The famous soundtrack to the Eighties Whoa Bodyform advert is set to be re-recorded by Ella Henderson, MailOnline can reveal.
The X Factor star, 27, is lending her powerful vocals to the catchy tune four decades after rock singer Sandra McKenzie recorded it for the commercials, which were so popular they continued running into the Nineties.
Revealing why Ella decided to cover the iconic song, a source told MailOnline: ‘She is very passionate about spreading positivity and female empowerment through her music. It’s such a good track, the lyrics have got a modern twist and the track itself has a heavier dance beat.
‘She has the perfect voice for it, only someone with strong diva vocals could recreate the high note that gave everyone a confidence boost 30 years ago.’
‘I hear she’s got more surprises for us ahead of the launch date, it’s going to be really unexpected.’
New music: The famous soundtrack to the Eighties Whoa Bodyform advert is set to be re-recorded by Ella Henderson, MailOnline can reveal
Iconic: The X Factor star, 27, is lending her powerful vocals to the catchy tune four decades after rock singer Sandra McKenzie recorded it for the commercials
The re-recording of Whooah Bodyform is set to be released later this month.
Ella shot to fame on the X Factor in 2012 where she was mentored by Tulisa.
Despite a shock early elimination on the show she was still signed by Simon Cowell’s label Syco and her debut single Ghost went on to sell more than 1.2 million units in the UK and more than a million in the US.
Her debut album Chapter One went platinum and featured other hit singles, Glow and Yours.
Most recently the singer – who announced her engagement to GB swimmer Jack Burnell earlier this year – released dance anthem 0800 Heaven with Dawe and Joel Corry.
The rerelease of the Whoa Bodyform single comes five years after the original singer Sandra revealed that she is broke and homeless.
The ex-lead singer of rock band Goldbug and Prince’s one-time lover once had millions in the bank, apartments all over the world and a yacht.
As well as being the voice of the Bodyform TV ad she reached number three in the charts with a cover of the Led Zeppelin hit Whole Lotta Love.
She had also attended the same Swiss finishing school as Princess Diana.
But Sandra, 61, revealed she had to return to her hometown of Dundee, living in a hostel for homeless people with no money to her name.
Talented: Ella shot to fame on the X Factor in 2012 where she was mentored by Tulisa. Her debut single Ghost went on to sell more than 1.2 million units in the UK
‘I had everything,’ she said. ‘I led an amazing life, a proper rock ‘n’ roll life, but I have nothing left. I’m desperate. I sometimes don’t think I can go on much longer.
‘I feel so ill, hate where I’m having to stay and I’m desperate to turn my life around again, but I just don’t know how.
‘I’m rubbish with money. I led the high life, loved to party and enjoyed a drink.
‘I was way too generous with my money whenever I had it and bought lavish gifts for friends.’
Sandra, niece of the Associates singer Billy McKenzie, was born in Dundee in 1961, graduated in fine arts and worked as a graphic artist for The Beano.
At night, she was singing in pubs and clubs and pursuing her dream of becoming a successful recording artist.
‘I was good and I was also writing my own songs,’ she said. ‘Someone heard me and I was invited down to London where I sang in the chorus at a club in Soho.’
It was while Sandra was in London that she became the voice of a Bodyform TV advert.
She then joined the band Goldbug, formed in 1995 by a former member of the Beatmasters, Richard Walmsley and DJ Adil Magik.
The group had almost instant success – getting to number three in the UK charts.
America called and Sandra went on to have chart success there over three years.
She met famous artists and spent three months working and living with Prince, eventually becoming his lover.
On returning to England, though, Sandra found she could no longer get anyone to sign her and gradually everything she had worked hard for began to disappear.
When she was 50, Sandra suffered a further setback. She was knocked off her bicycle in Oxford and was in hospital for months.
Sandra said: ‘I suffered really serious head injuries and it took a lot to bounce back from that. I don’t think I’ve ever fully recovered to this day.’
She added: ‘In 2015, I came back to Dundee. I bought a beautiful house but when I went to the bank one day I only had £1,000 left in my account. That’s where the dream ended.’
Fallen on hard times: The rerelease of the Whoa Bodyform single comes five years after the original singer Sandra McKenzie revealed that she is broke and homeless