Girls Aloud were almost called Raw Silk as Sarah Harding reveals their alternate band names

Sarah Harding has revealed that Girls Aloud were almost called Raw Silk before the group was finalised.

The singer, 39, shot to fame after landing a place in the girl group, which was formed on Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, alongside Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh.

The five girls became one of the most successful UK girl groups of the 21^st century, achieving four number one hits, 20 consecutive top 10 singles and a Brit Award.

In an excerpt from her upcoming autobiography Hear Me Out, published by The Times, Sarah said that the name Girls Aloud was only chosen the night before the final line-up for the band was announced on live TV.

She recalled: ‘Then Davina McCall [presenter] announced the name of the last girl who was to join the band: “Sarah”. Of course I burst into tears.

‘When I sat down with the girls, Davina announced our name to the world: “Girls Aloud”. The truth is the name Girls Aloud had only been decided the night before.

‘For an entire week before that, we were simply “Aloud.”’

Sarah revealed that other names that had been considered for the new girl group included ‘Overdose, Raw NV, X-Quizit, Raw Class, Raw Mix, Raw Deal and Raw Silk’.

Their record label then tried to register Raw Silk as their name – before later discovering there was already a band with the same name, leading to the application being denied.

‘X-Quizit, on the other hand, turned out to be the name of a porn site!’ she added.

It comes amid Sarah’s battle with breast cancer, with the star announcing she had been diagnosed with the disease last August on social media.

Sharing a selfie from her hospital bed, she wrote: ‘Earlier this year I was diagnosed with breast cancer and a couple of weeks ago I received the devastating news that the cancer has advanced to other parts of my body.

‘I’m currently undergoing weekly chemotherapy sessions and I am fighting as hard as I possibly can. I understand this might be shocking to read on social media and that really isn’t my intention.

‘But last week it was mentioned online that I had been seen in hospital, so I feel now is the time to let people know what’s going on and this is the best way I can think of to do so.’

She went on: ‘My amazing mum, family and close friends are helping me through this, and I want to say a thank you to the wonderful NHS doctors and nurses who have been and continue to be heroes.

‘I am doing my very best to keep positive and will you keep you updated here with how I’m getting on.’

In December, the Love Machine singer revealed that she had been working on her life story while undergoing treatment.

Sarah was also hoping to reunite with her Girls Aloud bandmates last Christmas, but their reunion was scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Bandmate Kimberley told OK! Magazine last year: ‘We were hoping we were all going to get together before Christmas with Sarah but with restrictions it’s been so tricky.

‘If I don’t get to see them before them, I will call them.’

Opening up about Sarah’s health battle, Kimberley said she’s ‘doing well’, adding: ‘It’s such a tough time for her and I’m so proud of her.’

Sarah Harding’s Hear Me Out will be released this Thursday.

Got A Story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez ‘still together and working through things’ amid split claims

MORE : James Jordan’s father dies after brain tumour battle: ‘He will always be my hero’