Yazz now: what is The Only Way Is Up singer up to in 2022?

Check out what the singer of the TOWIE theme song is up to now

Yazz now

by Asher Brandon |
Updated on

Singer Yazz is perhaps best known for her 1988 classic The Only Way Is Up. You might even recognise the song from The Only Way Is Essex's theme tune.

Despite this success early on in her career, Yazz has slipped somewhat under the radar as of late. So, here's what she's been up to recently.

Who is Yazz?

Yazz is a singer best known for her hit song The Only Way Is Up that reached Number 1 on the UK Singles Chart. Turns out it's actually a cover of a song written by George Jackson and Johnny Henderson and originally performed by Otis Clay in 1980.

She is also well known for her song Stand Up For Your Love Rights and her debut album Wanted also released in 1988, which was certified double platinum in the UK.

Yazz worked as a runway model for a stint before releasing club music with the group The Biz, scoring a series of hits. Her first mainstream success came in her solo career and she signed to Big Life, her husband Jazz Summers' label.

She went on to have success throughout the 90s, signing to Polydor Records in 1992, before releasing her second album, One On One, in 1994.

What happened to Yazz?

During the 90s Yazz began to reevaluate her career choices following the breakdown of her marriage to her husbad Jazz. The pair share a daughter named Rio.

After her marriage split, Yazz turned to christianity following a conversation with her hairdresser.

In 2008 she released her third album Running Back to You, an album which explored her journey to Christianity.

What is Yazz up to now?

After becoming a Christian, Yazz has performed The Only way Is Up on This Morning to mark the 30th anniversary of both the TV show and the song, released a deluxe remaster of her hit 1988 album Wanted and according to her Instagram she currently works as a teacher and vocal coach.

Yazz is currently living in Spain, where she is an active part of the Calahonda Baptist Church.

Last year Yazz appeared on the Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did podcast where she opened up about making The Only Way Is Up, the price of fame and her spiritual journey.

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Gallery

Soap Stars Committed Crime - SLIDER with cover pic

Soap stars committed crime1 of 12
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Soap stars committed crime

Nick Pickard2 of 12
CREDIT: Shutterstock / Rex & Lime Pictures

Nick Pickard

Back in 2012 Hollyoaks' longest-serving actor Nick Pickard (who plays Tony Hutchinson) pleaded guilty to drink driving.After the actor was stopped by police, a blood test found that he was over the legal alcohol limit by 14 milligrams. He was then given a 12 month driving ban and fined £850. At the time his solicitor told the court: "He wishes to express his remorse and regret, and he acknowledges he made a grave error in judgement."He had consumed alcohol earlier that day. He thought the alcohol had gone from his system and he apologises."

Leslie Grantham3 of 12
CREDIT: Shutterstock / Rex & BBC

Leslie Grantham

From 1967 to 1977 EastEnders star Leslie Grantham, who is best known as Dirty Den, served 10 years in prison for murder. The horrific incident took place after the actor tried to rob a taxi driver in Germany, following the altercation the driver died from a gunshot wound to his head. Despite denying any knowledge that there were bullets in the gun, he was found guilty of murder and send to prison. Surprisingly during his time in prison he acted in plays with other inmates and even became friends with his former EastEnders co-star Louise Jameson following her visits to the prison.After going on EastEnders, leaving and then returning again he was later involved in a sex scandal after a newspaper printed X-rated photos of the actor from his dressing room. Following his behaviour he released a statement and apologised, saying: "I am wholeheartedly ashamed of my behaviour and feel that I have let down my colleagues, as well as my friends and family."

Bruno Langley4 of 12
CREDIT: ITV & Getty Images

Bruno Langley

In November 2017 Coronation Street's Bruno Langley (who is best known as Todd Grimshaw) was accused of acting inappropriately towards a woman on a night out. Shortly after he was dismissed from the show another sexual assault allegation came to light.After the actor was charged with the two counts, he was then accused by a 15-year-old girl of 'pursuing' her. The former Corrie star then pleaded guilty to the two charges and had to pay a £500 fine and a 12-month community order.He then released a statement where he apologised for his "disgraceful behavoiur" he went on to say: "I have absolutely no memory of what happened because of excessive alcohol consumption and it was for this reason that I behaved completely out of character."However, I take full responsibility for my actions that night."

Joseph Shade5 of 12
CREDIT: BBC & SWNS

Joseph Shade

He played Ian Beale's son Peter Beale from 1998 to 2004 but Joseph Shade was spared jail in 2017 after admitting to sexual assaults against three teenage girls.After pleading guilty to the crimes of the three girls between the ages of 14 and 17, he was handed an 18-month sentence suspended for 24 months, a sexual harm prevention order for five years and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Tim Dowd6 of 12
CREDIT: ITV & Shutterstock / Rex

Tim Dowd

In 2018 the Coronation Street cast and crew were shocked to discover one of their directors had been arrested for child grooming. Tim Dowd was caught after a police officer posed online as a 13-year-old girl.He has also worked on Emmerdale, Heartbeat and Casualty.

Michael Le Vell7 of 12
CREDIT: ITV & Shutterstock / Rex

Michael Le Vell

Back in 2011 Coronation Street's Michael Le Vell, who plays Kevin Webster, arrested however the Crown Prosecution Service decided to not proceed with the case.However, in 2013 following fresh allegations from the accuser he was arrested again. The girl (who at the time of the trial was 17) accused the actor of abusing her from the age of six until 14. He faced 12 charges which also included sexual activity with a child, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and indecent assault. He denied all of the charges and was later found not guilty. During the trial he did not appear in any of Corrie's episodes and after it came to light that he was innocent, he admitted outside the court that he was "delighted" and felt the result was "a weight off everyone's shoulders".Fast forward a few years and the actor has been declared bankrupt after having to pay out £200,000 in legal fees following the child abuse claims.

Bill Roache8 of 12
CREDIT: ITV & Shutterstock / Rex

Bill Roache

A few months after Coronation Street's Michael Le Vell was arrested so was his co-star Bill Roache.The Corrie star, who plays Ken Barlow, was accused of raping a 15-year-old girl in 1967. However things got worse for the actor as he was then charged with two counts of rape and then five more counts of indecent assault against children between the age of 12 and 16.He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and after three weeks at the trial he was found not guilty. After thanking everyone for their support, he said in a statement: "In these situations there are no winners, and I think we should all be much kinder to ourselves."

Leanne Lakey9 of 12
CREDIT: BBC

Leanne Lakey

From 2001 to 2003 she was known for playing Belinda Slater in EastEnders but years after being in the BBC soap she accused of attempting to smuggle three kilos of cocaine into the UK.The actress was arrested at Gatwick Airport in 2016 after the class A drug was found hidden in the bottom of her suitcase.A year after the arrest, and Leanne Lakey was found not guilty after there was no evidence against her.

Jody Latham10 of 12
CREDIT: BBC & Shutterstock / Rex

Jody Latham

He played EastEnders' Rob Grayson (Whitney Dean's pimp) but in 2011 actor, Jody Latham, was arrested for growing cannabis. Police seized 24 plants from him.However, he managed to avoid jail with a 12-month sentence suspended for two years. In 2016 he was also accused of harassing a contestant on The Apprentice but was later cleared.

Ben Freeman11 of 12
CREDIT: Shutterstock / Rex

Ben Freeman

He played Scott Windsor in Emmerdale but actor Ben Freeman has previously been accused of raping a girl he met in Barbados while on holiday.Following the accusation he was 'released' from his contract and after denying the allegations he was found not guilty.

Linda Henry12 of 12
CREDIT: BBC & Shutterstock / Rex

Linda Henry

In 2015 EastEnders starLinda Henry - aka Shirley Carter - was accused of racially abusing a warden. The incident was said to happen after the actress was told off by the accuser of dropping a cigarette bud on the floor.She denied the claims and was later found not guilty.

How old is Yazz?

Yazz was born on the 19th May 1960, meaning she is 61 years old.

How is Yazz related to The Only Way is Essex?

Today Yazz's song The Only Way Is Up is best known as the theme song for The ITV reality show The Only Way Is Essex.

Does Yazz have Instagram?

She does - you can follow her @yazz.official.

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