With the arrival of Nadine Coyle’s baby girl last month, and news that bandmate Kimberley Walsh will follow suit in August with her own bundle of joy, a reproductive boom is occurring in the Girls Aloud camp.
And while sources speculate that Sarah Harding, loved up with DJ Mark Foster, will be the next to announce the patter of tiny feet, the stunning blonde actually has plans on conquering the world – and a darling infant simply won’t fit in the mix.
There’s designs on Hollywood and desires for a spot on a talent show judging panel, not to mention an upcoming solo album and tour. She’s even in negotiations for an assault on the charts with our own Bressie, with whom she recently worked as a mentor on The Voice of Ireland. So it seems the lady’s got several boxes to tick before mommahood rears its head.
Guess it’s over to Cheryl or Nicola to grab the baby baton…“Someday,” she sparkles, giggling infectiously. “I’d love it to happen someday, of course, but that’s way off right now.
“People think it’ll be me next because I’m the eldest in the band but, actually, I’ve always been the youngest at heart. I’m forever Peter Pan,” says the popstar, whose wild partying ways earned her the nickname Hardcore Harding during her Girls Aloud days.
Following a stint in rehab in 2011 for alcohol dependence and depression, Sarah has now turned things around after swapping the London party scene for a quiet life in the country with her boyfriend and menagerie of animals.
She’s far happier in herself, and delighted for her bandmates.
“I’m so over the moon for Kimberley and Nadine.
Kimberley was always the mother of the group and Nadine’s just such a proud momma. I haven’t met her little one yet but I’m so eager to see her. It’s a really exciting time, we’re entering this new phase in our lives.”
Sitting down with SWM at her swanky launch party as ambassador of new skincare line, Face B4, in exclusive London member’s club Morton’s, the 32-yearold beauty is anxiously gearing up for the release of her new solo material and accompanying gigs.
“I am sh*tting myself,” laughs Sarah, who won a place in thechart-topping girl group on Popstars: The Rivals in 2002.
“I’m getting nervous now and, yeah, it’ll be a little strange being on the stage without the girls.
“I’ve been working on this album for four years. It’s still pop, but it’s grown-up pop, with an edge. My taste is like the Doobie Brothers and The Eagles.
Now I’m showing my age. My dad used to be a musician, he’d sing all that stuff, so there’s influences from every corner. I love No Doubt and Bob Marley too, but…” she quickly leaps back on her words. “There’s no reggae on there. At least not yet, that is.”
Brows were raised when the gorgeous Manchester-raised star, who dazzles in a monochrome oversized T-shirt and studded black leggings, was quoted claiming her new music would spark controversy with some rather suggestive, explicit lyrics.
But Sarah hit back at those rumours, claiming fans will struggle to find offense in her new material: “I know people are saying, ‘Oh Sweara Harding’.
Whatever,” she snorts. “I’m not going to be adverse to the odd swear word, but it’s not Rihanna, it’s not full-on ‘effing this’ and ‘I want to do this to you’.
“Although not that I’ve a problem with that. I listen to Eminem and all that kind of stuff. But with my music, I wear my heart on my sleeve, whether I’ve written it myself or not.
“There’s one track with a bit of swearing, but nothing majorly offensive. It’s light of shade.”
Probably for the best if she’s planning a duet with clean-living, hunky rocker Bressie. The pair got on famously after Sarah helped mentor his acts on the current series of The Voice of Ireland.
“I’d love to [record with Bressie], we’re both really into our music and had such a great time working together on The Voice. It’s like the logical next step. Poor guy though, he didn’t even know I was being brought in as his mentor, or his ‘mental mentor’, I should say.”
Seems the bubbly blonde made quite the lasting impression on the lofty star, who admitted he got “flustered” in the Girls Alouder’s company.
“Did he ‘eck,”
Sarah roars in an infectious Northern burr, throwing her head back, exposing a blinding set of pearly whites.
“Well, if he did, he didn’t show it.
Have you seen his girlfriend [model Roz Purcell]? She’s gorgeous.
“You never know,” adds Sarah, whose mum Marie comes from Donnycarney, North Dublin, adds with a wink.
“Maybe in another life. He’s a hunky boy isn’t he? Very tall.”
why Bressie would crumble in front of this gorgeous girl. And with her beaming smile and flawless skin, it makes sense that new skincare range, Face B4, would choose her as its face and spokeswoman.
Formulated to combat blocked pores and spots, the two-in-one cleanser and toner facewash contains plant extracts to fight acne and problem skin. And, unsurprisingly, Harding now swears by it.
“Back in the day, I wasn’t the most confident and I didn’t have the best of skin.
“And I still get breakouts. Even on the day of the shoot for this campaign, which was the first time I tried the product, I woke up with a big spot. Sod’s law; there’s one just right in the middle on my face, sticking its finger up.
“But I tried Face B4 and my skin didn’t get all horrible and flaky and dry. It’s really kind to your skin as well as cleansing.
“Back in the day, I’d use the equivalent of paintstripper. And Oxy pads too, which stung so bad and probably left scars. “But Face B4 is great, it takes off your make-up and it isn’t hard or abrasive.”
And Sarah will need those flawless features more than ever if she’s to take on Hollywood after starring in BBC drama, Freefall and flop comedy St Trinian’s, not to forget her ambition to make it as a talent show judge, like bandmate Cheryl Cole.
“There’s still so much I want to do. I love acting, I love becoming a different person and my few stints here and there in Freefall and Run for Your Wife and St Trinian’s definitely increased my interest, but I won’t be heading to Hollywood just yet.
“I’ve the attention span of a goldfish. I need to focus on one thing and right now that’s music, and whether by the end of the year, that’s a flop or a top, at least I gave it a try.
“I’ve been approached for lots of different talent shows,” she adds, “but it was never the right time for me. So what I did with Bressie on The Voice of Ireland felt like the right starter point. I’m glad I did it there first because it gave me the baby steps to try it out in the future.”
So, with so much to divide and conquer, would she even be available for a Girls Aloud 20th anniversary reunion down the line, should the opportunity present itself? “I hope that happens.
Although can’t imagine what everyone else will be up to, but we’ll see. Might have to change our name though. Maybe Ladies Aloud? Or I like the sound of Grannies Aloud.”
At this rate, we’re more likely looking at Mums Aloud.
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