Cheryl reveals bandmate Sarah Harding stayed with her at her Surrey home during her final months before dying from breast cancer as Girls Aloud announce reunion

Cheryl has revealed that her late bandmate Sarah Harding came to stay with her in her final months before her death.

The singer, 40, along with Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh announced on Wednesday that Girls Aloud are reuniting for a greatest hits tour.

The band are planning to hit the road in May and June 2024 in recognition of this month marking 21 years since they and the late Sarah won Popstars: The Rivals. 

Sarah tragically died in September 2021 at the age of 39, after a battle with breast cancer.

Speaking to British Vogue, the group explained why this was the right time for a reunion tour after coming to terms with their grief.

Friendship: Cheryl has revealed that her late bandmate Sarah Harding came to stay with her in her final months before her death (pictured together in 2003)

They’re back! The singer, 40, along with Kimberley Walsh, Nicola Roberts and Nadine Coyle (pictured L-R) announced on Wednesday that Girls Aloud are reuniting for a greatest hits tour

Reunion: The band are planning to hit the road in May and June 2024 in recognition of this month marking 21 years since they and the late Sarah won Popstars: The Rivals (pictured in 2003)

Cheryl revealed that she had invited Sarah to come stay with her at her Surrey home in the last months of her life.

Discussing one of their final moments together, she said Sarah had told her that Girls Aloud should reunite after her death, but that Cheryl couldn’t fathom the idea of losing her friend and was waiting on a ‘miracle’.

She said: ‘She [Sarah] turned to me once and said, “You know when I’m not here, you girls should do something.”

‘But when you’re face to face with someone that’s dying… We just thought some miracle was going to occur. We all thought we might be able to do something together.’ 

Cheryl revealed that the band had been discussing plans for a reunion for some time, but put the idea on ice when Sarah was diagnosed in 2020.

She said in a statement: ‘We all started talking about the possibility of doing something to celebrate Girls Aloud’s 20-year anniversary a few years ago. The anniversary seemed like an obvious thing that we would celebrate.

‘But when Sarah fell ill all priorities changed. She passed away a year before the anniversary and it just didn’t feel right, it felt too soon.’ 

The group plan to use the tour to ‘celebrate’ their late friend, with Cheryl explaining: ‘But now, I think there is an energy that does makes it feel right. 

Devastating: Sarah tragically died in September 2021 at the age of 39, after a battle with breast cancer (pictured in 2017)

Close bond: Cheryl revealed that she had invited Sarah to come stay with her at her Surrey home in the last months of her life (pictured together in 2005)

‘It’s the right time to celebrate Sarah, it’s the right time to celebrate the band and the right time to celebrate the fact we can still do this 21 years later. That’s a big honour in lots of ways.’

Kimberley added: ‘Over the last year, we’ve felt this outpouring of love – obviously towards Sarah, but actually towards all of us as a group. 

‘And I guess it’s ignited something in all of us again. It feels like something has changed and it does feel like the right time to celebrate Sarah and the 20-year anniversary that we didn’t celebrate at the time.’ 

During their appearance on Zoe Ball’s Radio Two show on Thursday morning, the foursome discussed their reunion and confessed the loyalty of their fans is what drew them back to the stage.

They confessed even their family and friends did not know about their reunion plans – and they have been avoiding people for the past week.

When asked by Zoe how long they have been keeping the news a secret, Nicola said: ‘Months and months, we didn’t tell our family and friends, our families didn’t know.’

Nadine then confessed: ‘When we put out the teaser, we’ve been ignoring people all week’, while Kimberley admitted: ‘We’ve been ignoring people on the school run’.

The girls admitted listening to a montage of their music made them ’emotional’ and ‘excited’ while they spoke to the radio presenter. 

In the works: Cheryl revealed that the band had been discussing plans for a reunion for some time, but put the idea on ice when Sarah was diagnosed in 2020 (band pictured in 2013)

Honouring Sarah: The group plan to use the tour to ‘celebrate’ their late friend and explained why this was the right time for a reunion tour after coming to terms with their grief 

Sneaky! During their appearance on Zoe Ball’s Radio Two show on Thursday morning, the foursome discussed their reunion and confessed the loyalty of their fans is what drew them back to the stage (pictured on Thursday)

Zoe asked the ladies how the decision to reunite came about, to which they said: ‘It’s a crazy experience, we’ve had so many amazing songs and times together then the conversation came up and we feel so passionate about it…

‘Then a few weeks ago we were shooting the tour commercial and it felt very 2002 Sound Of The Underground era’. 

Kimberley interjected: ‘The last few years we’ve found a massive outpouring of love and its been tough but something pulled us in’, while Cheryl added: ‘Between us we felt something – a shift – it feels magical, let’s go!…

‘We’re so fortunate to have our fans and the loyalties. It’s 21 years later. It’s crazy’.

On kicking off their rehearsals, Kimberley said: ‘We’ll start rehearsals in April, which is a month’, yet Nicola said: ”I think we need more than a month!’ Cheryl countered: ‘It’s muscle memory… we’ve done it a thousand times’.

Zoe asked what they had planned for the tour – which the girls admitted had started to get ‘out of control’. Nadine said: ‘We’re known for going over the top – flying under the stage, running through the arena…

‘We’re gluttons for punishment but we’re all about the entertainment.’

Girls Aloud originally formed in 2002 on ITV ‘s Pop Stars: The Rivals and shot to fame, achieving 20 top-ten singles and five BRIT award nominations. 

The girl band took an initial break in 2009 to pursue other projects before they split for good in 2013. 

Back in the day: Girls Aloud originally formed in 2002 on ITV ‘s Pop Stars: The Rivals and shot to fame, achieving 20 top-ten singles and five BRIT award nominations (pictured in 2002)

Where are Girls Aloud touring? 

• 18 May – 3Arena Dublin
• 20 May – SSE Arena Belfast
• 23 May – Manchester AO Arena
• 24 May – Manchester AO Arena
• 27 May – Cardiff Utilita Arena
• 31 May – Newcastle Utilita Arena
• 1 June – Newcastle Utilita Arena
• 4 June – Aberdeen P+J Live
• 8 June – Glasgow OVO Hydro
• 12 June – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
• 15 June – Leeds First Direct Arena
• 18 June – Birmingham Resorts World Arena
• 22 June – London The O2
• 23 June – London The O2
• 29 June – Liverpool M+S Bank Arena

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