Hear’Say have officially confirmed they are getting back together, with four of the five original members announcing the comeback on Instagram this morning.
Kym Marsh, Suzanne Shaw, Danny Foster and Noel Sullivan shared the news via a newly created account for the band, marking a quarter of a century since they were brought together on ITV’s Popstars.
Myleene Klass, however, is notably absent from the reunion lineup.
The account follows all five original members, but the announcement video featured only the four returning stars.
The post landed exactly 24 years after Hear’Say confirmed their split in 2002, two years on from their formation on the groundbreaking reality series that predated Pop Idol, Fame Academy and The X Factor.
Formed through Nigel Lythgoe’s talent search on ITV, the five-piece were selected from thousands of hopefuls in a process that captivated millions of viewers.
Their debut single Pure & Simple shot straight to the top of the charts, selling more than 550,000 copies to become the fastest-selling debut in history at the time.
The accompanying album Popstars matched that feat, entering at number one with first-week sales exceeding 306,000, and a second chart-topping single, The Way to Your Love, followed shortly after.
Hear’Say disbanded almost two and a half decades ago
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Sadly for the band, a second album failed to replicate their debut’s success, and Ms Marsh’s departure led to scrapped arena tour plans.
Johnny Shentall was recruited as her replacement in 2002, but the group disbanded before the year was out.
Speaking on Loose Women in July, Ms Klass explained her decision to step back from the reunion.
“I loved my time in Hear’Say, I know it’s 25 years this year,” she said. “Listen, they’ve had their discussions, and I fully back them to go ahead and do a reunion.”
Myleene Klass won’t be involved
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She went on: “It’s not something I can commit to right at this moment. But you go and, you know, I’ll be (in the) front row – singing Pure And Simple!”
Ms Klass also threw doubt over whether the reunion would pay off. “Generally speaking, I think it’s very hard to replicate the feeling of the first time,” she said.
Ms Marsh had previously hinted at a possible comeback in an interview with Prima magazine, saying she would “never say never” about a reunion and suggesting the group might “pop up somewhere, just for a one-off performance.”
The Instagram video took the form of a screen-recorded WhatsApp conversation between the four members.
Hear’Say reached number one with their debut single
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Mr Foster opened by expressing amazement at the response to a previously shared tour clip, with Ms Shaw replying: “Ahhh the memories… can you believe it was 25 years ago?!”
Mr Sullivan then floated the idea of reforming, prompting Ms Marsh to encourage him before he asked: “Fancy getting the band back together?”
The caption urged followers to register via a link for updates, with references to “presale” strongly indicating live dates are in the pipeline.
Shortly after the social media announcement, fans flocked to share their excitement at the news.
Kym Marsh is taking part in the reunion
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“As someone in the top 0.4% of Hear’say listeners on Spotify, I can truly say I am READY,” one fan replied on Instagram.
A second rather excitedly typed: “OH MY GOD. Take my rent money. Take my Klarna money. Take my wages. Take EVERYTHING. OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD HEAR’SAY!!!”
“NEEDED THIS FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS,” a third overjoyed fan weighed in, before a fourth echoed: “Not a want, a NEED.”
Meanwhile, a fifth added: “Only been waiting my entire life for this, and you drop it like THAT. ON A THURSDAY?! Savings are getting raided, this is going to be ICONIC!!” (sic)