think so for the majority. But one of them was a huge metal/rock fan (ie NOT SC7) and admitted they felt a bit silly singing all these bubblegum pop hits. They didn’t have a pushy parent but it was their mums idea for them to audition (she found out about the auditions) as she said any experience was good experience and like a lot of parents didn’t expect them to get further than the first couple of rounds.

they enjoyed the experience as a whole (ie no regrets) and they weren’t the only one in the band who wasn’t a sc7 fan. They were nicely but firmly told by management to not admit this to the press during interviews though!

What would happen if they were unwell? Were they still expected to perform? Or did any of them miss performance because they were ill?

I can see adult performers being expected to carry on, but I’d hope that children would be protected a little more in those instances.

Loving this AMA by the way, OP. I normally don’t bother with them because they are usually quite dull, but I’m finding this fascinating.