Although he was going through a tough time, Paul Cattermole was heartbreakingly kind after appearing on Loose Women. The S Club 7 singer has died "unexpectedly" at the age of just 46, it was announced yesterday.
The singer, who weeks ago was confirmed to be part of an upcoming 25th anniversary tour, was found dead on Thursday afternoon at his home in Dorset. Back in 2018, the pop star was struggling for money and did not even have enough money to buy a new outfit for an appearance on lunchtime chat show Loose Women.
Despite his money troubles, bosses at Loose Women were keen to get Paul on the show - so they gave him a smart black shirt to wear for his appearance, in which he spoke candidly about his life and his financial difficulties. They expected the star would keep the shirt they had bought for him, but he decided to leave it behind, the Mirror reports.
Taking to Twitter after his chat show appearance on February 8, 2018, he explained where he had left the shirt and why. Heartbreakingly, he did not want anyone to think he had stolen the item of clothing.
"Thanks to all the Ladies @loosewomen thanks for being so nice. I left the shirt in the dressing room. Just in case you though I had pilfered it," he wrote. The singer was praised by viewers for being brave in sharing the realities of life after S Club 7.
Despite taking part in an S Club 7 tour in 2015, three years before his Loose Women appearance, he admitted he used the cash from that to pay off his debts, so he had little in the way of income.
He opened up about how his mum had helped him "in a big way" that year and said he was keen to appear on reality TV, but added: "For some reason they don't want me."
He also said he regretted "in a way" putting his Brit Award, which he won with his then-bandmates for best newcomer in 2000, up for sale online after struggling to find work due to a back injury.
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He said he was hoping the eBay bidding, which reached more than £66,000, would be done “quietly”. The singer said the halting of his pop career had made him consider applying for a job in a shop, and he was “cool with delivering pizza”.
Fans immediately flooded the singer with praise and support following his appearance. "I Was so moved by your interview. Such a brave thing to do. It must have been so difficult for you. I hope you are soon in a better situation. Emotionally and financially. And remember that there are a lot of people who love and care for you. Always remember that," one said.
"I just wanted to give you a big hug and invite you over for a cooked meal after hearing of your financial troubles. Hope it looks up for you," wrote another.
A third told him: "Keep your head held high. Your life will turn around. Keep positive. I always say think positive and positive things happen."
Originally created by former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller in 1998, S Club 7 had hits including Reach, Don’t Stop Movin’ and their debut Bring It All Back. Paul was dating bandmate Hannah Spearritt when he left the seven-piece pop group in 2002 after four years to embark on a solo career.
A year later, the seven-piece band disbanded before returning to the spotlight with a medley of their best-known songs for a 2014 BBC Children In Need appeal. He later became a member of the spin-off group S Club Allstars, previously S Club 3, with Bradley McIntosh and Jo O’Meara before Tina Barrett was added to the line-up in 2014.
The band was also known for the BBC children TV shows Miami 7 and LA 7, which saw them play fictionalised versions of themselves in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
S Club 7 announced in February this year on BBC’s The One Show that they will open their 11-date tour on October 13 in Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena with all original members. Other dates include Dublin, Glasgow, Newcastle and Manchester as Rachel Stevens and Jon Lee were also announced to hit the stage again with the five other band members.
In a statement released to the PA news agency, Paul's family and S Club 7 said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved son and brother Paul Cattermole. Paul was found yesterday, 6th April 2023 at his home in Dorset and was pronounced dead later that afternoon.
“While the cause of death is currently unknown, Dorset Police has confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances. Paul’s family, friends and fellow members of S Club request privacy at this time”.
