Claire Richards - 'CARING WHAT PEOPLE THINK HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY DOWNFALL'

As she branches out with new solo album Euphoria, we caught up with the singer to talk Steps, self-confidence and the dreaded menopause!

Claire Richards looks nothing short of stunning with minimal make-up and a sweatshirt on, so it's hard to believe the singer has just celebrated her 46th birthday. She smiles from ear to ear when she's talking about her new album, Euphoria, on which she covers songs from some of her favourite female artists, and describes it as full of bangers'!

Does she feel weird not having her other four Steps band members with her when she's performing? 'I do, but equally it's a bit less chaotic,' she admits. It's like trying to herd cats when you're trying to get all of us on stage.

The band are fully supportive of Claire's solo ventures, as is her husband Reece, 55, who she gratefully says 'picks up the slack' when things get busy. The couple have been happily married since 2008 and are parents to Charlie, 16, and Daisy, 13. Claire reveals Daisy is already showing signs of following in her famous footsteps. 'She even wants me to be her momager!' she laughs.

Despite looking great, she can still be self-critical, especially when she's performing. I'm very self-conscious anyway and maybe it's just a part of my personality.

'I always have been, right back since the beginning of the band, but more than ever when I'm on stage on my own. I've got this narrator in my head going, "What if you're awful? What if no one likes the songs?" It just takes one person laughing in the front row to get my brain thinking, "Why are they laughing at me?"