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{{
{{Use British English|date=July 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Claire Richards
| image = Claire Richards Ultimate Tour Newcastle 2012.jpg
| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->▼
▲| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| birth_name = Claire Anne Richards▼
▲| caption = Richards attending the Attitude Pride Awards, 2023
▲| birth_name = Claire Anne Richards
▲| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|08|17|df=y}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|television presenter}}▼
▲| birth_place = [[Hillingdon]], London, England
| years_active = 1995–present▼
▲| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}
▲| years_active = 1995–present
▲| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Mark Webb<br />|2003|2005|reason=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Reece Hill<br />|2008}}
}}
| children = 2
| mother =
| father =
| website =
| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| genre = {{hlist|[[Pop music|Pop]]|[[electropop]]}}
| label
| instrument = Vocals
| current_member_of = {{hlist|[[TSD (group)|TSD]]|[[Steps (pop group)|Steps]]|[[H & Claire]]}}
| website = {{url|clairerichards.co.uk}}
}}
}}
'''Claire Richards''' (born 17 August 1977) is an English singer
Richards was a contestant on the second series of ''[[Popstar to Operastar]]'' before being voted off in the semi-finals. She possesses the vocal range of a [[soprano]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Richards:
== Early life ==
Richards began her career in the pop trio [[TSD (group)|TSD]].<ref name="ClaireRichards">{{cite web|url=http://www.clairerichards.co.uk/biography|title=Claire Richards Biography|date=6 July 2013|access-date=6 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628113315/http://www.clairerichards.co.uk/biography/|archive-date=28 June 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> They had little success and were dropped by their [[record label]] [[Avex Group|Avex]] after the release of their second single "[[Baby, I Love You|Baby I Love You]]". She went on to work as a [[receptionist]] for seven months, winning the temporary worker of the month award for May 1997.<ref name="ClaireRichards" />
== Career ==
===1997–2001: Early career with Steps===
{{
Richards auditioned for the lineup that would become Steps. She was offered a place in the group on the condition that she lost weight. Steps were formed by [[Steve Crosby
===2002–2011: H & Claire and presenting===
After Richards and her
It was announced in May 2011 that Richards would be taking part in the [[Popstar to Operastar series 2|second series]] of ''[[Popstar to Operastar]]'' making it her first major high-profile appearance in nearly ten years. The series started on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] on 5 June. She appeared on [[OK! TV]] on 6 June to promote the show. Despite a much-praised performance of the [[Queen of the Night aria]] from [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]]'s ''[[The Magic Flute]]'' in the semi-final, she lost out on a place in the final to [[Cheryl Baker]].<ref>{{
Richards was a contestant on [[Celebrity Big Brother (British series 11)|eleventh series]] of ''[[Celebrity Big Brother (British TV series)|Celebrity Big Brother]]'' and came fourth place as the show ended on 25 January 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/house-of-horrors-claire-richards-faces-steps-torture-in-celebrity-big-brother-8441997.html|title=House of horrors: Claire Richards faces Steps torture in Celebrity Big Brother|website=Evening Standard|date=8 January 2013|access-date=1 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a454022/claire-richards-comes-fourth-in-celebrity-big-brother/|title=Claire Richards comes fourth in Celebrity Big Brother|website=Digital Spy|last=Laing|first=Greg|date=25 January 2013|access-date=1 July 2023}}</ref> On 1 and 7 April 2014,
Richards released her first solo material, a cover of the
===2011–2017: Reformation of Steps===
Steps reformed in May 2011 for a four-part documentary series on [[Sky Living]] titled ''Steps: Reunion''. The series started airing on 28 September, following an announcement of a second greatest hits album, ''[[The Ultimate Collection (Steps album)|The Ultimate Collection]]'', that was released on 10 October 2011. The album entered the
In November 2017, Tozer announced that the reunion was no longer just a 20th-anniversary celebration and that the group intends to continue after their 2018 Summer of Steps tour.<ref>{{
On 7 September 2020, via their social media accounts, Steps announced the release date of their album entitled ''[[What the Future Holds]]''. The album was released on 27 November of the same year, with pre-orders available from 8 September.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/08/steps-confirm-new-album-what-the-future-holds-we-couldnt-keep-it-a-secret-any-longer-13237236/amp/|title=Steps confirm new album What The Future Holds: 'We couldn't keep it a secret any longer'|last=Tabberer|first=Jamie|date=8 September 2020|work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]|access-date=8 September 2020}}</ref> The next day, they confirmed a new 14-date UK tour (with special guest [[Sophie Ellis-Bextor]]) starting in November 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last=White |first=Jack |title=Steps announce new album, single and 2021 arena tour |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/steps-announce-new-album-what-the-future-holds-2021-tour-supported-by-sophie-ellis-bextor__30938/ |
The first single of ''[[What the Future Holds Pt. 2]]'' was confirmed as a reworked version of "[[Heartbreak in This City]]" featuring [[Michelle Visage]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/02/17/michelle-visage-steps-single-heartbreak-in-this-city/|title=Michelle Visage joins pop legends Steps as 'unofficial sixth member' for boptastic musical comeback|date=17 February 2021|access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/OfficialSteps/status/1362371638013091840|title=One week to go! FIRST PLAY of #HeartbreakInThisCity with @MichelleVisage on @bbcradio2 February 25th at 7:50am then available to download/stream that morning|access-date=22 February 2021}}</ref>
===2018–present: ''My Wildest Dreams'' and ''Euphoria ''===
It was announced on 3 August 2018 that Richards was to release her debut solo album, ''[[My Wildest Dreams (album)|My Wildest Dreams]]'' on 2 November 2018. It was preceded by the lead single, "On My Own", which was released on 6 August. It was announced on 8 October 2018, via her official [[Twitter]], that the album had been delayed until 1 February 2019. The album reached No. 9 in the UK Albums Chart and was promoted with a small theatre tour across venues in the UK.
{{Citation needed|date=November 2019}}
In February 2023, Richards participated as "Knitting" on the [[The Masked Singer (British series 4)|fourth series of ''The Masked Singer'']].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/02/08/masked-singer-and-steps-star-claire-richards-plans-to-perform-solo-18242788/|title=Steps icon Claire Richards reveals bizarre way she kept cool in 'heavy' Masked Singer Knitting costume|website=Metro|last=Stichbury|first=Tom|date=8 February 2023|access-date=1 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/23283756.masked-singer-fans-think-knitting-steps-star-claire-richards/|title=The Masked Singer fans think Knitting is Steps star Claire Richards|website=Glasgow Times|last=Carey|first=Rebecca|date=29 January 2023|access-date=1 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://virginradio.co.uk/entertainment/93893/masked-singer-claire-richards-ricky-wilson-phoenix|title=The Masked Singer's Claire Richards convinced Virgin Radio presenter is Phoenix|website=Virgin Radio UK|date=6 February 2023|access-date=1 July 2023}}</ref> In June 2023, H & Claire came together for a special appearance at [[Pride Cymru]] 2023, delighting fans with their one-off performance.
On 28 June 2023, Richards announced that her second solo studio album, ''[[Euphoria (Claire Richards album)|Euphoria]]'', would be released in August 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertainment-focus.com/2023/06/28/interview-claire-richards-talks-about-upbeat-new-solo-album-euphoria-and-covering-celine-dion/|title=Interview: Claire Richards talks about upbeat new solo album 'Euphoria' and covering Celine Dion|website=Entertainment Focus|last=Ellwood-Hughes|first=Pip|date=28 June 2023|access-date=1 July 2023}}</ref> On the same day, Richards released the album's lead single "I Surrender", a cover of the 2002 [[
and at number 1 on the UK Albums Downloads, Sales and Vinyl charts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/claire-richards-euphoria/|title=Claire Richards - Euphoria|website=Official Charts|date=7 September 2023|access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
Richards married her first husband Mark Webb, a backing dancer with Steps, in 2003. The couple divorced in 2005
▲Richards married her first husband Mark Webb, a backing dancer with Steps, in 2003. The couple divorced in 2005 when Richards rekindled her romance with Reece Hill.{{Citation needed|date=November 2019}} Richards' first child, Charlie, was born on 8 May 2007. In January 2008, Richards and Hill announced their engagement and were married 1 November 2008. Richards announced in the 30 June 2009 edition of ''Woman'' magazine that she was expecting her second child with her husband, and gave birth to a girl named Daisy on 29 December 2009.<ref name="ClaireRichards" />
On 13 September 2008, Richards performed "Tragedy" on the show ''Everybody Dance Now'' without the other members of Steps.{{fact|date=July 2024}} Richards appeared on ''[[Celebrity MasterChef]]'' on 25 June 2009 as part of the programme's "comeback" week. ''Claire Richards: My Big Fat Wedding'', a programme following Claire on her journey to lose weight before her wedding, was shown on [[BBC Three]] in May 2009. The programme featured her wedding and a reunion of all Steps members and drew an audience of over 763,000.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a155040/763000-watch-steps-stars-fat-wedding.html|title= 763,000 watch Steps star's 'Fat Wedding'|access-date= 12 May 2009|author= Dan French|date= 6 May 2009|publisher= Digital Spy}}</ref> Richards released a fitness DVD ''Five Step Fat Attack'' on 26 December 2008.
== Discography ==
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|}
===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of promotional singles
! scope="col"
! scope="col"
! scope="col" colspan="1" |
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| [[UK Singles Downloads Chart|UK Digital]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/54054/claire-richards/|title=Claire Richards Chart History|website=Official Charts|access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| "[[One for Sorrow (song)|One for Sorrow]]" <span style="font-size:85%;">(acoustic version)</span>
| rowspan="2"| 2015
| —
| rowspan="2" {{Non-album singles}}
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Deeper Shade of Blue]]" <span style="font-size:85%;">(piano version)</span><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deeper-Shade-Blue-Claire-Richards/dp/B014XGOFNE/|title=A Deeper Shade of Blue by Claire Richards on Amazon Music – Amazon.co.uk|website=www.amazon.co.uk|access-date=15 September 2019}}</ref>
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "On My Own"
| rowspan="3"| 2018
| 53
| rowspan="5"| ''[[My Wildest Dreams (album)|My Wildest Dreams]]''
|-
! scope="row"| "End Before We Start"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clairerichards.net/claire-richards-end-before-we-start/ |title=End Before We Start Claire Richards Solo Single |website=Claire Richards|date= September 2018|access-date= 30 June 2023}}</ref>
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "My Heart Is Heading Home (This Christmas)"
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "Shame On You"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clairerichards.net/claire-richards-shame-on-you/ |title= Shame On You Claire Richards Solo Single|website=Claire Richards|date= January 2019|access-date= 30 June 2023}}</ref>
| rowspan="2"| 2019
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "7 Billion"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ClaireRichardsOfficial/videos/2313645948666900/ |title= Thanks for all the love about '7 Billion' being the next single from #MyWildestDreams🌍💜 |website=Facebook|date=30 March 2019|access-date= 30 June 2023}}</ref>
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "[[A New Day Has Come#Track listing|I Surrender]]"<ref name="Surrender and Euphoria">{{cite web|url=https://retropopmagazine.com/claire-richards-celebrates-divas-from-across-the-decades-on-second-solo-lp-euphoria/ |title= Claire Richards celebrates divas from across the decades on her second solo LP Euphoria|website= Retropop Magazine|date= 28 June 2023|access-date=30 June 2023}}</ref>
|rowspan="3"| 2023
| 64
|rowspan="3"| ''[[Euphoria (Claire Richards album)|Euphoria]]''
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Summer Night City#Cover versions|Summer Night City]]" <span style="font-size:85%;">(with [[Andy Bell (singer)|Andy Bell]])</span><ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertainment-focus.com/2023/07/27/claire-richards-teams-up-with-erasures-andy-bell-for-abba-cover-summer-night-city/|title= Claire Richards teams up with Erasure's Andy Bell for ABBA cover 'Summer Night City'|website=entertainment focus|date=27 July 2023|access-date=31 July 2023}}</ref>
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "[[No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)]]" <span style="font-size:85%;">(with [[Delta Goodrem]])</span>
| —
|-
|}
|