I'm all right, Jack!
Kym Marsh is the made-by-tv star who refuses to be written off. 19 caught up with the
Wigan wonder to find out how she's coped with life in the spotlight.
Now, if there's anyone who knows how tricky life can be when you make it on reality tv, it's
Kym Marsh. She's been wrung through the mangle of fame so firmly, she could write a
handbook for the current crop of wannabes. In the two-and-a-half years since Kym
emerged as a winner in the show that started the whole tv-band craze, Popstars, she's
experienced first hand how everyone wants a piece of you. The way your private life is
regularly splashed across the papers, and your workload is so gruelling you need to
schedule toilet breaks. In fact when 19 catches up with the Wigan girl who 'done good',
she's dusted herself off after yet another tabloid storm. This one wasn't about feud's with
band members or disgruntled guests bitching about her OK wedding. No, this time it cut
right to the heart of Kym's private life - her ralationship with hubby Jack Ryder. Amid
stories that she and Jack were splitting, wild rumours were circulating that Kym had
been having a fling with Triple Eight hottie David Wilcox. Yes, Kym admits, she chatted to
him at parties, but that's because she's known him since she was 22. "we were in a band
[Hymn] about 5 years ago," she said in response. "He's a very sweet and cheeky chappy.
But I'd never cheat on Jack." There was even talk that the tabloid tittle-tattle had driven
Kym to depression.
But at 19's photoshoot, 3 weeks after the stories broke, the Kym Marsh who saunters
into the studio is remarkably cheery and fresh-faced. There are no tell-tell teary eyes, no
snuffly nose, no pained expression. Could it be that the 27 year old who has lived through
huge chart success with Hear'Say, married the number 1 heart-throb of his time, and
launched a solo career isn't fazed by the dirt dishing press anymore? Kym is keeping
schtum about the 'split' with Jack. But, as she tucks into crumpets and a mug of tea,
she's happy to regale us with tales of the pranks of her children, David and Emily, play on
her(filling her shoes with bananas and chocolate sauce). She spills anecdotes of Jack's
DIY crapness and cackles away at a photo message he sends her - of a fish head. Jack,
you see, is doing a spot of fishing in the lake near their house in Hertfordshire. Romantic?
Well, perhaps its not everyones idea of a slushy love token, but it seems to suggest that
its all rosy in Kym's world. And she'd be the first to agree. We sit her down, post make up
sesh, and find out how she copes the ups and downs of fame...
So, hows the solo career going Kym?
"its been busy! My album, Standing Tall, has done really well; no-one was sure how it would
go, so to get in the top 10 was great. And I release my third single, Sentimental, on 27th
October, its my fave track on the album."
And are you sentimental?
"I suppose so- I keep letters from friends, and I've even kept the little pegs that were on
my children's belly buttons after they were born!"
You owe a lot of your success to Popstars. Now Pop Idol's back on, have you been
watching?
Yess! I can't help it, its compulsive viewing. I love watching all the auditions; I like seeing
what nasty comments the judges are going to come out with next. Simon Cowell makes
me laugh, though - he seems to contradict himself a lot. He says he's looking for a
particular standard of talent, but the he'll let an average singer go through, so you ask
yourself was that because of the way she looked? And then you'll get someone with a
great voice, who's maybe a bit bigger - and the judges say: 'Your not really a Pop Idol...'
Why not? Over half our population is overweight, so why should everyone famous be stick
thin? There are so many people with eating disorders at the moment, and things like that
don't help."
So how did you feel when Nigel Lythgoe called you fat on tv?
"He just said it for the shock factor. The nation were like, 'What!' It makes good tv."
Are you glad you didn't have Simon Cowell to deal with then?
"Yeah! [laughs]. He hates me! but thats all right. If he'd tried to give me any lip, my
response would have been unprintable> The thing is I'm not claiming to be the best singer
in the world, but I know I can sing - I've been singing since I was young - and I was chosen by
people in the industry. I've had my judgement day, and yet he keeps making comments,
going: 'Oh Kym, she can't sing.' I look at some of the people he's been putting through, and
they're not that great. It's all about publicity. He's just a big drama queen!"
How did Popstars change your life?
"I'd always wanted to be a singer, ever since I was six; it took me untill I was 24 to realise
my dream. And in that time, I went from living on benefit, in a rented house with my kids, to
living in a nice house, setting up a trust fund for them, and not having to worry so much
about the future. Obviously, achieving what I set out to do is the biggest thing for me.
Singing on stage in front of hundreds of people - and being appreciated - is a great feeling.
It has its downsides, of course, and the privacy thing can be especially harsh."
So, how do you deal with the press?
"With Hear'Say, no-one really prepared us for how much privacy you lose. I mean, before
that, I used to open the tabloids, read something about a famous person and go 'Oooh!'.
Now, I think about 80% of tabloids are just opinion or something that's been made out of
nothing. You learn quickly. Even now, a lot gets written about me isn't true, and is quite
hurtful. I'd like to say I just ignore it, but some things really get to me. But you've just got
to ride the storm. And afterwards you think: 'I'm stronger for that - I got through that and
I'm still alive."
Is it all worth it though?
"Yes, it is. Every cloud has a silver lining. But then every silver lining has a cloud! You just
have to take the rough with the smooth, as with anything in life. I was bullied when I was at
school, and [the tabloids are] just a bigger, more public version of that."
So, what are the upsides to being in showbiz?
"The travel is amazing. A lot of the time when your on tour you'll just see the airport, the
hotel, the venue, and then your home again. But when I did the video for Cry in Cape Town,
I took a few days either side of the shoot so I could have a good look round. Oh!, and the
moneys good! Plus you get to work with some great people, and meet a lot of people that
you've only ever seen on tv."
Who've you been most excited about meeting?
"Geoffrey from Rainbow[crazy 80's puppet programme]! Seriously, that was my era.
Rainbow was my favourite thing!"
Are you happy now your famous?
"I'd say money doesn't make you happy, but I'm in a good place, and I've been through a lot.
Before Popstars I was quite poor, I really didn't have much money. Of a day, I'd get up, get
Emily and David ready and walk them to schhol - I didn't have a car. Then I'd call on my
Mum and we'd pick up my Giro, do the shpping, pay the bills and then pick the kids up
from school. I went through a lot in my personal life{Kym split up with David and Emily's dad
in 1999], and I've gone through even more since, but I've come out the other side. At the
end of the day, if it all ended tomorrow, I know I could go back and live that way again
because I've done it before - it doesn't scare me. And I've had such good fun, despite all
the 'Ooh, weren't Hear'Say rubbish' stuff. We had a great time together - it wasn't all
doom and gloom like it was painted."
Do you speak to any of your ex-bandmates?
"Yes, we're all talking; its really nice. I'm glad that we've all moved on and are doing good
things with our lives. Myleene is about to release her classical album[Moving on - out 20
October], Suzy's doing really well with her musical, and everyone's just very happy and in a
really good place. I think we all owe that to being in the show."
What would you say to the new Pop Idol finalists?
"You've got to do this because you want to be a singer, or you want to entertain people -
not just because you want to be famous. The fame thing isn't real, and you'll soon get fed
up with it. You also have to be sure its what you really want, because your life will change
dramatically. Don't take to heart everything Simon Cowell says, because he just wants to
make good tv. But do take constructive criticism, and remember to be yourself."
How do people react to you back in Wigan?
"Exactly the same as before. When I'm home I go to the pub I always went to, and its like
I've never been away. It just feels normal. People treat me the same because they know I
haven't changed. My accent might be a bit different, but thats about it. It's living down
south thats done it - even though there were rumours I'd had elocution lessons. I just
thought: 'Yeah right!'"
Where do you like to shop for clothes?
"Topshop and H&M; they have great stuff and it's always really cheap! I love Diesel and
Levi's for jeans, but I've got one pair by Paper Denim and Cloth. They were really expensive
but worth it because they're so comfy. And if I'm going on a glam night out, to a big party
or premiere, I might wear something by Amaya Arzuaga - she designs gorgeous clothes
with a bit of a punky edge."
And do you have a fitness routine?
"Not at the moment! I feel lazy because, with all the work, I havent had time to do anything.
I try to do sit-ups every day, but normally I would also go spar boxing and swimming, its a
great stress reliever, and boosts your endorphins. Its like chocolate - it lifts your mood,
although its not as tasty!