Famed for their catchy songs and dance routines, Steps quickly became a household name back in the nineties after catapulting onto the music scene.
The line-dancing quintet soon had parents and their children dancing along to their hit singles such as 5, 6, 7, 8, which originally charted at No14 upon its release.
However, they achieved their first No1 with Tragedy all the way back in 1998. Just three years later, the group were plagued by rumours of a supposed split that they continually brushed aside.
Sadly, on Boxing Day of 2001, it was announced that the group had split and had “wanted to end on a high” – it later emerged that H and Claire had decided to become a duo due to their ongoing happiness in the band.
(Image: Graham Finney/WENN)
Despite splitting, the group later reformed in 2011, 10 years after their break-up.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Star, Faye said: “It was a 10-year gap and we’ve been together for 10 years after that, that’s quite interesting, it’s definitely been a better 10 years this side of it I think.
“We’ve had more of a say in things, it’s been our business, we’ve been partners in it, not the kids that they employed to do the songs.
“We’re always humbled by our amazing and loyal fanbase who keeps demanding more, so I think we keep rolling and try to fulfil that.”
(Image: Redferns)
Discussing new music, Claire added: “When we record something we’re always really happy with it and we’re happy with the end product but you just don’t know whether your taste is going to be the same as everybody else’s.
“I think we know now what the fans enjoy and what they want from us but we never expect it to be the success that it always is, which I kind of like because it just means we’re always pleasantly surprised.”
But what did they get up to after their split? Daily Star has delved into the archives to bring you everything you need to know.
Lisa Scott-Lee
(Image: Getty Images)
Self-proclaimed “Queen of the Huns” Lisa found herself on both sides of the music industry after the disbandment of Steps.
The St Asaph, North Wales-born singer became the manager of her three brothers who performed under the name 3SL for some time before they decided to call it a day.
Later, she decided that she wanted to pursue a solo music career before signing to Mercury Records where she released two singles.
Her debut, Lately, entered the charts at No6 before her second single with the label, Too Far Gone, charted at No11 – leaving the team less than impressed.
(Image: Getty Images)
Her team at Mercury decided to drop Lisa, leaving her without a label despite samples of her album Unleashed being promoted.
Despite this, Lisa was determined to make it as a solo artist and immediately started working on her next single Get It On which was self-funded.
Although she ploughed through promotional touring, Get It On charted at No23 and was infamously placed on the “B-List” by Capital FM, leaving Lisa shattered.
Fast forward a year and she was still determined to achieve a Top 10 and had camera crews for the TV show Totally Scott-Lee, following her and her family as she hoped to relaunch her career.
Lisa contemplated quitting the music industry all together until she landed a spot on Dancing On Ice and saw the golden opportunity to launch her debut album Never Or Now, which was eventually released as a digital download following her axing from the ITV competition.
Just a year later, Lisa tried her hand at being a flight attendant, starring in ITV2’s CelebAir alongside her husband Johnny, with the couple later being booted out for ditching their duties and partying in Ibiza.
Nowadays, she can be found in Dubai where she is the principal of Dubai Performing Arts Academy.
Lee Latchford-Evans
(Image: llatchfordevans/Instagram)
Chester-born Lee was known for his infectious rap in 5, 6, 7, 8 as well as co-writing tracks from the group’s back catalogue.
Aside from his stage work, Lee loved participating in martial arts and was a keen football player which saw him turn his hand to sport following the disbandment of Steps.
The dad-of-one went on to star in several theatre productions including the West End and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
While music was his main passion, Lee also trained as a personal trainer and became somewhat of a fitness influencer, sharing his journey with his online followers.
(Image: llatchfordevans/Instagram)
Aside from his fitness and DJing career, Lee felt right at home in the land of reality television, appearing on the likes of Fear Factor, I’m Famous and Frightened!, Commando VIP – which he won – and The Match.
Like his pal Lisa, Lee also became the focus of a reality show, MTV’s Totally Boyband alongside the likes of Dane Bowers, Jimmy Constable and S Club’s Bradley McIntosh, hoping to reignite their former status of fame.
Lee was later dropped from the group due to a disagreement after calling the manager of his new group Jonathan Shalit “two-faced”.
Faye Tozer
(Image: Getty Images)
Shortly after the disbandment of Steps, Faye found herself in charts once again after duetting with Russell Watson on their single Someone Like You.
Following the success of the track, the Northampton-born star toured across the UK with him before she lent her voice to Plastic Cinema on their tracks Take Me Under and Any Minute Now.
While she is commonly known as “Faye from Steps”, Tozer has established herself as a leading actress, starring in West End productions for the likes of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tell Me on a Sunday as well as the touring production of Over the Rainbow – the Eva Cassidy Story, playing Cassidy herself.
Her most recent role saw her take on the role of Miss Hedge in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at London’s Apollo Theatre.
(Image: Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com)
She’s also no stranger to reality tele, coming third in a celebrity edition of Four Weddings, losing out on a place to glamour model Michelle Marsh.
In 2017, she appeared on season seven of The Celebrity Chase, making it to the Final Chase.
And putting her dancing skills to the test, Faye eventually became the runner-up in the 2018 series of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing with her professional partner Giovanni Pernice.
Claire Richards
(Image: PA)
Arguably known as The Voice of Steps – Claire lived a relatively different life to her bandmates following their split on Boxing Day way back when.
After announcing her decision to leave the group following their final concert in 2001, it was confirmed that Claire would be working with Ian ‘H’ Watkins under the stage name H & Claire.
The duo scored three Top 10 hits on the UK Singles Chart with DJ, Half a Heart and All Out Of Love / Beauty and the Beast.
Sadly, their album Another You Another me charted at No58 and they were dropped by WEA Records.
They were reportedly set to return to the studio but Claire later step back from the public eye in 2003.
Returning to life as a celebrity, Claire participated in the second season of Popstar to Operastar, her first major appearance in almost a decade.
(Image: Steve Meddle/ITV/REX)
While she was praised for her impressive vocal skills, she narrowly missed the top spot against Bucks Fizz’s Cheryl Baker.
Two years later, Claire found a new fanbase after appearing on Celebrity Big Brother alongside her newly-found best friend Rylan, and left the now derelict Elstree house in fourth place.
After her return to the public eye, Claire made several guest appearances on ITV’s Loose Women before eventually making her official debut as a permanent panellist on April 10, 2014, before leaving her position on June 23, 2014.
(Image: Getty Images)
After dreaming of solo success, Claire went on to release her debut solo album, My Wildest Dreams in February 2019, which entered the charts at No9.
The album spawned four singles, all of which achieved critical acclaim, before Claire took to the stage as a solo artist, performing up and down the country.
While promoting her album, Claire’s dreams came true after she was invited to support Celine Dion at BST Hyde Park in July 2019.
Ian ‘H’ Watkins
(Image: South Wales Evening Post)
“H is for hyperactive,” he said as he described himself on the What The Future Holds Tour.
While H may have achieved success alongside Claire with their duo, he has also established himself as a respected actor and presenter.
After the disbandment of H & Claire and Steps, the Welsh singer carved out a career in the musical theatre industry, appearing in the likes of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat as well as the West End edition of Fame.
Similar to most singers, H has also become one of the biggest names in pantomime, appearing in several including Jack & The Beanstalk, Snow White and Cinderella.
(Image: ITV)
Like Tozer, H appeared on The Celebrity Chase back in February 2013 alongside three other celebrities, as well as the likes of Bargain Hunt Famous Finds.
However, his most personal achievement saw him create history, becoming the first celebrity to compete in a same-sex couple on ITV’s Dancing On Ice in 2020.
Competing with Matt Evers, the pair were eliminated in week six after scoring 29.5.
But what are the group up to now?
Next year, they will be celebrating their 25th anniversary with a string of concerts across the UK, performing their most recent hits as well as hits from their impressive back catalogue.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
