Nicole

THE Nineties might have been ruled by boybands and girl-bands, but life at the top of pop could be tough.

And it was probably worse for the girls, as putting on extra pounds, dating the wrong guy or, heaven forbid, having a baby were hugely frowned upon by management teams.

New BBC documentary Girlbands Forever, the follow-up to last year’s three-parter about boybands, delves into an era where record companies had less regard for duty of care, days off or mental health.

It features members of Atomic Kitten, Eternal, Sugababes, Mis-teeq and Little Mix, providing insight into what it was like being in an all-female group in the Nineties and early Noughties.

The dream was to replicate the success of the Spice Girls, the all-conquering icons who sparked the girlband explosion.

And record labels invested millions in a bid to find the next big thing.

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But as the Spice Girls’ rivals All Saints found out, the pressure became unbearable.

So much so that when founding member Melanie Blatt informed managers that she and bandmate Nicole Appleton were pregnant, both were told to abort their babies.

The reason? They had just cracked America with No1 hit Never Ever and momentum could be lost.

Melanie, 50, explains: “I hadn’t been with my partner for very long, it was definitely a bit of a surprise It wasn’t people congratulating us. It was more like this look of dread and worry and the realisation that things are going to change.

“We flew to LA and at [airport] LAX our manager, he was behind us, was telling us to abort our babies.”

She added that her bosses told them they were “going to ruin everything” and “it was the end of the band”.

Melanie ended up having her baby with her partner, Stuart Zender, the bassist for band Jamiroquai.

‘Vomiting in toilets’

But Nicole, who fell pregnant with then boyfriend Robbie Williams, did not, which Melanie admits caused issues with their relationship.

She explains: “Nic and I had been best friends since we were 11. We took pregnancy tests in a hotel in Canada and spent that whole night discussing bringing our kids up together. It was one of the best nights ever.

“And it’s not really my place to talk about it, but unfortunately . . . it was a very uncomfortable situation because I kept mine, she didn’t. That was a really tricky part of my and our existence.”

All Saints, which consisted of Melanie, sisters Nicole and Natalie and main songwriter Shaznay Lewis, were always deemed a “cool version” of the Spice Girls and were far more rock ‘n’ roll.

Whereas Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton and Mel B found love with a footballer, an R&B singer and a dancer respectively, the All Saints girls dated rock stars, with Nicole marrying and having a son with Liam Gallagher.

Melanie says: “We were turning up to kids’ TV shows on a Saturday morning without having one wink of sleep. We looked fine, just a bit of vomiting in the toilets prior to CD:UK.”

After two albums, All Saints split in 2001, a disparity in earnings between Shaznay and the rest of the band being a major factor.

By the end of their existence as a group, Melanie says they “hated each other”.

She adds: “We’d fallen out, it was hell, it was ‘separate’ everything.

“It was just ridiculous but literally one of the proudest moments of being in that band was calling it quits because we didn’t stay for the money. We wanted to be done, we didn’t want to be with each other any more and we made that decision.

“We were in control. We were supposed to go on tour and we gave the money back and I’m so proud of that. That’s one of the only decisions we were all happy to make together, telling each other to f*** off.”

• Girlbands Forever begins on Saturday at 9.20pm on BBC Two.

Little Mix

AS girlbands moved into the 2010s, life did not get any easier, with social media now to contend with.

With Little Mix, Perrie Edwards, 32, bore the brunt of the online abuse due to her relationship with One Direction heart-throb Zayn Malik.

She explains: “Social media was dark, especially back in the day.

“Me and the girls used to get a lot of stick. Things we would wear or how we would look, people would pick us apart.

“You’re hurting enough as it is, never mind everybody having an opinion on it. Everyone wants to know your business and everyone feels like they have ownership in that.

“You can’t escape it. So you may as well sing about it.”

Life in girlbands was relentless, so Little Mix lasting ten years was a monumental achievement.

But Perrie, below, admits she almost quit when she was at her lowest ebb ahead of a gig in Las Vegas.

She says: “I didn’t want to go, I was so exhausted. I tried getting out of the trip and when I got there, I started experiencing panic attacks.

“I didn’t know what was happening at the time, I’d never experienced a panic attack.

“I ended up in a hospital. I didn’t want to let the girls down. They had to do it without me and I hated it and I really resented myself for it.”

She adds: “When you’re in a group dynamic, even though you’re going through stuff individually, you can’t just be selfish so I kind of put a brave face on a lot of time.

“I didn’t want to let the team down.”

Eternal

ETERNAL had a No1 smash hit with I Wanna Be The Only One in 1997, but their looks soon became a concern.

Founding member Kelle Bryan, 50, reveals: “People were always voicing concerns about my weight and about our weight as a band. Stylists would come along and say, ‘This doesn’t fit you, this doesn’t fit you’.

“We’re talking about an era where being a size zero was popular, so they sent us away to this place in the countryside where they were able to control what we ate.”

Atomic Kitten

WHILE on the 1999 Smash Hits Tour, Atomic Kitten’s Kerry Katona fell for Westlife singer Brian McFadden, but was ordered not to date him by management.

Kerry, 45, says: “They all went absolutely f*ing apes**t. I remember [Westlife manager] Louis Walsh saying, ‘I don’t like you, you’re trouble’.

Bandmate and best pal Natasha Hamilton, 43, adds: “It was definitely bad for the brand. Not from my point of view but from the label and management. They said girls can’t be seen with one of the boys in the biggest boyband in the UK because fan jealousy is a thing.”

Mis-Teeq

BEING an all-black group who rose up from the “underground scene” in 1999, Mis-Teeq felt they were discriminated against and given fewer opportunities.

Su-Elise Nash, 44, says: “We weren’t invited to the same premieres. Some magazines wouldn’t consider us for the cover because they didn’t think three black girls would sell.

“Our struggle to get there was definitely not as easy as it would have been if we had one white member or we’d all-white.”

Sugababes

WHEN Sugababes founding member Mutya Buena gave birth to her first child aged 19 – while the band were working on their fourth album – there was no let-up.

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Mutya, now 40, quit the group that same year in 2005 and was later diagnosed with post-natal depression.

Record label exec Darcus Beese says: “I remember standing in my kitchen trying to talk her down. I had no concept of post-natal depression. I would ask questions now like, ‘How’s your mental health?’.”

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s days as a Hollywood power couple are over — but the story of their marriage’s end goes on.

News of the Australian stars’ separation broke Monday afternoon, shocking pop culture enthusiasts and swiftly inspiring memes by AMC Theater devotees. But as netizens collectively processed the Oscar winner and the Grammy winner’s split on social media (some X users shot their shot, while others looked forward to Kidman’s next round of post-divorce roles), reports began to surface about their home life that suggest the breakup wasn’t a total surprise, especially for their inner circles.

The “Babygirl” star wasted no time once the split went public, officially filing to divorce Urban on Tuesday in Tennessee, citing “irreconcilable differences” in her complaint. Neither representatives for Kidman, 58, nor Urban, 57, immediately responded to requests for comment.

From Urban securing his own home in Nashville to Kidman applying for residency in Portugal, here are some hints that seem to have signaled a split was looming.

Keith’s home away from home

Partners in a loving relationship always need their space, but how much space is too much?

“Babygirl” star Kidman and “Blue Ain’t Your Color” crooner Urban had been living separately for months before news of their split broke, The Times confirmed. Though the pair shared a family home in Nashville, Urban moved out into his own home also in the country music hub, TMZ reported. Kidman’s divorce filing, reviewed by The Times, shows different mailing addresses for the estranged spouses.

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, seen at the 77th Golden Globe Awards in 2020, share two teenage daughters.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Marriage trouble between the Australian stars “really hasn’t been a secret,” a source told People. The source also confirmed that the pair had been “living separately for a while now.”

“Their lives were moving in different directions,” the source added, “and once he quietly set up his own place, it felt like the writing was on the wall.”

One-sided feelings?

Though Kidman made their separation official by filing for divorce, the “Moulin Rouge!” star reportedly didn’t want to split and “has been fighting to save the marriage.” She has also been caring for their daughters Sunday, 17, and Faith, 14, since Urban hit the road for his High and Alive world tour in May.

Over the course of their marriage, the “Happy Feet” and “Big Little Lies” star often flaunted her relationship on social media, sharing glamour shots from their red carpet outings and celebrating her husband’s win at the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards. In June she celebrated 19 years of marriage to Urban on social media, sharing a black-and-white photo of them in a dressing room. “Happy Anniversary Baby,” she captioned the tender Instagram photo. However, the singer was notably absent from Kidman’s August Instagram post capturing “summer memories.” Maybe he was just on tour?

Urban, who did not post an anniversary photo to his grid, has mainly used his Instagram to promote his recent musical endeavors. In May, he also shared photos of himself and Kidman celebrating his ACM Awards win. That was the last post featuring his actor wife.

Keith’s new lyrics — and alleged new flame

As reports of the split surfaced this week, so did speculation and theories about what caused the breakup.

Sources told TMZ that the “Somebody Like You” singer, who spoke publicly in the past about marital tensions, allegedly found romance with another woman amid the separation. “Let’s just say, Nicole doesn’t dispute that, but she’s still shocked over it,” sources told the outlet.

Shortly after rumors of an alleged new flame spread, internet sleuths were quick to point out that Urban had changed the lyrics to one of his songs to honor a band mate during his tour. In “The Fighter,” Urban sings about being a stronger, better partner for the person of his desire — that was Kidman, he made very clear during a 2017 interview with Billboard. In 2016, Kidman and Urban released a giddy music video of themselves singing to the duet.

“When they’re tryna get to you, baby, I’ll be the fighter,” Urban’s original lyrics say.

But during a concert preceding the breakup news, Urban can be heard singing: “When they try to get you, Maggie I’ll be your guitar player,” a nod to fellow musician Maggie Baugh, who has been on the road with him for months. In their previous performance of the song, Urban could be heard reciting the original lyrics.

Baugh shared video of Urban’s lyric change to her Instagram, writing in the caption, “Did he just say that👀.” This wasn’t the first time Urban changed his “The Fighter” lyrics to reflect who was sharing the stage with him. When he and country music star Carrie Underwood performed the song at the 2017 CMT Music Awards, he sang, “When they get to you, Carrie Underwood, I’ll be your fighter.” So … romantic gesture or just some live music flair?

Urban’s rep did not immediately respond to an inquiry about his alleged new relationship.

Nicole’s new lease on life overseas

Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman arrive at the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2022.

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

As Urban took his music on the road earlier this summer, Kidman was reportedly seeking to make a big move across the Atlantic.

Several outlets reported in late July that the “Eyes Wide Shut” star had applied to be a resident of Portugal, and that Urban’s name was not listed on the application. A source clarified to E! that Urban was absent from his appointment due to his tour, adding that “it’s mandatory for applicants to be physically present in order to apply for the visa.” At the time, Urban was set to submit his application at a later date, the source said. That was months ago, and the U.S. leg of Urban’s tour continues through October. He will play four shows overseas — Portugal is nowhere on the lineup — before returning stateside.

The two own several homes across the U.S. as well as luxurious abodes in Europe and Australia. Among those homes is a “plush” spot in Lisbon, the New York Post reported in July. A source told the outlet at the time that the pair’s “primary residence will continue to be in Nashville.”

Neither Kidman nor Urban have spoken publicly about their separation. In the past, however, their deep and mutual love for each other was the stuff of romance films: He once called her the “one I was searching for my whole life,” and she said “he was the love of my life.”

“Real love happens not when everything is going well but when things are going badly,” Kidman told People in a 2019 cover story. “It’s when human beings come together, if they’re going to, in a far deeper way. You’re then having to work together, and the ‘together’ is what it’s about.”

NICOLE Kidman and Keith Urban’s lawyers have a big job ahead of them in splitting the couple’s mammoth property empire after their bombshell split.

Nicole, 58, and Keith, 57, have called it quits after 19 years of marriage, with the Babygirl actress filing divorce papers on Tuesday, September 30.

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The couple, who share two daughters, have reportedly been living separately since the beginning of summer.

Just days ago, Nicole was seen still wearing her wedding ring and in good spirits at Cle de Peau’s event in Los Angeles as she appeared as their new brand ambassador.

The pair will have to spend time dividing their assets after almost two decades of marriage.

They mainly resided with their daughters, Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 14, in Tennessee.

Nicole is also mom to Isabella and Connor, whom she adopted during her marriage with her ex-husband, Tom Cruise.

The couple has spent millions on a property portfolio now worth more than $250million, according to online real estate sites.

Their main 20-room mansion is located just outside of Nashville and was purchased in 2008 for $4.89 million, two years after they tied the knot.

They married on June 25, 2006, at Cardinal Cerretti Memorial Chapel, located on the grounds of St. Patrick’s Estate in Manly, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. 

MILLION-DOLLAR LISTINGS

The lavish abode has seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms, along with a fully-equipped gym, a large tennis court, and a swimming pool, which were installed by the couple.

During the same year, Nicole and Keith also snapped up a Beverly Hills home for $6.77 million that has five bedrooms and five bathrooms.

The estate was built in the 1960s and sits on a 1.25-acre lot with celebrity neighbors Adele and Jennifer Lawrence in the desired neighborhood.

Listings show it has a flat-top roof, a pool, and a second-floor wraparound deck. 

They also bought their Australian farmhouse in 2008 for $6.5million, called Bunya Hill, which is located in the Southern Highlands village of Sutton Forrest.

The 45-hectare black Angus cattle farm features a large Georgian-style house built in 1878.

The home has sandstone verandas, a cedar staircase, and 10 marble fireplaces.

It sits on a private hilltop and includes a guest cottage.

The property has been updated with a swimming pool, tennis court, and gym.

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Two years after buying their main properties, the couple splashed out $13.53 million for a Manhattan duplex in the upscale Chelsea neighborhood.

It’s located in a stainless-steel tower and includes three bedrooms, a “double-height great room with a cathedral ceiling,” and two terraces with views of the Hudson River.

One of its most appealing qualities is its private “sky garage” with an elevator for apartment-level parking.

They also reportedly own two penthouses that were combined in the Latitude Building in Sydney’s Milsons Point. 

The first was bought for almost $6 million in 2009, while the second was around $7 million in 2012.

They also snapped up four more apartments in the same building.  

Last year, they also bought yet another residence in the same complex for $7.7million.

In 2020, they added to their New York portfolio after snapping up a two-bedroom apartment in Tribeca for $3.5 million.

According to the New York Post, there are three separate entrances into the building for added privacy.

The residence offers a 75-foot indoor lap pool, rooftop gardens, and a 2,200-square-foot fitness center.

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s Relationship Timeline

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have been one of Hollywood’s ‘It

January 2005 – Nicole and Keith were introduced by actor Geoffrey Rush during the G’Day LA gala ball.

February 2006 – The couple made their public debut as an item at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards.

May 2006 – Keith’s publicist revealed that he and Nicole were “very happily engaged.”

June 2006 – The twosome tied the knot at a chapel in Manly, Australia, surrounded by many famous guests.

October 2006 – Keith checked himself into rehab for drug and alcohol issues at the urging of his new wife.

December 2006 – Model Amanda Wyatt claimed that Keith had cheated on Nicole with her multiple times, leading up to their nuptials.

In January 2008 – Nicole’s rep revealed that she and Keith were expecting their first child together.

July 2008 – Keith and Nicole welcomed their first child, a daughter named Sunday Rose.

December 2010 – The duo introduced their second child, Faith Margaret, to the world, whom they welcomed via surrogate.

July 2015 – Nicole confessed to Vogue that she’d wished she’d met Keith earlier in life, so that they could’ve had more children together.

June 2016 – Keith opened up to Rolling Stone about how Nicole helped him get sober by insisting that he go to rehab a decade earlier.

October 2018 – Nicole gushed about her simple, quiet life in Nashville with Keith, and said that was the secret to their happy marriage.

June 2021 – Keith shared a sweet Instagram post, commemorating his and Nicole’s 15th wedding anniversary.

July 2024 – Keith, Nicole, and their daughters were seen enjoying the Gymnastics Women’s Team Final at the Paris Olympics.

April 2025 – Nicole referred to Keith as her “deep, deep love” during an interview with People, and said she was “lucky” to have the musician.

September 2025 – TMZ announced that Nicole and Keith had separated and were no longer living together.

There’s also a wine cellar with its own private dining room.

Since the couple’s split, their two children have been in Nicole’s care, and she is “holding the family together through this difficult time since Keith has been gone,” according to reports.

It is currently still unknown what led to the pair’s separation.

Sources claim that Nicole was “blindsided,” as she had been desperate to save their marriage, one of the longest in Hollywood.

Insiders also said that “Keith has acquired his own residence in Nashville and has moved out of their family home,” although this has not yet been confirmed.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to Nicole and Keith’s reps for comment but did not hear back.

Both Nicole and Keith grew up in Australia, but did not meet until 2005 at a gala.

Keith swooned over his wife in an interview with CBS News in 2016.

Nicole told Ellen DeGeneres in 2017: “I had such a crush on him, and he wasn’t interested in me.

“It’s true! He didn’t call me for four months.”

The actress has spent a considerable amount of time filming in England recently, which may have put strain on their relationship.

She has been shooting scenes for the Practical Magic sequel and reportedly shelled out $87,288 a month to stay at Boy George’s luxurious mansion – without Keith.

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Heartbreak doesn’t feel so good in a place like this. Longtime Hollywood power couple Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have gone their separate ways, according to several reports.

The Oscar-winning actor and the country music star separated and have been living “apart since the beginning of the summer,” TMZ reported Monday. People also confirmed the stars’ split, with a source saying that that Kidman “has been fighting to save the marriage.”

Representatives for Kidman, 58, and Urban, 57, did not respond immediately Monday to requests for comment.

Beloved AMC Theatres spokesperson Kidman and Grammy winner Urban tied the knot in June 2006 and share two teenage daughters who have been under the actor’s care “since Keith has been gone,” TMZ reported. The “Blue Ain’t Your Color” musician has been on the road for his High and Alive world tour, which launched in May. After the American leg of the tour concludes in Nashville in October, he will bring his music overseas beginning March 2026.

Kidman celebrated 19 years of marriage to Urban on social media in June, sharing a black-and-white photo of them backstage. “Happy Anniversary Baby,” she captioned the tender Instagram photo. Urban, who did not post an anniversary photo to the grid, has mainly used his Instagram to promote his musical endeavors in recent months. In May, he shared photos of him and Kidman celebrating his win at the American Country Music Awards.

The Australian stars married in an intimate ceremony in Sydney. Kidman was previously married to “Mission: Impossible” action star Tom Cruise from 1990 to 2001. Kidman is Urban’s first wife.

It’s currently unclear whether the spouses will file for divorce.

In the 1990s, the stars of Renault Clio’s TV adverts were more famous than the Prime Minister, and their names might not mean much, but their catchphrase definitely will

Back in the day, they were household names. It seems unbelievable now, but the stars of the 1990s Renault Clio adverts were once more familiar to Brits than then-Prime Minister John Major and the legendary BBC Radio 1 DJ Chris Evans. And even if the actors Estelle Skornik and Max Douchin aren’t instantly recognisable by name, their iconic catchphrase certainly is.

Their on-screen father-daughter relationship struck a chord across the nation. “Nicole?” the debonair Frenchman would enquire, full of anticipation. “Papa!” she’d respond, with a simplicity that captured hearts.

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In the debut advert, Nicole would slip away while her father seemed to nap in the garden of their chateau, dashing off to secretly meet with her dashing beau in her trusty Clio. But, unbeknown to Nicole, her dad was also on a clandestine mission, whizzing off in his car to surprise a mysterious lady with flowers.

Upon Nicole’s return, she’d discover her father seemingly-still snoozing in the garden, culminating in their trademark two-word dialogue.

The charming ads aired for seven years starting in 1991, playing a part in the whopping sales of 300,000 Renault Clios. But what became of the duo?

Estelle, who brought Nicole to life, has since graced other TV projects, including From Hell, The Days That Made History and Les Lyonnais.

Now 53, she starred opposite Ioan Gruffudd, portraying a romantic interest for his character Horatio Hornblower in the epic naval drama set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars.

But Estelle has reportedly taken a step back from the limelight, favouring family life over fame. Tying the knot with Laurent Bismuth in 1996, the couple have since had three children. Her final acting gig on record was back in 2011.

Reflecting on her character in a 1998 interview with the Independent, she reminisced: “Nicole is very spontanee and I’m very spontanee. She’s open to life, she’s French. Nicole is part of me.”

Max Douchin, fondly remembered as ‘Papa’ and now aged 87, found his acting niche later in life. He featured in an episode of the French-Italian TV show Les Héritiers De Patmos in 2017 and graced the Paris premiere.

Currently enjoying retirement in Burgundy, France, surrounded by his partner and family, he hasn’t given up performing entirely – he participates in a local choir. Chatting with Mail Online, he recalled the iconic Clio adverts with a sense of nostalgia.

“When I meet English people, who happen to be in Burgundy, and I speak with them, every English person I meet remembers Papa,” he shared.

“I have a lot of good souvenirs from that programme for the Renault Clios.”

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