How I survived The Worst Year Of My Life
When Kym Marsh’s marriage to Jack Ryder looked like it was on the rocks, it took a family
drama to bring them back together.
It’s been a tough 12 months for Kym marsh. In addition to her marriage to former
Eastender Jack Ryder going through a rough patch, the singer was also dumped by her
record label. The final straw came when her dad David became seriously ill…twice
But, thanks to her husband’s love and support, Kym managed to get herself through
those darkest of days. “Jack was great” she says of her 22 year old partner. “He was
with us every step of the way.”
David’s problems began when he needed a triple bypass operation. “When we were
waiting for my father to come out of theatre at the hospital we didn’t want to leave,” says
Kym, 28. “And Jack was adamant he wanted to be there with us just to see that my dad
was ok. He was my rock. I don’t think I’d have coped if it wasn’t for him. He’d remind us
dad was a fighter and he’s pull through.” After David recovered from his op he was
diagnosed with a condition called Barretts Oesophagus which could have developed into
cancer. “Dads illness made Jack and I closer,” explains Kym. “It gives you a deeper
understanding because you’ve got through something so terrifying together. “As a family
we’ve been through a lot this year and having someone you love become seriously ill
shows you what’s important. Thankfully dad’s fine now, they caught the pre-cancer early.
But it was a traumatic experience for all of us.
And Kyms frame of mind at this difficult time wasn’t helped by the fact she’d been
dropped by her record label, Universal. After quitting Hear’ Say, Kym had set out on a
solo career and scored top 10 hits with her first singles Cry and Come On Over, and her
album Standing Tall entered the charts at No9. But when her third single, Sentimental,
peaked at No35 she was axed. “It’s a tough market out there and record companies
look at where they can tighten their belts,” admits Kym. “And those that aren’t selling
millions are the ones that go. I put a lot of hard work into it and was obviously
disappointed to be dropped. I shed a few tears and felt like a failure. But you can either
dust yourself off and carry on or bury yourself in pity. “I still can’t grasp just how cut-
throat the industry is. I became very disillusioned. “I still wanted to be a singer but I no
longer wanted what went with it
When you’re in the pop world you get a lot of attention and I was fine with that. But when
your family becomes involved and they didn’t always understand – the kids were
becoming upset about it”
Single mum Kym brought up two children- David and Emily- before she won a a place in
Hear’ Say, the band put together by the reality talent show Popstars. And it was living in
a tiny house with no money that gave her the determination to succeed.
“It wasn’t that long ago,” recalls Kym. “I’ve had to fight for everything I have, but not
everyone likes a success story.
“In our country everyone likes the underdog, so when someone’s doing really well they’re
not interested.
“It bugs people that I came from nothing and did well.”
Marriage to Jack, who played Jamie Mitchell for four years in Eastenders, meant the
media interest in Kym and her family became even greater and their “split” less than a
year after being wed, was headline news.
But, according to Kym, they went through a bad patch rather than a full blown
separation. “We did have a couple of problems, but any couple goes through those,” she
says. “However, we never split up or separated. Any problems we had we put behind us
and worked through it. It’s great between us.”
Kym has just started a six-month stint playing Annette in the musical Saturday night
fever alongside one of her hubbys former colleagues – Shaun Williamson, who played
Barry Evans in the soap.
“Musical theatre was something I’d always been interested in but I didn’t think I’d have a
chance in the west end of London” says Kym. “It’s a serious business. Live vocals, no
miming, no second chances, you go out there and work your socks off eight times a
weekend you have to do your best.
“I want to prove to people and myself I can do this.”
Jack, after a year long break, is also back with a part in popular drama MIT and plans to
do panto at the end of the year. However, Kym doubts whether she and Jack will ever
become a husband and wife acting team.
“It only works if your major stars like Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas,” she
laughs. “With us, it would be cheesy!”