S Club 7’s original member, Paul Cattermole, died at the age of 46. The tragic news was confirmed via a statement released on social media by the band on April 7 reading: “We are truly devastated by the passing of our brother Paul. There are no words to describe the deep sadness and loss we all feel. We were so lucky to have had him in our lives and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. He will be so deeply missed by each and every one of us. We ask that you respect the privacy of his family and of the band at this time.”
Cattermole was found dead in his home in Dorset on April 6, just weeks after S Club 7 had announced a reunion tour. On May 18, the Dorset Coroner’s Office told the BBC that the singer died of natural causes and that there would be no inquest into his death. Dying of natural causes means he passed away due to an illness or heart attack, rather than an accident, violence, or external means.
Since his passing, the band have rebranded as S Club and recently announced they would continue with their upcoming tour. However, S Club member Hannah Spearritt will not be joining them and they will continue as a five-piece. Spearritt and Cattermole dated on and off for a five years, and she has since spoken to The Sun, opening up that he was her first true love. The band posted an emotional video on May 15 to pay tribute to their “brother”. Bradley summed up their sentiment perfectly: “No one could ever replace our Paul, but he lives on inside each and every one of us.”