Kym Marsh has reflected on being ‘fat-shamed’ in front of millions of viewers on talent show Popstars in 2001 during the formation of Hear’Say.
The singer and actress, who turns 50 next year, recently found herself back in the headlines when the clip resurfaced, in which Nigel Lythgoe – who earned the nickname ‘Nasty Nigel’ for his scathing behaviour – ordered her to ‘lose weight‘.
Speaking to Prima, Kym said she considered herself fortunate to have appeared on the pioneering show, which catapulted her to fame, but admitted at the time was left feeling ‘humiliated and insecure’.
‘There were so many things that happened at that time that you’d never get away with today. There’s that famous scene where Nigel Lythgoe called me fat. I’ve never been anywhere near massively overweight, but even if I was, how dare you?’
‘It really upset me. I felt humiliated and ashamed, and insecure about myself. I was chosen to be in Hear’Say because of my talent but then hearing a comment like that made me feel like an object, an item, not a human being’.
During their time on Popstars Nigel criticised Kym’s looks and instructed her to ‘lose some weight’ as he quizzed her over her diet and fitness after she made it into the band alongside Myleene Klass, Suzanne Shaw, Noel Sullivan and Danny Foster.
Kym Marsh, 49, has reflected on being ‘fat-shamed’ in front of millions of viewers on talent show Popstars in 2001 during the formation of Hear’Say
She found herself back in the headlines when the clip resurfaced, in which Nigel Lythgoe – who earned the nickname ‘Nasty Nigel’ – ordered her to ‘ lose weight ‘(pictured on Popstars)
Hear’Say pictured in 2001 (L-R Myleene Klass, Danny Foster, Kym, Noel Sullivan and Suzanne Shaw)
In the clip, she asked, ‘Do you think I’m fat?’, to which the TV judge replied, ‘I think you’ve put weight on over Christmas, are you exercising, is the diet right?’.
Elsewhere in the interview the former Corrie star also opened up about turning 50 and becoming a grandmother for the first time at at 42.
It comes just days after daughter Emilie Cunliffe, 28, welcomed her second baby, Kym’s fourth grandchild, on Christmas Day.
She told the publication: ‘I’m not horrified about turning 50. Isn’t 50 the new 40? I’m very excited about it; I’ve already said I’m going to milk it for all it’s worth! I’ve decided that every month for the whole year I’m going to do something to celebrate’.
Kym admitted having ‘no plans’ to turn 50 quietly and would be jetting off on holiday with ahead of her milestone birthday in June.
She went on to gush over her grandkids who call her ‘Ya Ya’ and laughed how she can enjoy time with them before ‘handing them back’ to their parents.
‘I’ve told friends who’ve asked what the difference is from being a parent, that it’s like you have all the love you have for your children, then an added extra on top. It’s like having a king-size Mars bar – it’s the best’.
Kym’s son David is father to son Clayton, two, while Emile is mother to Teddy, six, step-daughter Polly, nine, and newborn Bobby.
Speaking to Prima, Kym said she considered herself fortunate to have appeared on the pioneering show, but admitted at the time she was ‘humiliated and insecure’
‘There’s that famous scene where Nigel Lythgoe called me fat. I’ve never been anywhere near massively overweight, but even if I was, how dare you?’
During their time on Popstars Nigel criticised Kym’s looks and instructed her to ‘lose some weight’ as he quizzed her over her diet and fitness
In the clip, she asked, ‘Do you think I’m fat?’, to which the TV judge replied, ‘I think you’ve put weight on over Christmas, are you exercising, is the diet right?’
The actress took to Instagram to reveal she has become a grandmother for the fourth time after Emilie welcomed the tot on Christmas Day.
She wrote: ‘Well what a wonderful Christmas gift this is!! Welcome to the world Bobby Saint Mykola Hoszowskyj!!! He’s so beautiful!
‘So so proud of my girl @listentoemilie she is a warrior!! And of my son in law @mikeyhoz for being her rock today! We are all in love!! Merry Christmas everyone.’
Emilie, who shares her newborn with husband Michael Hoszowskyj, shared: ‘Our perfect Christmas present has arrived.
‘After arriving at the hospital at 10:25am our special gift was born at 10:35am on 25/12/25.’
Hear’Say formed on the ITV show Popstars and found success with their number one hit Pure and Simple.
Their first album was a huge hit but their success quickly dwindled by the time they released their second album Everybody.
Elsewhere in the interview the former Corrie star also opened up about turning 50 and becoming a grandmother for the first time at at 42
She told the publication: ‘I’m not horrified about turning 50. Isn’t 50 the new 40? I’m very excited about it; I’ve already said I’m going to milk it for all it’s worth!’
Kym admitted having ‘no plans’ to turn 50 quietly and would be jetting off on holiday with a pal ahead of her birthday in June
She went on to gush over her grandkids who call her ‘Ya Ya’ and laughed how she can enjoy time with them before ‘handing them back’ to heir parents
It comes just days after daughter Emilie Cunliffe (pictured) welcomed her second baby, Kym’s fourth grandchild, on Christmas Day
Read the full interview in the February issue of Prima, on sale Tuesday 30th December
They split up in October 2002, less than two years after being put together on Popstars and cited ‘abuse from the public’ at the time as the primary reason behind the breakup.
Speaking last year, about what pressures she felt as a young person in the spotlight, Myleene told Loose Women viewers their management would ‘control how much we were eating’ as they were scared they would become ‘fat’.
She said: ‘I mean the scrutiny for a start. My daughter is 17 and if I look at one of my band members Suzie she was 18, so that’s one year away.
‘I think if someone put my daughter through that level of scrutiny or pressure…’
Although she admitted that things have got a lot better since then, Myleene went on to add: ‘Some of the experiences that we went through we were in no way equipped for it.
‘We were just five kids in a room at the end of the day – not unlike these five kids in a room and that’s all you have.’
