Cheryl has said that Girls Aloud’s upcoming reunion tour is "never going to be the same” without bandmate Sarah Harding, two years on from her death.
The girl group, Nadine Coyle, Cheryl, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh, announced on Wednesday night that they will be hitting the road next May and June to celebrate 20 years together.
However one very important member will be missing following Harding's death from breast cancer in 2021 aged 39.
Appearing on BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show with Zoe Ball on Thursday morning, the quartet remembered their late friend, admitting it was “weird” not having her with them.
Cheryl, 40, began: “Every step of this process, honestly since we decided, has been weird to be honest.”
Coyle, 38, added: “Even right now, being here because usually there's Sarah who’d have so much to say or deciding that she doesn't want to say anything so you have that huge missing element her not being here.”
Former X Factor judge Cheryl revealed that talks of a reunion tour first began while Harding was still alive, adding that it’s “heart-breaking” not having her physically apart of the show but is sure her “spirt” will be on stage with them when they perform.
The Call My Name hitmaker continued: “When we started discussing doing it, we actually started these discussions with Sarah because obviously the 20-year anniversary was pending.
“We all knew it was coming so we started having those conversations with her included so the fact that we're here now and she isn't here is heart-breaking honestly.
“It's never going to be the same but we're going to do our very best to keep it magical and keep her magic alive. She'll very much be a part of the show.
“She was part of our make-up for 20 years, and that's not going anywhere. She'll be there in spirit on the stage, she'll be there celebrating."
Cheryl said being able to raise money for breast cancer charities was also a “very proud” moment for the band, who formed in 2002 on reality show Popstars: The Rivals.
Last year they hosted a charity gala to raise funds for the Christie NHS Foundation Trust and Cancer Research UK as part of the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal, and a 5k charity run, titled Race For Life For Sarah.
Girls Aloud's tour will kick off on May 18 in Dublin, before they visit major UK cities including London, Edinburgh and Cardiff and end their run of dates at the Liverpool M&S Bank Arena on June 29.
A pre-sale will begin on November 29 at 9am with the general sale on December 1 at the same time.
