After the tragic death of Sarah Harding last year, the much talked-about Girls Aloud reunion looked as if it would never happen, with Kimberley Walsh recently saying it wouldn’t feel right to do it without Sarah, as none of the band were in the “right headspace”. But last week, Nadine Coyle revealed that the group – also made up of Nicola Roberts and Cheryl – will be getting back together in honour of their former bandmate, who passed away from cancer last year aged 39.
“We’re planning a night for an event to raise money in honour of Sarah,” Nadine said. “She’s very much in the forefront of our minds. We want to raise money for a piece of medical equipment that helps diagnose cancer earlier, so people can be treated. We definitely want to do something to help others.” Kimberley, 40, later confirmed that they’ll be doing something, and while they don’t feel ready for a full-on reunion “just yet”, she said that they are planning an industry fundraiser.
And, it seems, it was Cheryl – once the most reluctant to get the group back together – who was the one behind the move.
“When Sarah was ill, she and Cheryl had discussed doing something to raise money and Cheryl has been keen to honour that,” an insider tells heat.
The source continues, “Although Cheryl and Nadine have had a strained relationship over the years, they’ve both been instrumental in making this happen. Nothing has been confirmed yet, so who knows whether it will be a one-off or the start of something more. Sarah loved being in Girls Aloud and although there were fallouts, it was such an amazing time for all of them and they want to celebrate that.”
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Girls Aloud’s formation on Popstars: The Rivals and there was always talk of doing something to mark that. However, after their split, the group seemed to break into two camps – Cheryl, Kimberley and Nicola in one, with Nadine and Sarah in the other. But once Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2020, the girls all met up and had a weekend away together.
In her book, Sarah said she and Cheryl had been working on a charity gala to raise money for Macmillan and The Christie Charitable Fund, who had helped her so much. “I’d really love to put on some sort of charity gala or a big fundraising event by way of a massive thank you,” she wrote. “It’s something I’ve talked to Cheryl about, and having done so much for The Prince’s Trust, it’s something she feels she might be able to help me with… Even if I’m not around to see an event through, I need to let the people there know how grateful I am to them for all they’ve done for me.”
Although it won’t be easy bringing the band back without Sarah, we’re told Cheryl and the rest of the girls know they owe this to her. “It’s a bit of an odd dynamic without Sarah, it’s three friends and the person who was ‘left out’ – so that’s going to be challenging,” our insider says. “It’s probably still a bit awkward, but the girls are a lot more mature now.”
The source adds, “It’s also very bittersweet, as Sarah is very missed – she was such a huge bundle of energy, always excited and mad keen for anything like this. It’s only really in hindsight that they understand how much her big personality brought to the band, and what an integral part of the group she was.”