No.1 for Interviews - Suzanne Shaw
Suzanne Shaw

Suzanne Shaw met with No.1’s Nadine Hawkins to tell us how she has put love rat Darren Day behind her and why she is dancing off to Chicago.

Suzanne Shaw shot to fame through the reality television series Popstars in 2005, winning a place in the band Hear’Say. The band’s debut single was the fastest selling non-charitable record in the UK selling 1.3 million copies. Sadly the band decided to go their separate ways in 2002.

Suzanne returned to the headlines for all the wrong reasons when she began dating Darren Day, with whom she had a son Corey in 2004. The couple famously split a year later amid allegations of Darren’s infidelities, when he notoriously announced “I don’t do family”. Suzanne went through a dark spell coping with being a single mother and the legacy of Darren’s mistakes, where she was allegedly forced to hide on the floor of her house from debt collectors. She has since been given a second chance at fame after taking part in the reality television series The Baron with the late Mike Reid. Then in 2008 she went on to win Dancing on Ice despite chipping her ankle bone and breaking a rib. After her stormy relationship with Darren Day, Suzanne has found happiness with Radio DJ Jason King, one half of radio duo JK and Joel.

Since completing Dancing on Ice, which had a gruelling fitness regime, how are you keeping in shape?
Well I only finished the Dancing on Ice tour last week, and since then I have joined the cast of Chicago in London in the starring role of Roxy. So I have replaced one fitness regime with another! It’s really tiring but I absolutely love it, I am obviously juggling that with being a mum to Corey too! I am really enjoying being based in London again after finishing the tour. At the moment I am rehearsing just about every day. I will get back on the ice when I have finished Chicago, but at the moment I just don’t have time. I do have a new pair of ice-skating boots though that I can’t wait to try out!

It seems as though you have been giving a second chance at stardom after disappearing from the limelight?
Well although I wasn’t in the limelight the past few years I have been working constantly since leaving Hear’Say. I do feel grateful however for the boost to my career. The first time around it was such a shock to the system – we didn’t really know what was happening but I feel more in control now and am really grateful for all the opportunities I have been given.

How do you cope with the media interest in both your career and your personal life?
I am not really in this game to be a celebrity, yes it can be frustrating but it is part of my job – the media can be intrusive but it comes with the territory.

Do you keep in touch with any of your Hear’Say band members and did you give Kim Ryder any advice on her recent marriage split?
I am still really close to Myleene Class we see each other as often as possible, in fact I spoke to her just last night. I also saw our other band mate Noel Fielding a few nights ago. I have actually lost touch with Kim – nothing bad or anything, its like when you go to school you don’t keep in touch with everyone.

Your son Corey is obviously still really young at only three years old, how does he feel about what you do?
Corey thinks I ice skate for a living! He even has his own ice skates! He can’t work out what I am doing on the stage. As a mother I am really lucky because I have a great support network around me in London, working on Chicago means I am about all the time, I get him up in the morning and put him to bed at night.

Would you consider reviving your pop career?
No I have been there, done that and got the t-shirt. My love is for acting and musical theatre. The reality television series and the pop career was really a route into the industry for me.

Would you ever like a regular slot on a soap like Kim Marsh has in Coronation Street?
I would never say never. But you know, playing Roxy in Chicago is one of the biggest roles you could ever play.

Your split with Darren Day must have had a negative impact on your work ethic?
Obviously it was hard at the time but it’s in the past and I don’t want to talk about it anymore.

You are obviously very happy with your current beau Jason King, could we be hearing wedding bells soon?
This time round it is just about my career and being a mum – I keep that side of my life really private. But I will say marriage is not on the cards at the moment, I am really busy with work and being a mum – marriage is not on my list of priorities.

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