HEIDI, 30, insists she wasn't sad when the Sugababes came to an end and says throwing herself into stage show Happy Days: A New Musical has helped her rediscover her love of theatre and build her fitness.
FORMER Sugababe Heidi Range has ruled out a reunion with the band, insisting she’s enjoying life away from the group that made her a star.
Heidi, 30, who is heading to Scotland with stage show Happy Days: A New Musical, said: “I wasn’t sad when it came to an end.
“I was in the band for 11 years and I feel really lucky I was part of it for that long but I was definitely ready for the break.
“Sugababes took over my life and that’s what controlled every day, every week, every month. I just wanted a bit of time to myself really. We’ve not really done anything together for about two years.”
Liverpool-born Heidi certainly doesn’t fancy doing TV show The Big Reunion that brought fellow Scousers Atomic Kitten back together last year.
She said: “The Big Reunion isn’t something I’d want to do at the moment. I know they say never say never but I’m not interested just now.
“Jade is doing her musical Tonight’s The Night and I believe Amelle is in the studio working on solo material.
“We don’t speak and don’t really phone each other but we send each other tweets and messages and I see the girls at some things.
“I’ve not seen Amelle since May, when both of them came to my 30th birthday.”
Leaving the group gave Heidi the opportunity to pursue her first love – live theatre. For the last five months she’s been touring with the Happy Days show as Pinky, the sassy love interest of The Fonz.
She said: “I’ve done theatre before when I was a lot younger, before Sugababes, and I loved performing in front of a live audience every night.
“It’s exciting to go back to that. It’s something I wanted to do. I was waiting for the right show and right part.
“What I loved about this role is that I get to sing different styles of song and show off my voice, whereas in the band you get one voice.”
After five weeks of rehearsals, Heidi threw herself into the tour, which she says has already helped to build her fitness.
She said: “I definitely feel my stamina has improved as the shows have gone on. I’ve not been to the gym yet and will need to start doing that but we’re doing a lot of promotion so I’ve not had the time.
“I work out with a trainer when I’m at home but I do feel I’ve lost a bit of weight on tour.
“You have to look after yourself and your voice and I drink lots of water, eat lots of greens and take honey.”
Despite performing for the likes of the late Nelson Mandela with Sugababes, Heidi admitted she still suffers from nerves every night.
She said: “I get them every single show but once I’ve got the first scene done it’s better. I had nerves when we first started making music as the Sugababes but we kept on doing the same numbers so they disappeared.”
Heidi, who would love to see the show being put on in London’s West End, is hoping to bring her two pugs and her sister to spend time with her
in Glasgow.
in Glasgow.
And she’s also planning to do a bit of partying while she’s in the city.
She said: “The last time I was here was to watch Kings of Leon with my pals.
“We thought it would be fun to jump on the train and make a few days of it.
“It was raining so I wore my hood up and only a few people recognised me.”
* Happy Days: A New Musical is at the Kings Theatre, Glasgow, from February 24 to March 1.
