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!

Were there ever any circumstances where the singing was changes because somebody sounded better suited? So they knew who was singing what before. With the Calvin and daisy thing (I know it’s in the past) but I’m curious to know if the management knew about it before it blew over or was it kept private between the band and only something they knew away from the managers chaperone, do you think if it hadn’t have fizzled out what would have happened? Would they have been chucked out?(I know you said they tried to stamp it out but would love to know how it was dealt with and who knew) I’m also curious if there was any rules for the parents like strict rules especially when they were visiting back home holidays etc that the management gave or on tours? Were they allowed to stay with family after shows or was it strict instruction they were kept together in hotels? The pineapple studios are numbered with pictures so I was wondering if they reconsied the rooms they’d been in as it’d be cool to know I’ve danced in the same rooms as a club juniors haha!!! I looked at performances aswell and with me being a dancer I saw they did one offs of songs live unless they weren’t uploaded? Was that a lot of effort to just perform something once like big fun and there’s another too but I can’t remember where theree only a one off?

Also I forgot to ask that in there but whose idea was it to cut daisys long hair was it hers?? :O

Aaron was given an amazing reference by the scJ choreographer for a specialist performing arts school. He really encouraged him to go for that route after the band ended. He also encouraged Stacey to do the same thing, but she decided she didn’t want to pursue dancing.

Stacey had the opportunity to perform with Bradley and Tina. She did a few years ago.

Daisy got put in a girl band by the manager of sugababes, who had heard of her from SCJ. They were later managed by Beyoncé’s father.

Calvin got a few parts in TV shows, again he thinks those audition offers wouldn’t have come about without him being in the band. He was actually up for chuck in gossip girl for a while but lost out last minute.

I know people will think of Jay’s acting, but Jay was actually in the west end as a child for a couple of years before the band even started.

Rochelle was actually a CBBC presenter before the Saturdays.

There was a few changes. In don’t tell me you’re sorry during the pre chorus and bridge in the music video, it looks like Aaron had lead vocals. It was actually Calvin’s lead vocals, but Aaron got moved to the front in the music video last minute as it was dance-heavy and he was considered the better dancer. Calvin was also struggling with the solo dancing with Stacey.

Connor’s line in one step closer was given to Jay because Connor got removed. That’s why Jay has two parts in the song. No idea why they didn’t give it to Aaron or Hannah.

Hannah was supposed to have a bit in automatic high singing alongside Stacey in the bridge, but it got given last minute to Daisy who already had another part. That’s the only time my child recalls Hannah getting really upset, purely as ALL the other girls hand lines in that song bar her. Daisy tried to tell management “no” but there wasn’t really any option to say no.

The whole Calvin and daisy thing was very innocent, I don’t think anything ever happened past a bit of hand holding in rehearsals. There were chaperones and people working with the jrs around 24/7, and Calvin lived in the rented house whereas Daisy stayed with her family. If they were touring the boys and girls always slept separately. Sometimes they’d have sleepovers in the living room but the chaperones would be there too. I think management suspected they liked each other. They’d have probably stamped it out if it went too far, similar to how parents would if their kids were that age.

They were allowed to stay with family during their time off. Half of the juniors lived with family during rehearsals and rehearsing for their second tour anyway. Only four lived in the rented house/hotel in London.

they did a few one off performances. Big fun, one fine day, turn the lights on. Tv shows would sometimes give them free rein picking a song that wasn’t a single.

Daisy wanted to cut her hair and was sick of the plaits.

Hannah was treated so poorly. I know she was happy to have the experience and her harmonising was really wonderful but would it have really killed them to give the poor girl a line or two?

#justiceforhannah 😂

I agree with this! Even if it was minor lines she seems such a sweet girl too from watching the interviews jay did on his instagram! I feel like she doesn’t realise she was just as important as all the other members. As much as some got pushed to the front I feel every member was valuable and relatable one way or another! We all loved you Hannah if you read this!!
thank you for answering my questions it’s really interesting to hear about changes and the secrets! I’m still curious if there was any strict ruling you had to abide by as parents with the whole experience? Like dos and donts to keep them at their best or prevent risk of them not being available for performances. Was that part of the contract?As in they could only miss things if it was essential That’s interesting that daisy was picked up for from above by sugar babes manager and that Calvin nearly had that part!! Would daisy ever go back into the industry in a band or solo? Or any of the members really? What recent work has arron done with his choreography ??

There was a few rules yeah. Parents weren’t allowed to go backstage and see their kids during performances, or to come and stay with them at the house or hotel. Legally the kids could only be with the chaperones. This is still the case today in a lot of children’s performing.

The kids weren’t allowed to sign any more work contacts when they were in the band. Some of them had done work before being in the band. Honestly being in band was so full on that I think they appreciated their time off and didn’t really want to do anything else.

Sometimes the kids missed out on family holidays, birthdays, weddings because of working in the band. That was just the way it was and it was made clear when we signed our kids away. My child said that if you were ill you were expected to push through, I can only think of 3/4 times someone in the band didn’t perform.

After being rejected on X factor it really knocked Daisy’s confidence (far more than it knocked Stacey’s) and she has said in the group a few times she is happy having a more steady job as an MUA. I do think she would reunite for one off stuff though.

Stacey and Aaron up for reuniting. Everyone else Inc frankie and Rochelle no. Jay is a “firm no!” lol.

Aaron runs the odd dance class and choreographs for musicals (stage/musicals rather than TV work atm, though he’s done that too)

Hannah and her parents were genuinely some of the most kind amiable people I’ve ever met. Her mum and dad in a private meeting with the parents gently suggested she be included more, promises were made and just broken.

Did they all have to get approval if they wanted hair changes and hair cuts??
Was there anything they wanted but were denied? How come you weren’t allowed to stay at the house or anything to see them? Were they worried about distractions?
That’s such a shame about not all of them wanting to reunite even if it’s just once it’s their roots and what made them who they are today! (No shade to any of them) That’s also really sad daisys confidence was knocked. The X factor thing never made sense to me as she has videos on YouTube singing and has a beautiful voice? did the band just get hit with nerves? I’ve always wondered aswell from reading back Stacey wasn’t allowed to mention her band past on X factor was it the same with daisy? Also what were there reasonings when they said it to Stacey? Very strange.
does Aaron work with any big artists anymore as he’s done Taylor swift in the past hasn’t he.
That makes sense why Hannah seems such a sweet soul on the interview if that’s how her parents were! I think a lot of us in our 30s can say we still blast out some juniors here and there

Not all parents were CRB checked and the chaperones were pre approved under certain regulations and had a special license. It’s still common practice today that parents aren’t allowed backstage.

Haircuts they had to ask permission for if they wanted a massively different change yes. Sometimes wardrobe would “decide” the haircuts for them. Wardrobe and management were so keen to put the kids into boxes at the start (ie Daisy the one with the plaits). Once Rochelle straightened her hair in the later stages of the band they didn’t want Stacey doing it too for some reason. The kids were really conditioned (in my opinion unnaturally so) into doing what they were told, I know Frankie has said during interviews she struggled even choosing clothes for herself when the band ended. When my child came home for Christmas I remember them asking me “what do you want me to wear for Christmas Eve/day/ Boxing Day?” When before that it would’ve been a struggle to get them out of their jeans and T-shirts.

Hannah was denied a lot of what they deemed to be “grown up” clothes like the other girls wore. So she tended not to be in tight vests/halters like Frankie and Stacey in the music videos.

hannah and Aaron had to change into other clothes during the sundown music video shoot as they wanted to wear black but costume and management only wanted Calvin and Frankie in black so they’d stand out.

as I’ve already said Stacey wanted to straighten her hair more often but wasn’t really allowed for some reason. I think she only did it on only one or two occasions.

Aaron and Calvin while being like brothers at times bickered a lot towards the end and shared a bedroom in the hotel during idream. They wanted to have separate rooms or share with the other actors like George and Matt but weren’t allowed for whatever reason.

Daisy was told to keep quiet that from above had been previously signed so I think it was just obvious she shouldn’t mention the Jr’s. Stacey was told to not mention them. Think this is because these shows outsource a lot of professional or semi professional singers and the viewers see it as controversial because the show is meant to be looking for a new act.

At the moment Aaron works with more up and coming actors, he’s choreographing and helping out with rehearsals at a musical that’s going to be at the Edinburgh fringe.

That makes so much sense now you say it like that as you wouldn’t just be around your own child you’d be in contact with all the other members of the band without checks, I get you! Is there anything that took you by surprise as a parent you weren’t allowed to do that wasn’t laid out before it all began? (Like the backstage thing I’m guessing that was all made clear) but was there anything you were like, this is crazy? Sorry I’m off on a tangent with questions but I do find this fascinating to know. One thing I’d love to know is when was it they all changed completely? I feel like I remember them as juniors and then suddenly for album 2 they’d all had hair cuts dressed differently and looked older? When they changed the name to sclub 8 was it discussed and then part of the relaunch as I can’t remember them slowly looking like that if that makes any sense at all.
That’s really upsetting about the clothes thing but I guess it’s part and parcel of the image that goes with the group. I can imagine that was upsetting for Stacey if she wanted to straighten it more? Did she ever put up a fight to do it? Was there ever any uproar when Calvin got given puppy love and the focus was on one member either from the band or parents? Was this put forward to parents beforehand or was everything just done and whatever happened everybody had to accept?
How does daisy look back on the xfactor does she think the nerves got the better of her I’d love to hear her take years later? Would Stacey ever do it again as she nearly got to the end? I also went on to rewatch some junior stuff and Im ever so curious about this interview Stacey looks extremely sad and it looks like daisys comforting her? Maybe I’ve read it wrong can they remember? Thought I may swell ask while I’m asking everything else as I’ve not longed watched it it’d be really said if they were made to do an interview while they were upset.
Sorry for the never ending questions I have a lot to ask

Sorry for taking a while to reply to this, it required asking a few people in the group for definitive answers ha ha.

1. personally, yes. Although everything was explained regarding how many hours they’d be working, tutoring and getting paid, I don’t think most of us realised how much pressure the kids would be under. Mental health help wasn’t really a thing back then and some did struggle from being ordinary school kids thrust into the limelight so suddenly. Despite being aged 10-13 in the beginning, they were almost doing adult jobs. A lot of the time (as a parent) it felt very controlled too. I touched upon this on my last reply. The kids were coached in interviewing too when I assumed they could just give natural answers. One of the members parents worked in the industry already and they took it very very seriously. I remember them telling their kid “this is work, if you mess it up it’ll ruin your future career options in this industry.” Which I didn’t agree with. Another parent wasn’t pushy but really took things to heart, I remember him telling me how he’d gone into work and told people about the single coming out (one step closer) and was heartbroken that his colleagues (middle aged men and women) hadn’t heard of SC8.
2. when the band was renamed S club 8, management did really do their best to have an image change along with the name change. This included a new wardrobe manager and more grown-up songs like sundown and don’t tell me you’re sorry. Simon fuller envisioned them taking the place of SC7 who had recently split. The juniors didn’t really have any say in it, again it was a decision made out of their hands. But most were ok with it. They still tried to dress Hannah younger than the rest.
3. None of the kids really put up a fight for anything, she asked and asked until they let her a couple of times. I think a lot of them were worried if they put up a fight or said no to stuff they’d be removed and replaced.
4. i think naturally some of the band were a bit disappointed about puppy love, but by then Calvin was beginning to be popular with tween girls, and popular= more sales. It was quite early in the band and I think everyone felt like they just had to accept it. Management and producers were upfront about puppy love being a Calvin solo though from the start. Whereas with “dreaming” with Calvin and Frankie, a lot of that was kept secret and genuinely upset other band members. The other members didn’t know it was going to be released as a single and performed on TV without them. They assumed it was just going to be an album track that was going to be used for the TV show. Frankie and Calvin were told to keep quiet and it caused quite a lot of upset I recall.

six: Stacey wouldn’t do X factor again. She said she’d try it once and see how far she got, but that was it. It’s a real emotional rollercoaster and I remember her telling others how “fake” it all seemed. She loved the hotel and meeting Kylie though.

Daisy says it was a combination of nerves and being told to sing a song they weren’t super comfortable doing/ hadn’t practised a lot. They’d also recently been dropped by a record label and taken part in a crappy (Daisy will admit that) TV show. It was almost like ptsd I guess.

As a parent I love the girls and their songs but I do question if they had enough of an opportunity to mature their voices while growing up as they were told to mime all the time. I know Jay got a lot of vocal lessons after the band ended while working as a salesman because he wanted to audition for shows but just lost confidence in his voice after so little live singing and his voice breaking. He’s incredible now though. He has natural talent but he is not sure he’d have got as far as he’s got today if he hadn’t admitted he needed and had those lessons.

RE the video, nobody was upset however the group would often be told to cuddle up to or keep a hand on each other both on TV and for photoshoots, basically ‘to show they liked each other loads and were best friends’. When some of the photos were taken they’d absolutely cringe afterwards, especially as they got older. I will link an example. Calvin and Stacey in this first one got a bit embarassed here. Daisy was supposed to hold Aaron’s hand but both said a flat no! lol. In the second picture, you can see how much more natural Calvin and Daisy look together, probably because they were close even after they stopped “dating”. Whereas the rest look quite awkward touching. They always asked Calvin not to smile with his teeth because girl fans liked the “cool” look apparantly…

Thank you for going such in depth on these answers!!! It’s honestly so fascinating to hear about the background insights especially with them being such a young band at the time!
you touched on the puppy love thing but with the Calvin and Frankie song how did they deal with it? Did they feel bad they had to keep it from everybody? Did it upset them they had to? Did they feel like they were betraying their band mates? I wonder what their perspective is and also what’s the other members perspective? Did any of the parents ring management or did any of the members reach out to Calvin and Frankie? Or did everybody move with silence and accept the shock? I can imagine that was an extremely awkward time. Also the touching thing in photos I get why they did it but I think if daisy and Aaron had held hands that would have looked ridiculous so they both made the right decision there haha! I see what you mean with the photos you can really see the unwanted contact! With the daisy xfactor thing why on earth would they give them a song they weren’t comfortable with and didn’t have enough time to practice on to move through a contest that could have changed their career? Poor daisy and the rest of the them I feel so much frustration for her so can’t even begin to imagine how she felt knowing she could sing and dance as well as she can. Pass it on to her that her singing YouTube videos are incredible. Poor Stacey too not getting to the end too she was robbed. I’ve read the thread and so many others agree that Stacey and daisy were the real stars. From rewatching everything it’s those 2 that really stand out to me with their uniqueness. If you take them away from the performances it’d be quite telling. My personal option anyway Simon obviously had his own!
id love to just on a nosey note know what they all listen to? What’s each members go to if they put something on? Or their favourite songs? That’s just me being curious! Or what is a particular memory from all of them from recording and touring that stands out to them?
How did they as individuals deal with the group ending? what’s something us s club junior fans would be surprised to know? That’s not public? What’s something totally unexpected that happened filming a music video or playing a show? who was the prankster of the group?
my questions are endless I’ll be honest

Yes, I believe they had to keep the fact they were performing on TV and the fact it was being released commercially as a single quiet from the rest of the members. I remember Frankie later telling my child (as an adult) that she was worried she’d piss off management if she refused to do it and that Calvin felt the same. At that age (15ish) they felt like management would make sure they got no work in the future if they refused to do it. I don’t know where Frankie got this idea from, as I said she’s not mine, but I do know that Frankie and Calvin, or Frankie on her own, were pulled into a lot of private meetings towards the end of SC8.

I think the other members were disappointed (though I think it was shock more than anything), but being professional they weren’t altogether surprised in a sense. Frankie was very much fuller’s favourite from the off (none of the members blame or begrudge her for this!), and when he realised how many girls liked Calvin, I’m guessing he thought hey the duo could be a potential moneymaker. Knowing what happened to SC8 after I dream, I think he was experimenting with the idea of those two becoming a duo as he offered them a record deal as such when the band ended. They declined it. I think Calvin considered saying yes from what I’ve heard, but Frankie made it clear she wanted to go solo- and I think she was a bit fed up of the cheesy songs.

there was definitely a bit of resentment throughout different stages of the band, releasing dreaming was one of those times.

RE favourite memories, their first date at Wembley arena was their biggest pinch me moment

a surprise/interesting fact.. Calvin didn’t really like any of the songs sCJ/8 released at all, and is a massive heavy metal and rock fan. Another fact is that Stacey was the only one out of the band who actually was a massive fan of SC7! Most said a club 7 were “just okay” music wise!

Stacey was the prankster and encouraged group pranks.

Frankie got kept on by 19 management so she wasn’t dropped as such when the band ended.
The rest of the band got dropped. Fuller threw a line out that they’d hear if any more opportunities came up but it never happened. Personally I think he should’ve been straight with them that everything was over.

they all went back to school (even Frankie) and Aaron went to a performing arts college.

Thank you for these answers! They’re not always the answers I expect so it’s really fascinating!! You should ask them in the group chat what music they listen to or a few of their favourite songs as many members that’ll answer as that’s one question I’m really curious about. I just cant picture what they all listen to

ok so my child asked in the group for each member to give a favourite song. Only some have replied and that’s why there’s only a few responses. I will update you when and if others reply.

Calvin: The offspring “you’re gonna go far kid”
Stacey: Amy winehouse- Frank (the song and album)
Frankie: Sarah close- London
hannah: Harry styles- as it was. Hannah and her kids both loved 1d.
Aaron - troye Sivan rush
Daisy- flowers by miley Cyrus!

Fascinating thread OP, it’s the only AMA I’ve not got bored of!
Of those who have kids now, what do their kids think of them having been in a band? Have they seen videos/heard the songs?

I think most of the kids are just bemused that “mum/dad” used to be famous. Nobody of the kids generation knew who SC8 were, but a few members do get approached in the playground by other mums. Most of the parents in the band describe it as a lovely story to tell their kids but as far as I know none are pushy for their kids to do the same thing. I do know that one of the members has a whole room in their house dedicated to SC8 (denim jacket hung up, several framed posters) and is often asked about it by nieces and nephews when they visit.

The kids have seen the videos, new direction impressed a lot of them when they were younger because they didn’t understand how green screens worked and genuinely thought it was a real magic carpet!

Come onnnnn you have to tell us who has the dedicated room? Or at least give us a hint?
also they’ve got good music taste!

Here’s one that’s been racking my brain if they had to keep doing takes for the one step closer video I saw the behind the scenes parts did poor daisy have to keep blowing that bubble gum out to get the perfect shot and if that failed they had to keep doing it again haha? Did they ever get boo’d on stage if so how did they handle it?

Daisy could already blow bubbles really well before the music video got recorded. She was originally going to have a different cue but then Nikki chapman saw her during a rehearsal break and thought it would work well. They did a few takes of the close up bubble blowing shot with Daisy sat on her own (which you don’t notice as it’s a close up) and used the best one with the most symmetrical bubble.

No booing when they performed as kids, but at festivals people would bring whistles and blow them constantly during the performances. Some girls threw pants at Calvin on stage and had to be escorted out. When they performed in 3’s when they got older they sometimes got booed by drunk uni students.

I can’t believe people threw their pants at him he was a kid a child? Did the parents go mad at that? Talking of Calvin how long did it take the 3 boys to master the spin in sundown hahahaha? I remember as kid being like wow this is so cool hahahaha. I think it was that song? Did any of the members get a warning for doing anything out of line? I think this was touched on in another post on the thread and possibly asked but if they had to get up really early for tv shows but could only work a set number of hours how was this watched? Did they time it from how long they performed for as they’re technically working waking up mega early no? What was classed as working and what wasn’t ?

They didn’t go mad but they made sure the security had dealt with the girls. It was teenage girls doing it, not older women. The spin/flip in sundown was learned surprisingly quickly, but there was a bit after that where all boys were supposed to do a breakdancing kick type move at the same time. They managed it in sync for the music video after a LOT of takes kind of…(I say kind of as Jay couldn’t do it at all and was very unhappy with the music video), but for live performances it had to be changed so they’d do it one after another as all of them found it really hard to do it at the exact same time. I remember being told Aaron would get really frustrated at the other two lol. But he did manage to help Jay do it. RE the working hours, everything was planned way way in advance, so by the time the day arrived they’d know exactly when they were starting and when they’d finish for the day.

Work included everything really. Vocal coaching, rehearsing, recording, performing, interviews, PR coaching, meetings with management, costume fittings, hair and makeup. They only had a certain number of hours per day to work and a certain number of hours to do tutoring.