Readers, heat has goosebumps. Partly because it’s freezing outside – but mostly because a ’90s pop star-turned-psychic is giving us a crash-course in the paranormal and, needless to say, it’s an out-of-body experience.
“You have to connect with the energies out there in the ether,” says Paul Cattermole, who’s now a fully-fledged psychic, clairvoyant and tarot card reader – though you might know him better from one of pop’s most famous septuplets, S Club 7. “Absolutely nothing happens by coincidence. When you think it’s a coincidence, it’s the universe speaking.”
It’s been 22 years since Paul first picked up a deck of tarot cards during S Club’s heyday. He left the group in 2002 and later formed nu-metal band Skua, before reforming for a brief S Club reunion in 2015. But it wasn’t until two years ago that he truly found his calling, after enrolling at The Spiritual Studio of London. “When lockdown started, I started thinking, ‘What can I do to help?’” Paul tells us. “Lots of people need guidance, and tarot gives that.”
According to Paul, he’s always been hyper-intuitive – before S Club found success, he says he just knew they’d top the charts. But back then, it wasn’t something he could switch off and on – and he was afraid that “people might think I was crazy”.
Then, ten years ago, he started meditating, which he says unlocked the door to a wealth of untapped knowledge. “It helped me know how to really get there, sometimes in just two or three breaths,” he tells us. “Through that, I was able to start giving people information and predictions.”
Paul’s lockdown training took things to the next level – not only did he learn to read tarot cards professionally, but he also learnt how to “break free” from using cards, and tap into his psychic abilities, honing his clairvoyancy and psychometry (where a person can sense or ‘read’ the history of an object by touching it). He now charges £39.95 for a 20-minute reading over the phone, offers in-person readings, and also works as an intuitive investigator, providing his services as “The Psychic Detective” (he “cannot possibly say” whether this involves working at crime scenes, but adds, “I also couldn’t not say…”).
CHECK OUT S Club 7: where are they now?
S Club 7 - where are they now? (slider)
1 of 14Paul Cattermole then
Back in the late '90s/early '00s, Paul was the absolute heartthrob of the band. The combination of the piercings, that Reach middle eight and those oh-so-trendy bucket hats he used to wear catapulted him into proper POPSTAR CRUSH territory.
2 of 14Paul Cattermole now
After admitting he's now strapped for cash, Paul recently tried to flog his old BRIT Awards for S Club 7's work on eBay. In 2019, he appeared on First Dates Hotel, although not the celeb version, and said, "I ended up being in the group for five years six years. "I did leave before the end, I was feeling like I was losing myself and I wasn't very happy at all. I had the balls to say, 'guys I've got to go,' but not one of them said stay."Paul returned to social media earlier this year after a yearlong break and surprised fans with his long natural grey hair and beard.
3 of 14Rachel Stevens then
Ugh, wasn't she just perfect? That poker-straight, sunkissed hair. The flawless skin. Her mad sick Miami 7 acting skills. There was nobody we wanted to trade places with more (till Hannah started dating our OG bae Paul, obviously.)
4 of 14Rachel Stevens now
Since the S Club days Rachel's experienced the most solo success (Sweet Dreams My LA Ex and the criminally-underrated Come and Get It album, anyone?) She's also enjoyed stints on Strictly Come Dancing, The X Factor New Zealand and The Voice of Ireland.Earlier this year, it was announced that Rachel will be competing on the 2022 series of Dancing On Ice alongside the likes of Love Island's Liberty Poole, former Strictly pro Brendan Cole and Corrie's Sally Dynevor.
5 of 14Hannah Spearritt then
AKA Paul's ex-girlfriend AKA the human we were most jealous of ever. Literally. The moment that relationship was as good as announced with a kiss on Hollywood 7, we ripped up our S Club posters. Before asking our dad to buy that issue of Smash Hits again.
6 of 14Hannah Spearritt now
Hannah went down the telly route post-pop career. Her most notable role was Abby Maitland in Primeval; with her since joining the cast of EastEnders briefly. She's now mum to daughters Téa, two and new baby Tora.
7 of 14Jon Lee then
Who could forget the iconic blonde curtains, tbh? That's PEAK '90s popstar aesthetic, right there.
8 of 14Jon Lee now
Since his S Club days, Jon's made quite the name for himself in musical theatre. But forget his roles in the West End productions of Les Mis and Jersey Boys; it's got to be his appearance on ITVBe's Dinner Date he's best known for. A classic. Also - has he just not aged, or something?According to Jon, his youthful looks are down to vegetarian diet, active lifestyle and love of yoga.
9 of 14Bradley McIntosh then
If we're all completely honest with ourselves, Miami 7 was all about Bradley. Someone hand the lad a belated Oscar.
10 of 14Bradley McIntosh now
Bradley's still very much in the music industry and continues to represent the brand in S Club 3; touring student unions and stuff alongside Jo O'Meara and Tina Barrett. Oh, and he was put into a group called Upper Street alongside Dane Bowers (Another Level), Jimmy Constable (911) and Danny Wood (New Kids on the Block) for MTV's Totally Boyband back in 2006. That one didn't quite work out, though. More recently, he's promised new music with his former bandmate Tina Barrett. We can't wait. Outside of music, business owner Brad runs Citiboy Entertainment and is director of a company called Yoghurt Media.
11 of 14Tina Barrett then
Tina was the 'choreographer' of the group back in their CBBC days and famously wore that dress to the premiere of S Club's Seeing Double movie in 2003.
12 of 14Tina Barrett now
Tina went pretty quiet after S Club disbanded (boo!) but welcomed a baby in 2016 with her then boyfriend Paul Cashmore (Cashmore, people, not Cattermole!), a son who they named Roman. Sadly, Tina and Paul have since split and she opened up about the heartbreaking split earlier this year, admitting, "Walking away from our relationship was so hard, it felt like my whole world caved in."Last year, she began working on new music with Bradley McIntosh.
13 of 14Jo O'Meara then
Jo was undoubtedly the voice of the band (and consequently took lead vocals) back in the day. She also notably had 'the flow,' whatever tf that means.
14 of 14Jo O'Meara now
Jo's solo material - including debut single What Hurts the Most (same as the Cascada song) - didn't quite live up to expectations and flopped, unfortunately. She's recently completed a solo album after quitting S Club 3, and is making waves on TikTok, after a controversial Celebrity Big Brother appearance in 2007 and filing for bankruptcy in 2014.During the pandemic, Jo supported healthcare workers by singing songs they requested. She also recently relaunched her solo career with new single Sweet Surrender.
Look! More news!
Paul describes his premonitions like “the ringing of a bell”, explaining, “When I was younger, I didn’t realise I was being called to this thing. But everything happens when it’s meant to happen. If I close my eyes, just breathe and key into the energies, I can see things that are going to pass or have passed. But everyone has that potential – the human subconscious never misses a trick. When the head and the heart become one, you can move mountains.”
And what about the questions Paul gets asked most? “A lot of people ask, ‘When am I going to meet The One?’” he tells us. “I can sometimes tell them to the day or hour. Another classic is, ‘Is my boyfriend cheating on me?’ But something I’ve learned is that it’s so important to stand in your power, even if people don’t agree with what you’re telling them. That doesn’t mean it’s definitely going to pass – you control your destiny. I can tell you what to watch out for, but it’s all about tapping into potential energy.”
His former bandmates, he says, haven’t yet requested a reading – but he’d be happy to oblige. In the meantime, he loves keeping up to date with their individual successes. “I love seeing Rachel [Stevens] on Dancing On Ice,” he says. “When I see any of those guys on TV, my heart bursts with pride.”
As for what’s written in Paul’s own future, he’d love to front his own TV series, helping more people tap into their potential. “If you’ve got this gift, one of the things you’re meant to do is help,” he says. “I’m not going to pretend it was easy letting go of singing and acting, but helping people feels good. In the process of letting go, my power has become so much stronger.”
And with that, Paul bids us adieu – but not before promising that he’ll give heat our own personal reading next time. Looking forward to it.
For personal readings, email Paul at Tarotmethis888@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @Paulcattermole1.
Read more in the latest issue of heat magazine - OUT NOW.