Entertainment
Jo O’Meara addresses those S Club 7 reunion rumours: ‘None of them were true, but if it happens, it happens’-Rachel Corcoran-Entertainment – Metro
‘None of them were true, but if it happens, it happens.’
Jo O’Meara has released a new charity single (Picture:Getty/ Metro.co.uk)
S Club 7 singer Jo O’Meara, 43, on facing her fears wing walking, how smoking caused her to struggle singing and her new role as a zombie on the 40-year anniversary of Thriller.
You’ve recorded Thriller to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital…
Yes! Thriller turned 40 this year and we’ve recorded it because there’s new equipment needed, cures to be found and treatments to be given. I’m proud to be a part of it.
When I got to the recording, I met amazing people such as Anne Hegerty and Tyger Drew-Honey for the first time.
We started off all polite and within half an hour, we were dressed as zombies making weird noises.
You’ve been performing since you were a teenager, do you still get nervous?
Those nerves do still come but I take it as a positive thing because it means I care about what I’m doing.
When I very first started out as a solo artist, I found it very hard to find myself on stage because I’d been so used to having the rest of the band with me. But I feel like I’ve really found out who I am as a singer now.
You were very nervous doing a wing walk to raise funds for the K-9 Angels dogs charity…
Honestly, it was the most horrific thing I think I’ve ever done. I don’t like heights or speed and the plane takes off at 160mph while you’re strapped to it.
Jo conquered her fears during a wing walk for charity (Picture: Bob Grey/Backgrid)
I was sobbing! I’m glad I’ve done it, now I’ve got over the initial shock of it. I’m a K-9 Angel and I’m really proud for getting up there and doing that for the dogs because I’m a big animal lover.
But next time, I’ll do something on land.
You revealed earlier this year that you had a gambling addiction in S Club 7. What kind of response have you had?
A lot of people, especially women around my age, have said thank you and have gone on to seek help.
Jo shared her experiences with a gambling addiction earlier this year (Picture: Supplied)
On TV, every other advert is gambling. It’s been pushed in your face all the time so you can see how easily people can go down that slippery slope. I just looked at it as my switch-off time but everything’s so much more easily accessible now with phones, whereas before you had to go out and play on a fruit machine.
Haven’t you just had a back operation to mend an issue you had in S Club 7?
Yes, I had a back problem 20 years ago in the band. I had bulging discs and they wanted to operate and remove the discs back then but I couldn’t because of the schedule.
And they did kind of correct themselves because bulging discs can. But my back started getting really achy a few months ago. I was screaming with pain and had to be taken to hospital in an ambulance twice because I physically could not get out to bed.
Anne Hegerty is among the celebrities who joined Jo for the Thriller remake (Picture: ITV)
An MRI scan showed I had four bulging discs, one of which was very deeply compressed on to the sciatic nerve. Surgery was the only option.
How has it helped?
It’s definitely getting there. I can’t walk the dogs yet but I have been able to get back on stage. I wasn’t quite doing backflips but I still managed to reach for the stars and sing.
I used to trampoline every day. I put music on and just danced and I loved it. But I don’t think I’ll be doing that again unfortunately.
Jo (centre) with her S Club 7 bandmates (clockwise from centre) Jon Lee, Tina Barrett, Bradley McIntosh Paul Cattermole, Rachel Stevens and Hannah Spearritt (Picture: Tim Roney/Getty Images)
Could you still do backflips before your operation?
No, I’m too old to do backflips! Before the operation I’d work out every day, though, and feel so much better for it.
I was a really heavy smoker for years. I smoked between 30 and 40 cigarettes a day and if I was stressed, it was more. Kicking that habit was the biggest achievement for me. I was struggling to sing really simple songs such as Bring It All Back.
Do think about what it’d be like if S Club 7 reformed in your 40s?
I know there were rumours going around but none of them were true. If it happens, it happens. It’s a lot to get seven people in the same place at the same time. It was difficult to do that when we were together.
Are you glad your son doesn’t want to follow in your footsteps?
I am actually. He’s 14 now and the last time we spoke about it, he wanted to be a vet. Whatever it is, it’s definitely not down my road. It’s a tough industry.
You supported Matt Goss at the London Palladium this year. What was that like?
Singing there was on my bucket list. I was a Brosette and had the Grolsch bottle tops [on shoes].
Have you watched him on this year’s Strictly?
Jo has been watching Matt Goss on Strictly (Picture: BBC)
I have. Do you know who I love? Tony Adams. He’s the nicest man. Always watch out for the underdog.
Would you do Strictly?
I’d love to. I won Pointless with Ben Ofoedu and I’ve never felt more clever, even though I probably only answered one question myself
Anything else on this year?
I’m getting back in the studio soon to write. I’m so glad it’s not another 16-year wait for the next album.
Thriller by Jo O’Meara featuring The Celebs is out now in aid of GOSH
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