The many money woes of Hear'Say and Liberty X as they pin their hopes on cashing in with reunion tour 25 years after finding fame on Popstars

When Hear'Say and Liberty X were formed on Popstars in 2001, the members all became household names in the UK and went on to have huge success in the noughties music scene. 

Fast forward 25 years and the two groups are reuniting for a huge arena tour – as they will perform together for the first time ever for 13 shows in cities including Dublin, London, Manchester and Leeds.

But how have they all fared financially for the last few decades since the bands split up – and who is desperately in need of a cash injection from the upcoming tour? 

The Hear'Say reunion features four of their original members: Danny Foster, Kym Marsh, Suzanne Shaw and Noel Sullivan, and Liberty X return with their entire original line-up: Michelle Heaton, Jessica Taylor, Tony Lundon, Kevin Simm and Kelli Young.

Hear'Say won Popstars, while Liberty X were the runners up on the show – so it remains to be seen if the rivalry will continue on the tour.

Last week Myleene Klass confirmed she would not be taking part in the Hear'Say reunion, blaming her busy schedule. 

But 25 years on from finding fame – not all of the stars have been able to continue to ride the wave of success that they first found...

Noel Sullivan

Noel, 46, was working part-time as a waiter in Cardiff when he landed a spot in Hear'Say.

Refusing to return home after the band split, Noel began working in musical theatre – and while he has gone on to have a fair few small acting roles in recent decades, his private company Nojo Ltd is currently in debt.

Among his most notable roles was playing Danny Zuko in a production of Grease at the Jersey Opera House, starring alongside Clare Buckfield as Sandy.

In 2019 he played the lead role in the West End production of School Of Rock, piling on two stone for the part because he didn't want to wear a fat suit on stage.  

Comedy fans were also delighted to see Noel pop up with a cameo role in BBC hit Gavin and Stacey, where he played himself.

Cast as a friend of Ruth Jones's Nessa, he played cards with the character's father, Neil, and husband-to-be, Dave Coaches, the night before the wedding.

Although he did not appear in the comedy until its final episode, the script made repeated references to Noel and Nessa's friendship throughout its three series.

Noel's other acting credits include The BBC's Ordinary Lies in 2016 and Years and Years in 2019.

While he has taken on various acting roles since the band split, current Companies House figures reveal that his company Nojo Ltd is £18,505 in debt with just £364 in assets.

He also set up the performing arts business, Camel Chat Productions, in May 2018 with Suzanne Shaw, but it was struck off two years later without ever filing accounts.

Danny Foster

Danny, 47, has never had an active firm throughout his time in Hear'Say, but is hoping for better luck second time around.

On September 17 this year, he set up Ganga Baba Ltd, 'a performing arts' business where he no doubt hopes to be funnelling his lucrative tour earnings.

Before appearing on Popstars, Danny trained as a youth worker and sang only to himself while he worked as a cleaner.

After a stint away from the limelight he made an appearance on the 2013 series of The Voice as he attempted to try his luck at getting a spot in the competition.

However, it made for cringeworthy viewing as none of the judges turned their chairs for him during his audition.

Danny went on to tour with a soul group created by himself, called the Big Soul Corporation and in 2016 he tied the knot with Victoria Goddard.

He also travelled the world and developed a love of meditation and yoga after spending time in India.

Danny said his 'life completely changed' on his spiritual holiday, where he spent time with monks and stayed in ashrams – a Hindu monastery – giving him a new perspective on life.

He went on to found Love Includes You, described as a 'meditation, self love and personal development platform'.

The initiative promotes community events, daily practices and meditation inspired by the wisdom imparted on him from the monastic brotherhood. 

Suzanne Shaw

Since leaving Hear'Say, Suzanne, 45, has gone on to find a passion for fitness. 

The star set up a fitness consultancy in September 2019 called Muse Sport and Entertainment with her then fiancé Sam Greenfield, whom she split from in February of this year. 

It appears the company never got off the ground and hasn't filed accounts for four years.

Last time figures were available was for the 12 months leading up to September 30 2021 and the company owed creditors £24,251. 

Companies House warned it would be struck off, but this action has been suspended. This happens when a creditor intervenes – usually HMRC – and blocks the move, with the strike off not progressing until the creditor's case is settled.

Meanwhile, her performing arts business Suzi Ltd has been going for 25 years, but is in debt to the tune of £14,284 – and owes creditors £21,445.

A lover of performing since childhood, Suzanne appeared in various theatre shows, an ABBA tribute band, and had bit parts in TV shows before her big break on Popstars. 

She thought her dreams had come true when she was picked to join the band but wasn't prepared for it to end so soon, turning to alcohol and sleeping pills following the 'traumatic' split.

Determined to keep performing, she landed a role in the Summer Holiday musical in London's West End, and later in a UK tour of the show starring alongside Darren Day and Christopher Biggins.

She also won Dancing On Ice in 2008, and the following year tied the knot with DJ Jason King, but they split in 2012. She also landed a role on Emmerdale but left the soap after a year. 

Kym Marsh

Kym, 50, has managed to sustain a successful career since leaving the band and has been allowed to earn outside of her soap roles due to having a flexible contract.

Her private company PADE (Warrington) Ltd currently has £198,846 in reserves.

However her failed property business Farcun Properties Ltd, opened in August  2019 and closed in Mar 2021 without ever filing accounts.

After the band split, Kym released an album titled Standing Tall, which peaked at number nine in the UK.

Her first TV acting role came in 2005, and within a year she'd landed the part that would reshape her life – Michelle Connor in Coronation Street, a character she played for the next 13 years. 

Then there were stints on Waterloo Road and as a Morning Live presenter, and on Strictly Come Dancing. 

Myleene Klass (not returning for the reunion) 

Arguably the most successful member of Hear'Say, Myleene, 48, has gone on to become a household name in the UK. 

Following Hear'Say's split she released a solo classical album before pivoting to television and radio presenting, hosting series including Popstar to Operastar and The One Show. 

Myleene also earned a new legion of fans when she came second on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2006, where she famously wore a little white bikini while showering.

She returned in 2023 for the all-stars series, which she won.

Myleene is also a regular panellist on Loose Women and currently presents shows on both Smooth Radio and Classic FM.

Myleene now has a net worth of around £11million due to her TV work as well as lucrative deals with brands such as M&S, Next, Littlewoods and Freemans. 

Michelle Heaton

Michelle, 47, is clearly hoping to rake it in from the reunion tour as she set up a performing arts business in August called Heatonsworld Ltd. It's her only active business right now.

Elsewhere, she dissolved a fitness firm in July called Mission Possible Fitness Ltd, which failed to get off the ground.

Its last accounts revealed a £3,378 debt and the only assets as £508 cash in the bank.

Since the band split, Michelle has kept busy – still doing regular gigs with her former bandmates Jessica Taylor and Kelli Young and has also appeared on a series of other TV shows.

These include Celebrity Big Brother (2009), The Big Reunion (2013), Dancing on Ice (2023), Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins (2023) and Celebrity MasterChef.

She has also filled in as a temporary member of Atomic Kitten for international shows and has taken on various pantomime roles. 

Michelle has also been open with her followers about her sobriety after struggling over the years with an alcohol and drug addiction.

Despite being the runners up, Liberty X went on to eclipse the success of winners Hear'Say, bagging ten consecutive UK top 20 singles.

Yet while to the outside world it looked like they were living the dream, Michelle has previously revealed that she struggled with being fat-shamed and trolled over her appearance during her time in the band.

Kevin Simm

Back in 2023 Kevin, 46, revealed how he fell on hard times and left 'desperate' following the chart-topping band's split.

After the band went their separate ways in 2007 Kevin's solo career tanked and the self-confessed 'grafter' soon found himself forced to work as a fencer, electrician and wedding photographer in order to feed his young family.

Kevin, who shares sons Charlie, 15, and Oliver, 13, with wife Laura, told The Sun: 'When Liberty X finished I had no idea what to do. I didn't know how to get gigs. It was strange coming out of a big pop group and having to start again.' 

He also explained how he would continue to sing in pubs and clubs at weekends where he would be paid £150 a gig, a million miles from the big bucks of Liberty X.

Telling the publication: 'It was embarrassing and a bit demeaning going around saying I'm available for bookings but I had to suck it up and swallow my pride.

'When you're putting flyers through pub doors, you're kind of kneecapping yourself as far as bargaining power because they know how desperate you are. It was a strange time'.

After the band briefly reunited for a tour in 2013, Kevin applied for BBC's The Voice, winning the series in 2016.

Then in 2018, Kevin was contacted by Wet Wet Wet and was asked to replace their lead singer Marti Pellow after his departure. 

His private company Kevin Simm Music Ltd has been going since 2015 but has just £17,677 in reserves.

In addition, Kevin owes it £46,410 from borrowing on his director's loan account. It also owes creditors £86,437.

Jessica Taylor

Jessica, 46, has lived mostly a quiet family life alongside her gigging – after marrying cricketer Kevin Pietersen in 2007.

They have two children – son Dylan, born in 2010, and daughter Rosie, born in 2015.

Since Liberty X, she has appeared on Dancing on Ice in 2009, where she came third alongside partner Pavel Aubrecht.

You may have also seen her on shows such as Hole In The Wall, The Chase and The Weakest Link.

It appears Jessica is also hoping for great things from the reunion tour as she set up her own performing arts firm Dylsie Ltd in July.

The name is a sweet reference to the names of her kids Dylan and Rosie. 

Jessica has also got her own real estate business called Blakemay Ltd which owns just the one flat in her native Preston – a three-bed home which was on the market for £375-a-week rent.

Kelli Young

Kelli, 44, is yet another star hoping for the cash to roll in from the reunion tour.

She set up Kelli Young Ltd under her married surname Farquharson in Mar 2026.

Kelli, 44, has kept busy doing various gigs with Jessica and Michelle, while she has also appeared as a panellist on Loose Women.

She also starred in the ITV show Britain Sings Christmas in 2007, performing Mariah Carey's classic All I Want For Christmas Is You.

Kelli is happily married to Triple 8 singer Iain James and the pair have twin sons that were born in 2012.

Away from her music and family life, Kelli also has a passion for renovating homes which is another income for her and her family.

Sharing updates on an Instagram account, KelliYoungBuilds, the star told her followers in 2022: 'Hi! I'm Kelli Young. You may know me from 00's pop band Liberty X, but you may not know that since leaving the band I've project managed / advised on a series of renovations and builds for myself and other people..

'It's all led up to this… our dream build in the country. Myself, my husband (songwriter to the stars Iain James), our twin boys (and our dog) are embarking on the project of a lifetime.'

Tony Lundon

Tony, 47, has been hugely successful since the band split. The Irish star now works as a film and television producer-director and runs his own production company called The Cell Productions.

He helped celebrities such as Ed Sheeran and Jamie Laing establish their YouTube channels. 

Before that he also presented a quiz series called TOAST in Ireland before moving to New York in 2010 to study film. 

He has also been a presenter with RTÉ in Ireland, and a lead dancer with Lord of the Dance.

Tony has had the TV production firm The Cell Productions Ltd with his wife Kellyann for the last 20 years.

It filed accounts last month and looks very healthy. It had £218,865 equity including £139,319 cash in the bank.

It's clearly doing well as it paid £76,419 in corporation tax for the 12 months up to March 31, 2026. At a 25 per cent corporation tax rate, the firm made £305,676 pure profit, nearly double the previous year.

When it comes to Liberty X as a whole, they all set up Just A Little Music LLP in October 2012. It was dissolved in March 2016 and had barely any cash left in it, – just £389 to be split between them.

However, the previous year's account reveals that they had split £98,845 between them which would have included the earnings from their first reunion tour in 2013 and 2014.

Between the five of them however they wouldn't each be taking much home from that amount.