Kym marsh reveals how she lost three inches off her waist plus her hopes for a
soap career and why pal Suzanne shaw is coping well with her break-up...
From the moment Kym Marsh appeared on Popstars, she has been dogged by
controversy. She famously hid the fact that she was a single mum (to David, now ten and
Emily, seven), but was exposed by the tabloids. Then nasty Nigel Lythgoe publicly
humiliated her by calling her 'chubby'. When she quit the group a year after, she sell out
with her bandmates and many blamed her for the eventual break-up of Hear'say.
After finding fame, Kym had a whirlwind romance with former Eastenders star Jack
Ryder, and married him in August 2002. Her marriage has also been the source of much
gossip, since the couple had a brief separation in 2003. But, as Kym tells new! They are
back on track - and when they arrive for our interview at a Manchester hotel, they're
holding hands.
After a stint last year in the west end show Saturday night fever. Kym, who turns 29 next
month is pursuing an acting career. now a trim size 8, she chats to New! while tucking
into a huge cheese and pickle sandwich, and reveals how she couldnt be happier.....
Your're looking fab. How do you keep in such great shape?
When i left hearsay, i was a suze 12 which is bigger than i am usually and i felt
uncomfortable in my skin. i got a personal trainer abd then did saturday night fever, so in
total now, ive lost a stone and im a size 8. i also lost three inches off my waisti dont have
the trainer any more but ive started doing aerobics with some of the mums from the
childrens school.
Do you constantly diet?
no. i just watch what i eat. i try not to have too much white bread; i like wholemeal. i dont
eat too many carbs - they make me feel bloated - but i eat some, because its important
now to cut them out altogether. Ive cut down on sugar and have a bran cereal in the
morning and everything else in moderation.
How do you feel about your size bieng criticised on Popstars?
Ive never told anyone before, but Nigel Lythgoe apologised to me off camera one night, he
said he'd made the comments to rile me, and that he had pushed it too far. We'd had a
big row before that, but, although it had been filmed, it was never shown. I'd told him to
stick his TV show where the sun didnt shine! i was bulimic when i was about 15, and he
know that because i'd told him privately. So those comments were even more
irresponsible. if i hadnt been so stong, it could have sent me spiralling back into bulimia.
Do you still see any of the Hear'say members?
Ive seen myleene [klass] a couple of times and im really pleased for her, about how her
career is going. Im in touch with Danny [Foster]. I see Suzy [Suzanne Shaw] the most. Noel
[Sullivan} is the only one who doesnt talk to me, but im not going to lose any sleep over
that - its a bit childish.
Have you and Suzanne talked about her split with Darren Day?
She's has such a time of it, but we havent really discussed it. Suzannes got her head
screwed on. nobody really knows the ins and outs of what went on between them, but she
knows she can talk to me if she wants. a lot has been written about her and other
peoples opinions. the only ones who know what happened are her and darren and whats
how it should be.
Have you given her any advice on bieng a single mum?
She came to our house with Corey the other day and hes such a gorgeous child - always
smiling. She seems to be coping and has done well. i think shes ignoring all the press and
getting on with looking after Corey. She and Darren are still friends and he sees Corey,
which is good and important. it shows that its all grown-up and they are not putting their
child in the middle.
How is your relationship with your husband, Jack, now?
It's fine, totally fine. Its ridiculous, really. Only the other day there was a picture in the
paper of us holding hands with a caption saying 'Kym is desperate to prove her marriage
to Jack is OK' There are always going to be rumours about us, and its fustrating, but i
love him to bits and he feels the same way about me. were in a good place at the moment.
Whats happening work-wise?
Im now concentrating on acting and holding out for the right thing. i would absolutely love
to be in coronation street - just love it! Jack has got a new agent and is going up for a lot
of stuff. Hes in talks over quite a big job at the moment. Its been hard for him since he left
Eastenders. At one point he was really down on himself, Id say to him "Look you were
luckyenough to get a job straight away after school and this is just a road you have to go
down. otherwise when youre on Parkinson in a few years you'll have nothing to talk about"
Hes really positive now!
Do you want more children?
I'm terribly broody. When suzy brought Corey round the other day, i was beside myself.
Jack and I definitely want children. We're getting my mum and dad settled in a new house
back up north and hopefully then we'll start thinking about a family.
How do you feel about hitting 30 next year?
I'm dreading it! i keep saying to jack "you're wife is 30 next year" he just laughs it off. There
are five years between us - hes 24 in september. He says i dont look my age but i think i
do. He makes me feel better about myself though because he doesnt care about the age
thing.
You were recently made patron of the talented youngster competition - whats
that?
Ive been involved with it for a long time - Since my Hear'say days. ive judged it a few times
and i think its a great show and it supports a great charity - Destination Florida - which
sends terminally ill children on holiday. its basically a big talent competition with awards for
youngsters in various catagories. I entered a talent competition myself when i was 10
years old - called Joy Time in Liverpool - and i won the Ken Dodd Trophy! I entered lots and
lots of other competitions though, that i didnt win. so i know what these youngsters are
going through.
Whats the charity concert you're currently rehearsing?
Sue Jenkins who used to be [Jackie Corkhill] in Brookside has organised A Night Of Stars
For The Tsunami at the Palace Theatre in Manchester to raise money for the Louise
Willgrass Tsunami Fund, to build an orphanage in Thailand. Corrie, Emmerdale, Heartbeat
and Hollyoaks people are taking part. Im singing two numbers from Blood Brothers and
Jack is The Artful Dodger in Oliver! Sam Aston [Corrie's Chesney] is Oliver, naturally!