The Hear'Say Story - ITV documentary about the 'Popstars' band, Dec 2001

A documentary about the chart-topping band Hear'Say, shown close to the end of 2001, just before the band's brief reign at the top was derailed by Kym's shock departure. For many tales about Hear'Say, and countless other acts from the late 90s/early 00s pop era, check out my book 'Freak Like Me: Confessions of a 90s Pop Groupie' (by Malcolm McLean), out October 2019. www.freaklike.me

[@BenKellyMusic92]

It was a groundbreaking TV moment that lifted the lid on how pop groups were often created at the time, and it's all still fascinating to watch it all back on Popstars even 20 years later

[@afflulifestyle1784]

It actually wasn't groundbreaking. People seem to forget that the first exposure of this was done 5 years before, in 1996 in a BBC documentary called "Inside Story - A Band Is Born." It was the making of the UK Boyband "Upside Down." It exposed everything on how pop bands are put together, & It made the industry angry. One of my friends is in the documentary. The days back then & when "Hearsay" arrived, were just so innocent & better times.

[@stephthestar90]

@@afflulifestyle1784 There was also Making The Band on MTV, but I don't know if that was shown in the UK

[@kategoufrey4176]

it still breaks my heart to heaer him say the goose has gotten fat to Kym. I was still battling a 15 year eating disorder when that happened and the effect it had on my psyche was almost tragic. it was an awfu; message to send out to youngsters everywhere. then to top it off there was all the fuss over the School of rock weight gain. they are the band remembered for highlighting the disgusting pressure of stardom.

[@skerriesrockart]

Stop eating so much..simples.

[@SkipSpotter]

He was one of those managers who was strictly about creating the best product he could manufacture. If this moment was never broadcast, it would have been simply put down to hearsay, and not believed. The irony now is looking how incredibly sellable Kym's star power has become. She is amazingly talented at acting and the cameras love her sweet smile.

[@Dee_Lite263]

This was a great insight to how bands were put together only in their case it was televised and they had instant success but after a year or so it all fell apart which must have been a hard pill to swallow after the huge instant success they had. I didn't follow their career and remember seeing them on TV all the time after and remember they also got a lot of criticism, then the infighting that followed then in a puff of smoke they seemed to vanish.

[@SkipSpotter]

These were much happier days. The music biz and society (the way people react with one and other) has changed almost beyond recognition. These guys really did seem to work hard and earn the positivity they were rewarded with. Many thanks for uploading this little gem of a piece of history so many people can look back and relate to

[@skerriesrockart]

What "positivity"? they were treated as a joke by the music industry and hated by mainstream music fans..they had bottles thrown at them during gigs and were eviscirated online

[@SkipSpotter]

Yep, but fate had a way of at least showing Kym's star power, and acting ability. The others went their own way and all that matters now is that they're hopefully happy and content.@@skerriesrockart

[@paulec2634]

Such a likeable and genuine group.

[@DarcMarc1066]

Liberty X watching this eating popcorn 🍿....

[@GrizzlyPurpleBearKatie]

And gotten the last laugh, as form their own group. Went on and last long as they did.

[@mutsortima174]

Little did anyone know that Hear'Say would suddenly start to implode a month after this programme aired...

[@moraysmuse]

Kym Marsh showed that now irrelevant Nigel looking gorgeous to this day and having her Corrie career.

[@eifionphillips3004]

They were a nice bunch of people, still are.

[@daisythompson2984]

Where do you get some much Hear’Say content from, I love them so much, please keep uploading more!

[@liam.nolan1]

Thanks so much for uploading this. Do you happen to have Hear'Say A New Chapter documentary? Would love to watch this one day!

[@freaklikemebook]

Yeah, I do actually. Will upload it soon!

[@rachel2earth]

That weight loss comment is disgusting.

[@JB-pk4ck]

back in the day when common sense prevailed. As someone who was born to an unmarried mother and was told everyday his mother was a slut, its hard to get annoyed about someone telling someone they need to loose a bit of weight

[@morbidsearch]

@@JB-pk4ck Fat shaming has been proven not to work and there was no reason to make this about yourself

[@jamesbeech1291]

This band were treated so badly 2 members being told to have their hair cut and Nigel’s attitude towards non perfect sized women. He always had an issue with physical perfection. Hopefully a documentary later on will come out on the further hidden secrets

[@goops1071]

Which 2 members for the haircuts?

[@kylieashley-jones1742]

The Aussie winners Scandle Us were asked to be the supporting act to Hear 'Say in 2001!

[@nathanmcneill8712]

hi could you upload some more hearsay stuff if you have it please thanks

[@GrizzlyPurpleBearKatie]

These 5 contestant won into Hear’Say, but they only last for a year. While the other rejected the contestant, form their own group and less longer. Than the winners who got in. I guess Liberty X gotten the last laugh😂

[@patrickchan2503]

imagine Hearsay invited to BoJo's covid xmas party, pure and simple, gonna be there.

[@brabbit3389]

Pure and simple is just a rewrite of the oasis song all around the world. Noel didn’t sue cause that was a rip off of hey Jude

[@GrizzlyPurpleBearKatie]

This song is original belong to a girl band called Girl Thing. Girl Thing was supposed to release as their next single, but it was given to them instead as their first single.

[@1993MN]

They didn’t last long did they 😂

[@stephthestar90]

Nope! I had their Popstars album but Liberty X were the real winners of the original Popstars in my eyes. Thinking It Over is still a great album and Being Somebody wasn't bad either

[@TomRipley7350]

Myleene’s a wreck. You’re in a band, not a concentration camp, darling.

[@alexv2926]

a camp 70s star narrates Kelly was scared oh sorry pat pat pat

[@alexv2926]

the show had a tt that was p a the rv h the d from a old man denis n to see here ma

[@fudge7545]

Jesus I hope they fired their stylist

[@PandaPowerable]

They didn't last long!

[@stephthestar90]

Probably because they were like a budget S Club 7 and by 2001 the music scene was starting to move away from cheesy pop. Liberty X were still pop but they were influenced by UK and US R&B

[@stephthestar90]

I think part of their quick rise and fall was the way they were handled. Reality TV in 2001 was very new and they didn't really know what to do with the group, plus there was no public input and no social media. The world wide web was very new. The tabloids at the time were always printing rubbish about the group and I guess none of Hear'say were given advice on how to deal with it. Hear'say did way too much in less than a year and they were probably burnt out, then Liberty X came on the scene and they had some great songs despite the papers calling them the 'flopstars' and 'rejects'. Liberty X's success set a precedent that runners up in reality shows do better than the winners. Olly Murs is a good example. He came second in X Factor and his career is going well. One Direction, JLS and Stacey Solomon also did well despite not winning.

[@GrizzlyPurpleBearKatie]

Let say that rejected consistent, didn’t make it to the top five. Guess they gotten the last laugh, when they form their own groups Liberty X. Went on and last longer than winner.

[@stephthestar90]

@@GrizzlyPurpleBearKatie Exactly and their music still sounds quite fresh today. I remember hearing Just A Little for the first time and being blown away by how good it was. The 'Liberty X effect' is still something we see today in talent shows. 1D, Olly Murs, Rebecca Ferguson and Becky Hill (from The Voice) are good examples. Rylan Clark is another, although he went into TV rather than music