H & Claire

Infobox musical artist
Name = H & Claire
Background = group_or_band
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born =
Origin = flagicon|United KingdomUnited Kingdom
Instrument = Singing
Genre = Pop
Occupation(s) =
Years_active = 2002
Label = WEA Records
URL =
Past_members = Claire Richards
Ian "H" Watkins

H & Claire were a pop duo, consisting of former Steps members Claire Richards and Ian "H" Watkins. They released one low-charting album and three mildly successful singles in 2002 before disbanding.

History

Following the split of Steps on December 26, 2001, H & Claire formed a duo. The pair released their debut single "DJ" on WEA Records on May 6, 2002. Peaking at #1 on various club charts, the single debuted and peaked on the UK Singles Chart at #3, spending a mere one week in the Top 10.

Their second single, "Half A Heart" followed on August 12, 2002, peaking and debuting at #8. Unfortunately, the single dropped to #29 in its second week of release and fell from the chart the following week. Their third and final single release was a double-A-side of an original song entitled "All Out of Love" and a cover of the Disney song "Beauty and the Beast". The single was released in November 2002 and peaked at #10, spending 3 weeks on the UK Top 40.

Their debut album, "Another You Another Me", followed. However, it peaked at a low #58 in the UK, and WEA Records soon dropped the pair.

Taking a break from singing to plan her wedding (a marriage whichsubsequently failed), Richards never recorded again with Watkins, and the duo dissolved in 2003. More recently, Richards has left a message on a website dedicated to her, stating that she is planning a return to a singing career in the near future. [ [http://www.claire-richards.com ClaireRichards.co.uk - The Definitive Claire Richards Website! ] ] In December 2006, she announced that she would be expecting her first child in the Spring of 2007. On 8 May 2007, she gave birth to a baby boy, named Charlie.

Watkins decided to take a musical theatre course at the Royal Academy of Music. He was filmed through the course and it was broadcast as a reality TV series, "H-side Story", which followed him as he tries to make a new career in acting. At the end of the course Watkins passed his exam and graduated from the academy. Ian has since appeared in stage productions of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat", "Cinderella", and "Fame". On 3 January 2007, Ian Watkins came out as gay in an interview with "The Sun" newspaper.Emma Cox, [http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,11049-2007000218,00.html 'I was only gay in the village'] , "The Sun", 3 January 2007] His interview was published the same day he entered the Celebrity Big Brother house. He finished in fourth place on Celebrity Big Brother 2007 and was the first contestant to be cheered on exit that season.

The duo appeared at number 36 in Chantelles Top 50 Reality Tv Stars on music channel Smash Hits. The video for DJ was shown.

Discography

Albums

* 2002: "Another You Another Me" - #58

Singles

* 2002: "DJ" - #3
* 2002: "Half a Heart" - #8
* 2002: "All Out of Love" / "Beauty and the Beast" - #10

Trivia

* For a short period around the time "DJ" was released, H & Claire presented the ITV Saturday morning children's show "SMTV Live".
* H & Claire's debut single "DJ" was released opposite former Steps bandmate Faye Tozer's debut single "Someone Like You", a duet with opera singer Russell Watson, which peaked and charted at #10.

References

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