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!

Yeah the one they talked about everyone was up for but Calvin pulled out so I'm curious where the one only 3 were up for?

Sorry if I misunderstood. There was no official offer for a group reunion. It’s more just something that’s been spoke about in terms of fans asking especially when sc7 reunited. It’s been discussed in the group mostly in jest a few times. The consensus according to my child is that only 3 are really open to it.

Personal opinion I think the 3 of them should rent out some venues and do some Live Q and A sessions it'd have interest. Some people never got to meet them, it's incredibly nostalgic and would do well. It's a huge shame as imagine them on the S club 7 tour in a huge 360 cycle back where they started (the crowds would have been there already so wouldn't have to worry about sales)
Shame the others aren't down for it. I find it crazy how the 3 I mentioned are the ones up for it it always came across like those 3 were the most into it and proud of their roots when speaking about it all. I think those 3 realise the success it was and wern't just in it for the ride. They all could sing and dance extremely well ( not saying the others couldn't) but it was obvious those 3 wanted it if that makes sense.

I'm full on loving this thread I'm not even ashamed to say I've literally spent the last hour going through it with my best mate on our cocktail night! S Club Juniors were my childhood. Also I find this post funny and had to respond to this specifically as my friend who is gay literally saw the tag on tik tok under some gay event page (it's such a small world out there) I've attached it, she's tagged Daisy and everything. What an absolute legend. I haven't heard the interview, but I'll look it up I've attached a picture of Laura too for the laughs as what a wild combination that is. If you gave me a million dollars to guess her crush it wouldn't be Daisy hahahahaha! I hope daisy saw it and it has been passed on to the chat. S CLUB JUNIORS CAN YOU REUNITE PLEASE AND SORT IT OUT

To be fair Frankie and Rochelle will be contracted for other roles they might find it difficult to get out if to do this. A few of the other members travel a lot and are still in showbiz in some capacity.

that would be a nice idea though. It’s interesting how all the members differ when talking about it and the level of reminiscing . One of them (not mine) has their double denim (S jacket, jeans) hung up in the living room and a whole room at their parents with lots of framed photos of the band. Mine while being super proud would be a bit embarrassed if I did that though I would love to. They describe looking at old photos, mags and covers as embarrassing as getting the family photos out!

Christ if Daisy isn't interested, I am and I'm straight. 😍

I’ve taken over my mums mumsnet account at this point to reply to this hahaha as my mum was posting what I was saying and relaying it before! I say shoot your shot girl! Get her socials! She had a girlfriend a few years back from America but I’m positive she’s single now (she’s quite private about stuff like that online but has posted the odd thing in the past if in a serious relationship) But my god I agree with you Laura is absolutely stunning and to be fair very sought after by the metal girls on the scene. She’s hilarious too and a super nice human I’ve met her a few times watched the band live etc. She wears sunglasses a lot as her style but her eyes are gorgeous. Truly a creative genius too she’s saved a few people’s lives across the years in her bands so a bonus as well as attractive right? (look at me playing cupid on mumsnet) Daisy’s married now with kids but even on the interview Laura did say after she said it about Daisy that she doesn’t want it to come across weird even though she was asked the question as she knows she’s married and they’re both grown adults, so Laura was respectful about it. You know what though how stunning would Laura and Daisy be as a couple they’d be so interesting together. Maybe if Laura met Daisy in her younger years something could have happened but I doubt they were ever on the same circuit! Or that Daisy even swings that way?? or that Laura would ever be attractive to Daisy. There is that too. We'll never know. I tell you who I would ship….. Laura and Stacey. A fun fact for you because as you can tell I’m a big we are sovereign fan aswell as an S club junior fan… they were both born in Blackpool. I’m sure Laura either lives in Derby, where the band is based or London now I can’t really tell from socials but she was definitely born in Blackpool. I’m speaking it into the universe Laura and Daisy or Laura and Stacey hahahahaha The greatest thing out of all this is that Laura is going about her day to day life as a metal vocalist completely oblivious she’s in an S Club Junior thread on mums net that quite possibly has been seen by the band hahahaha life! If you do see this Daisy I don’t think Laura’s a creep with the whole thing either I think she’s just very open about who her first childhood crush was and just so happens to still find Daisy attractive as she’s become a grown woman. From the interview she mentioned she finds her creativity and talent attractive too so it wasn’t an “oh my god she was in the band I love her” kind of thing or creepy fan girl behaviour. A long reply but I didn’t want to make Laura look like a creep from bringing her name into this thread in case any of the ex juniors see it and with Laura being in the music industry herself it look bad but I say shoot your shot whoever replied to seeing the photo of her I’ve typed out way too much here sorry to the mum of the junior it just flowed out

Is it ok if you guys maybe start your own thread, just because it’s a Q and A and Laura is kind of off topic.

Yes of course!! sorry I was trying to play cupid with who replied to what I had started with mentioning her. Sorry again. We'll keep it to topic I've said and asked all I need to it's been an amazing thread so thank you for starting it :)

Here's one for you to bring it back on topic apologies again. Do you have any footage anywhere of when the 4 of them did university shows and one off performances? Us Junior fans would love to see it there doesn't seem to be a trace online anywhere. If you know anywhere we could find it that'd be exciting?

Popped back on to say I've been down a rabbit hole since reading this thread. I found a podcast Stacey went on '20 years on' in 2021 (a few of the others too, but Stacey's episode is the one I listened to). And I'm convinced you're either Stacey's mum OR you're the superfan from Hong Kong 🤣 he knows everything! From listening to that episode I love how Stacey has such fond memories and remembers everything.

I worked out to S Club Juniors this morning too. And I was thinking how crazy it is there's been nothing really like them since, they were so young! It's surprising really that there haven't been any copycat groups over the year

I haven’t seen that (you’ll have to link me) but I think I know the person you are talking about. He was on a charity group zoom call with one of the other members it’s on YT. Not Stacey. He has a scarf. I don’t want to point him out incase I’ve got it wrong and you mean someone else. I know he is a big fan and I’m sure the members are grateful for that but as a parent I remember finding him a bit strange. He tried to message my child on their private social media.

Smartphones weren’t a massive thing back then and the gigs weren’t recorded professionally (I myself didn’t attend nor did the other parents), so that is probably something to ask a fan group if any exist. I know there are clips of Stacey with Bradley and Tina, and clips of Daisy singing on her own, on YouTube. I will ask around.

the uni “gigs” were pretty spur of the moment and unofficial. There was some not very nice people at them.

I must be old… Who is this Laura character?!

Ah, I’ve just seen this - apologies!

Yes I'll have to have a look around! I'm just curious what they sang, if they danced and or what they actually did?
What do you mean not very nice people? Would you be comfortable expanding on that?

It was live rather than lip synching, so there wasn’t much dancing involved. My child says it was very similar to “s club allstars” performing. One of the reasons the juniors didn’t sing live was because of the high energy dance routines.

By not nice people, it was in a student union. So you’d get arseholes who weren’t into pop music heckling and afterwards lads offering to buy the girls drinks and trying to have a grope. There wasn’t much security. It’s partly why they stopped doing it. The other reason being the boy member(s) who were part of it got offered jobs elsewhere and the girls didn’t feel totally safe doing it as a duo or trio alone.

That's really nice they sang live! What songs did they sing could you ask your child? Also were some of the group bothered at the time they were in the Juniors that they weren't allowed to sing and had to mime in the band? as some must have been really passionate about wanting to sing.
Shame about the idiots ruining it for them I can imagine student unions being full of drunken muppets. I think I heard or read somewhere they stopped that because Daisy got engaged or moved away too? Was that another reason on top? I can't remember which interview I heard that in, though it might have been Staceys.

Here's the link to the podcast. Just audio so not sure if it's the same guy but you'll probably recognise his voice if it is. He did say his mum wouldn't let him go to the United tour as he was too young, so I think he was a genuine fan at the time (bit weird to still be such a mega fan though assuming he's in his 30s now 🤣).

open.spotify.com/episode/5OQh7RaX5m6LwxwLf7zMpI?si=Y7u4jZXrRhGhe8JUAUffHw

Ok so I’ve asked and they answered, a few were bothered, yes. A lot of the kids who auditioned did so presuming they would be live singing but it was later deemed by management as “too much” for the kids to do at once as the dance routines were very energetic and they’d end up out of breath. The support act slots with SC7 were all mimed. They tried singing live on TOTP as a sort of “experiment” to see if they could cope and for various reasons management didn’t like the results. But Nikki and Carrie/david Grant were absolute perfectionists. I think they often forgot they were working with 10-14 year olds at the start because they generally worked with adult bands.

it stopped due to several commitments- Daisy was planning her wedding and Jay started getting auditions for west end roles after a long while of selling mobile phones as a “normal” job.

Song list could vary depending on what the crowd wanted but tended to include

one step closer, automatic high, sundown, slower more acoustic version of don’t tell me you’re sorry, then some of the s c 7 songs like reach, s club party, don’t stop movin.

That is definitely the same person, in fact a lot of those voices I recognise from a zoom call a member did for charity I believe it’s on YouTube.

I know all the members think fans that still love the group nowadays are flattering of course but often you do get some who are a bit overly keen. But it does go with the territory of being famous.

That's fair enough, and I bet 8 microphones at once was very difficult technically! If you're on about the live TOTP one step closer performance, I think for what it is and how old they are it's near enough perfect and sounds like the single? I'm actually still all these years later shocked they managed to pick the right kids get them all looking good together and dancing and singing in sync it's outstanding I think. I'm curious at what point did they start to be paid is that something the parents asked and stamped down on or was it brought to the table? Like at what point was it ok you're all being paid now?
Also I'm really intrigued how royalties work. Does each members get a split even though they didn't write the songs? If so is it alot? or very minimal? Is there any other income they still get from the band aside from music streams? like cd sales? Do they get given documents with breakdowns on or is it just trusted it's right?

I thought it was fab too but management were very difficult to please.

They started getting paid when they signed their record deal to record OSC.

They do get royalties, they split them equally. As they didn’t write the songs it isn’t much. On average now (ie in 2024) they get a couple of hundred each per year.

Thank you for answering everything it's so intriguing! How did payments work when they left? Did they cut the payments and have a cut off date as you said they had a set salary? Also were they paid for I dream or dvd sales?

Also another curious one was how long was the record deal contract? was it re-signed every year or was it a set amount of years? If so I wonder did it end as they were let go? Does your child still have copies of the contracts and all stuff related to that? as back then it'd have been paper right rather than online documents?
Also tell your child if they want to ask anything of us from fan perspectives (we're older now but remember it all) we can answer too! like how we saw things or what we thought of things!