Steps, the beloved British pop group, have come a long way since their split over 20 years ago – from switching fame to become a teacher and reality TV stints
British pop group Steps rose to fame during the 90s with their hits, Tragedy, Chain Reaction, and 5, 6, 7, 8. But a lot has happened since the beloved band split in 2001, with many seeking fresh starts away from the spotlight and others going through their fair share of heartbreak.
Just this week, it emerged that singer Faye Tozer has reportedly moved out of the family home she shared with husband Michael Smith and their teenage son in South Tyneside. Rumours about the state of her 16-year marriage began swirling after Michael, 43, took to social media last year to post a cryptic message about heartbreak.
One post read: “I met you when I was not looking for you and lost when I loved you the most.” Not long afterwards, he shared an image of the iconic Banksy artwork showing a broken heart patched up with a plaster, captioned “closed for repairs.”
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When contacted by MailOnline for comment on the status of their relationship, Michael offered only a vague explanation, saying: “We’re going through some things and trying to work some stuff out. That’s all I will say.”
Faye, 48, is best known for being one-fifth of ’90s pop group Steps with fellow popstars Lee Latchford-Evans, Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee, and Ian ‘H’ Watkins. Together, they sold over 20 million records worldwide and reunited three times over the years – but what are they up to now…
Faye Tozer
Following the original Steps split, Faye made waves in musical theatre with roles in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Me and My Girl, and Tell Me on a Sunday. She also appeared on The Celebrity Chase.
Though currently facing a rocky patch in her marriage, Faye has previously described husband Michael as “the best thing that ever happened to me”, but it seems the spark has gone out for the former lovebirds. The pair share a teenage son, Benjamin.
In 2018, she was a finalist on Strictly Come Dancing, dancing alongside Giovanni Pernice. The connection between the pair sparked a flurry of speculation but was dismissed by Faye and her husband.
Faye herself later hinted that Strictly had spiced up things at home, revealing: “It’s really exciting now. My husband couldn’t make it to the live show on the first week but when I got home, he couldn’t wait to see me. Let’s just say that.”
Before tying the knot with Michael, Faye was married to Danish drummer Jesper Irn. The pair were together for nearly a decade and wed in 2002, but their relationship ended after five years.
Lee Latchford-Evans
Since Steps first disbanded, Lee has made a name for himself on stage, starring in Grease in the West End and winning the military-style reality show Commando VIP. At 49, he’s also a qualified personal trainer and last year launched The 5,6,7,8 Method, a workout based on the group’s hits.
He’s been married to actress and dancer Kerry-Lucy for 12 years, and the couple share a two-year-old son, Leo. “We’ve wanted a baby for so long,” Lee said following the birth.
Lisa Scott-Lee
Lisa, now 48, lives in Dubai where she runs a performing arts school. She shares two teenage children, Jaden and Lily, with husband Johnny Shentall, formerly of Hear’Say.
“Steps has been my life for the last 24 years but being the principal of the school is my day job,” she explained. “I’m mainly office-based now but still teach the kids singing and dance sometimes. I’m really proud to be able to tell people I’m a teacher.”
Lisa has also dabbled in solo music and reality TV, starring in Totally Scott-Lee, Dancing On Ice, and CelebAir.
Claire Richards
After the band broke up, Claire paired up with H to form H & Claire before stepping back from the spotlight to raise children Charlie and Daisy with husband Reece Hill, who also happens to be Steps’ former publicist.
Claire, 46, later reappeared on Celebrity Big Brother and as a guest on Loose Women. She has since released her second solo album, Euphoria.
Ian ‘H’ Watkins
Known for his high energy, H went into musical theatre post-Steps, starring in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and countless pantos.
He shares twin boys Macsen and Cybi Ryder-Watkins with ex-partner Craig Ryder. In 2020, he broke boundaries by being one-half of the first same-sex duo on Dancing On Ice with skating partner Matt Evers. They made it to week five.
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