Girls Aloud hints tour will bring ‘wild things’ but no new music
By Charlotte McLaughlin, PA Senior Entertainment Reporter
Girls Aloud have hinted that their first new tour in more than a decade will bring “wild things” – but ruled out new music.
Bandmates Nadine Coyle, Cheryl, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh announced their 2024 arena tour in memory of their late bandmate Sarah Harding on Thursday.
Coyle said the creative director of the Girls Aloud reunion tour has made them do some “really wild things” as she gave hints on what fans can expect before their performance dates kick off next year.
She also told BBC Radio 2’s The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show: “We’ve been known for that, like the many tours that we’ve done, where we’ve flown over, landed on another stage and then flown back.
“Or on one of the tours, we got under the B stage and then ran through the arena backwards to get to the dresser. I mean, we really are gluttons for punishment, but we’re all about the entertainment.”
However, during the radio show when the bandmates were asked about the tour bringing new music, they all replied: “No.”
They did not rule out playing Glastonbury, which has not revealed its line-up for 2024, saying that Girls Aloud have not been asked by the festival to play dates next year.
Cheryl said that their original crew has returned to help them with the tour, which will kick off on May 18th in Dublin.
She added this was “wonderful”, adding: “It’s part of our makeup. It’s part of the magic.”
The group formed in 2002 on reality show Popstars: The Rivals and went on to achieve four UK number one singles and a Brit award for The Promise.
They reunited with new music for their 10th anniversary in 2012 – while a second reunion was planned for their 20th anniversary when Harding was diagnosed with cancer.
Harding died aged 39 in September 2021.
Coyle said the the late singer “had so much to say” before adding: “You have that huge massive element of her not being here.”
Cheryl said that the tour was “never going to be the same” without Harding and called her loss “heartbreaking”.
She also said: “We’re (going to) do our very best to keep it magical and keep her magic alive.
“(She is) very much 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. We’re going to celebrate her.”
Cheryl said being able to raise money for breast cancer charities was also a “very proud” moment for the band.
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.