Kimberley Jane Scott[1](néeWalsh;born 20 November 1981)[2]is an English singer, dancer, television presenter and actress. She rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality seriesPopstars: The RivalsonITV.The series announced that Walsh had won a place as a member of the girl groupGirls Aloud.[3]The group achieved large success, having twenty consecutive top ten singles (including four number ones) in the UK, six studio albums have all been certified platinum by theBritish Phonographic Industry(BPI), two of which went to number one in the UK, and accumulating a total of fiveBRIT Awardnominations. In 2009, Girls Aloud won "Best Single" with their song "The Promise".

Kimberley Walsh
Walsh in 2009
Born
Kimberley Jane Walsh

(1981-11-20)20 November 1981(age 43)
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
  • television presenter
  • dancer
Years active1986–present
Spouse
Justin Scott
(m.2016)
Children3
FamilyAmy Walsh(sister)
Toby-Alexander Smith(brother-in-law)
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Labels

During the group's hiatus, Walsh embarked on acting and presenting. In July 2010, she became a presenter on the music talkshow,Suck My Popand presented coverage for theBAFTA Awards.In 2011, she appeared inHorrid Henry: The Movieas Prissy Polly. Musically, Walsh has featured onAggro Santos's "Like U Like".In 2012, Walsh made herWest End theatredebut, playingPrincess Fionain the London production ofShrek the Musical.She also fronted the 2009 Autumn/Winter collection for the fashion chainNew Lookand, in January 2011, she was revealed as the new face ofPuma AG.In 2012, Walsh took part inStrictly Come Dancing,where she finished as one of the runners-up.

Since 2011, after making her West End debut inShrek,Walsh has returned to perform in stage versions of films such asElfin 2015, beforeBigandSleepless in Seattleboth in 2019.

Early life

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Walsh was born on 20 November 1981 inBradford,West Yorkshire,[2][4]the daughter of John and Diane Walsh. She grew up with three siblings, Sally,Amyand Adam Walsh inAllerton, West Yorkshire.[2]Sally played the character ofLyn Hutchinsonon the soap operaEmmerdalebetween 1997 and 2000,[2]and Amy joined the show's cast in 2014 asTracy Shankley.[5]

Walsh attended Sandy Lane Primary School, Stoney Lee Middle School, andBeckfoot Grammar School,[6]and had her first taste of fame appearing in an advert as a child along with sister Sally in anAsdaadvert. She starred as Young Cosette in a regional production ofLes Misérablesand starred inITV'sThe Book Towerin 1986. Walsh attended the Bradford theatre school, Stage 84, and briefly taught there.

Music career

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Girls Aloud

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Walsh performing with Girls Aloud at Elton Hall in August 2008

Walsh auditioned for the reality television showPopstars: The Rivalsin 2002 with the song "Where Do Broken Hearts Go".[7]Several thousand applicants attended auditions across the UK in hope of being selected. Ten girls and ten boys were chosen as finalists by judgesPete Waterman,Louis WalshandGeri Halliwell.Walsh did not initially make it into the group of ten female contestants who were to appear on the show. However, when another contestant was disqualified on a technicality, she found herself on the show. These finalists then took to the stage participating in weekly Saturday night live performances which alternated weekly between the girls and boys. Each week, the contestant polling the fewest phone votes was eliminated, until the final line-ups of the groups emerged. Walsh joinedNadine Coyle,Sarah Harding,Nicola Roberts,andCheryl Tweedyto comprise the new girl group Girls Aloud, formed through the show by a public vote on 30 November 2002.

The group's debut single, "Sound of the Underground",peaked at number one on theUK Singles Chart,becoming the 2002 Christmas number one.[8]Girls Aloud hold the record for the shortest time between formation and reaching number one.[9]The group released their debut album,Sound of the Underground,in May 2003,[10]which entered the charts at number two and was certified platinum by theBritish Phonographic Industry(BPI) later the same year. Their singles "I'll Stand by You","Walk This Way",and"The Promise"have charted at number one. Two of their albums have reached the top of theUK Albums Chart:their greatest hits albumThe Sound of Girls Aloudand 2008'sOut of Control,both of which entered the chart at number one, with over one million copies of the former being sold.[11]

They also achieved seven certified albums and have been nominated for fiveBrit Awards,winning the 2009 Best Single for "The Promise".

The group's musical style is pop, but throughout their career they had experimented withelectropopanddance-pop.Girls Aloud's collaborations withBrian Higginsand his songwriting and production teamXenomaniaearned the group critical acclaim,[12]due to an innovative approach to mainstream pop music. The group became one of the few UK reality television acts to achieve continued success, amassing a fortune of£30 million by May 2010.Guinness World Recordslists them as "Most Successful Reality TV Group" in the 2007 edition. They also hold the record for "Most Consecutive Top Ten Entries in the UK by a Female Group" in the 2008 edition, and are credited again for "Most Successful Reality TV Group" in the 2011 edition. The group was also named the United Kingdom's biggest selling girl group of the 21st century, with over 4.3 million singles sales and 4 million albums sold in the UK alone.[13][14]

In July 2009, Girls Aloud announced they would take a year-longhiatusto pursue solo projects.[15]Walsh revealed that she does not think it is possible Girls Aloud will ever "officially break up". She explained that they are planning to tour again and will probably take breaks from time to time, doing solo projects but they will never permanently go their separate ways.[16]

After Girls Aloud's three years of hiatus, the group reunited for their 10th anniversary. The group released their new single, "Something New"on 18 November 2012. The music video for the song was filmed in October 2012, and premiered on YouTube on 19 October 2012.[17]The song was also the official charity single forChildren in Needin 2012. The group released their second greatest hits compilation,Tenon 26 November 2012. In 2013, the group embarked onTen - The Hits Tour 2013.They announced their disbanding shortly after the tour ended.[18][19]

In May and June 2024, Walsh and herGirls Aloudbandmates got back together for an arena tour titledThe Girls Aloud Showin memory of their late bandmateSarah Harding.[20]

Solo work

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It was first rumoured that Walsh was about to make a record deal with her band's record label,Fascination Records,[21]although nothing has been confirmed. Soon after the rumour, Walsh confirmed onSuck My Pop,a programme that she co-hosts on the television channelVivain the United Kingdom, that she will feature on EnglishrapperAggro Santos' upcoming single, "Like U Like".The track will be her first step away from Girls Aloud as a singer. Walsh was asked for OK! Magazine:" Kimberley, there are rumours, that you will be releasing a solo album... "and Walsh said:" Gosh! I haven't got any plan to do that. Gary Barlow signed Aggro Santos and he asked me to sing Like U Like, and I've done a song for the Horrid Henry film that I'm in titled "Everybody Dance". I'm not sure about doing anything big on my own just yet. "In 2012 she made her West End theatre debut, playingPrincess Fionain the London production ofShrek the Musical.The announcement came afterAmanda Holdenannounced her pregnancy in August 2011.[22]Walsh teamed up with Alfie Boe to record a version of Queen's "One Vision" as the Official Olympic Team Great Britain Single. Walsh has also performed with several artists including Neyo with "Hate That I Love You", Ronan Keating's "No Matter What" and James Cullum with "Rainy Days and Mondays". In August 2012 it was announced that Walsh is in discussions withGary Barlowto release a solo album for a 2013 release.

On 7 September 2012, Walsh was announced as one of the 14 celebrities, competing intenth seriesofStrictly Come Dancing.[23]Her professional partner is last year's runner-upPasha Kovalev.[24]She received 3 perfect 40s during the series, and she finished as one of the runners-up alongside presenterDenise Van Outen,behind the winner OlympianLouis Smith.

On 4 February 2013 Walsh released, throughDecca Records,her debut album,Centre Stage,which features a series of popular musical tunes as well as two brand new tracks.[25]

Walsh has written her own autobiography, calledA Whole Lot of History.The book was released on 26 September 2013.

In March 2014, Walsh took part in recording England's 2014 World Cup song. She collaborated with the likes of fellow pop starsMelanie C,Eliza Doolittle,Emma Bunton,Conor Maynard,Katy BandPixie Lott,on "Greatest Day", a track originally performed by British band,Take That.The track was produced byGary Barlowand recorded atSarm Studiosin London. The track also featured past footballers such asGary Lineker,Michael Owen,Geoff Hurst,David Seaman,Peter Shilton,Glenn HoddleandDion Dublinon backing vocals.[citation needed]

Acting

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Before Walsh became a member of Girls Aloud, she had worked in theatre and acting.[26]In 2000 Walsh appeared in the television seriesThis Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripperas Gillian Oldfield, and starred in a BBC Educational Schools programme calledFocus.In the same year, Walsh applied for the role ofMaria SutherlandinCoronation Street.However, she lost out toSamia Ghadie.[27]In 2001, Walsh played Tracy inDream Back.In 2007, alongside her bandmates she appeared in St. Trinian's playing a school band member. In 2008 she and bandmateNicola Robertshad small parts inBritannia High,in which they played themselves.

Walsh stated that she would like to star in a musical in the future, playing a stage role.[28]In October 2007, she successfully auditioned for the role of a cast member ofLes Misérables,and was also allowed to sing an encore of "On My Own"in character. The process was shown on the reality TV seriesThe Passions of Girls Aloudwhich aired in March 2008.

In late 2010, Walsh landed a role in the live-action3Dfamily comedy filmHorrid Henry: The Movieas the titular character's overactive cousin Prissy Polly, with the film being released on 29 July 2011. Walsh also appeared in the 2013 movie All Stars, alongsideTheo Stevensononce again, who she appeared with first in Horrid Henry: The Movie. She plays the minor role of his character's mother.

On 5 October 2011 through 21 May 2012 she made herWest End theatredebut, playingPrincess Fionain the London production ofShrek the Musical.The announcement came afterAmanda Holdenannounced her pregnancy in August 2011.[22]Originally signed on until 27 February 2012, she extended her run to 21 May 2012. She subsequently returned to the West End stage in October 2015, playing the role of Jovie inElf: The Musical.[29]

In 2018, she appeared in thesecond seriesof theChannel 4school dramaAckley BridgeasClaire Butterworth.[30]On her casting, she commented: "It was nice to hear the northern accent everywhere you turn. A lot of the kids were really excited that I was there because I was from Bradford. It's a very small town and a lot of the kids came from there that were in the show."[30]

In 2019, she returned to theatre where she played Susan in the Original London Cast ofBig (musical)alongsideJay McGuinessas Tom Hank's character of Josh. In 2020; Walsh reunited with McGuiness to originate the role of Annie in Sleepless: The Musical, based onSleepless in Seattlewhich, due to Covid restrictions, only ran for a limited season.

Presenting

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Walsh appeared inLet's Dance for Sport Reliefas a panellist and also fronted coverage of theBAFTA AwardsforMTVon her own programmeKimberley Walsh at the BAFTASin 2010 and in the summer of 2010 hosted sky 1 documentary "Girl in the Blue Jeans". She also presented coverage forThe X Factorlive fromSouth Shieldson the day of the final in 2009 forJoe McElderry.On 17 – 18 June 2010, Walsh hosted Channel 4'sThe 5 O'Clock Showwith Stephen Mulhern. Walsh appeared in her own documentary for Sky 1 namedKimberley Walsh: Blue Jean Girlwhich aired on Wednesday, 17 June 2010. On the same day, Walsh appeared onThis Morningto promote the show. Walsh later became a presenter of new music talk-show, titledSuck My Pop,onViva.Walsh also starred as a judge forITV's entertainment showBorn to Shine.

On 9 April 2016, Walsh co-presentedWeekend Brunchthe Grand National Day special withTim Lovejoy.

Walsh has co-presentedBBC'sMorning Livesince 2022.[31]

Other ventures

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Walsh climbedMount Kilimanjaroin aid ofComic Reliefin March 2009. The climb, organised byGary Barlow,was also undertaken by fellowGirls AloudmemberCheryl,Alesha Dixon,Fearne Cotton,Denise Van Outen,Chris Moyles,Ben Shephard,Ronan Keatingand Barlow himself. Between 3 February and 23 March 2009, Walsh, Cole, Barlow, Moyles and Cotton also raised money for Comic Relief by providing the voice for theBT Speaking Clock.[citation needed]

Walsh was the face of high-street fashion chainNew Look.[32]Walsh becameOK!magazine's new weekly columnist in August 2010. The column is called "Kimberley Calls The Shots".[33]

She was also named as the new face and hair ofSchwarzkopffor a reported 6 figure deal.[34]In March 2011, Walsh teamed up withTess DalyandJoanna Pageto work with Maltesers to promoteRed Nose Day 2011.[35]In January 2011, Walsh was revealed as the new face ofPuma AGBodyTrain fitness toner wear.[36]In May 2011, Walsh was named as the face ofRight Guard's Xtreme Dry Range.[37]

In 2017, Walsh launched a children's clothing line called "Kimba's Kids" which she runs with her brother. In September 2019, she signed with outdoor clothing companyRegatta.

In 2022, Walsh appeared ln S.11 Ep.20[38]ofCelebrity Antiques Road Trip,broadcast onBBC Two,competing against actorRyan Thomaswho won the challenge.

Strictly Come Dancing

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In September 2012, Walsh was revealed as one of the 14 celebrities, competing in the10th seriesof the BBC reality dancing competition,Strictly Come Dancing.Her professional partner wasPasha Kovalev.On 22 December 2012, Walsh and Kovalev became the joint runners-up in the final, along withChicagostarDenise van OutenandJames Jordan,behind Olympic gymnastLouis SmithandFlavia Cacace.

Strictly Come Dancingperformances

Personal life

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Walsh married long-term partner Justin Scott, a former member of the Britishboy bandTriple 8,on 30 January 2016.[39]Together, the couple have three sons.[40][41]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK IRE SCO
Centre Stage 18 99 23

Singles

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As lead artist

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Year Title Album
2011 "Everybody Dance" Horrid Henry: The Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
2013 "One Day I'll Fly Away" Centre Stage
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Year Title Peak chart positions Album
UK
[43]
IRE
[44]
2011 "Like U Like"
(Aggro Santosfeaturing Kimberley Walsh)
8 13 AggroSantos.com
2012 "One Vision"
(withAlfie Boe)
Team Great Britain
2014 "The Road"
(Alistair Griffinfeaturing Kimberley Walsh)
196
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1986 The Book Tower Small child Television series
2000 This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper Gillian Oldfield 2 episodes
2001 Dream Tracy
2002 Popstars: The Rivals Contestant (won) 4 episodes
2005 Girls Aloud: Home Truths Herself Main role
2006 Girls Aloud: Off the Record Herself Series regular
2007 The Friday Night Project Presenter Guest star
St. Trinian's Herself Cameo
2008 The Passions of Girls Aloud Herself Main role
The Girls Aloud Party Presenter and performer Television special
Britania High Herself Guest star
2010 Suck My Pop Herself: Presenter Television special
2011 Horrid Henry: The Movie Prissy Polly
2012 Strictly Come Dancing Herself Television special
Girls Aloud: Ten Years at the Top Documentary
2013 Ten: The Hits Tour Concert film
All Stars Trish
2014 Loose Women Guest panellist Television special
2016 The Great Sport Relief Bake Off Contestant Television special
Weekend Brunch Co-presenter Television special
2017 The Lodge Rebecca 5 episodes
2018 Ackley Bridge Claire Butterworth 2 episodes
2021
Present
Morning Live Co-presenter Television special
2022 The Masked Dancer Odd Socks Television special
I Used To Be Famous Herself / Television presenter Streaming film

Awards

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She placed number 37 in FHM's annual list of "100 Sexiest Woman in the World"in 2009 ahead of bandmatesNadine Coyle,Nicola RobertsandSarah Hardingwho were placed at 57, 58 and 87 respectively.[45]Walsh also won the Yorkshire Woman of the Year award 2009 in recognition not only of her professional success but also for her role as celebrity ambassador for the Breast Cancer Haven charity, which has a branch in Leeds. She was too, awarded the Cosmopolitan Ultimate Woman's award in 2009.

See also

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References

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  1. ^Corner, Natalie (9 December 2015)."Kimberley Scott confirms she WILL be changing her name after getting married".Daily Mirror.
  2. ^abcd"Kimberley Walsh biography".kimberleywalsh.org.Archived fromthe originalon 26 July 2011.Retrieved24 March2015.
  3. ^"Popstars girl group picked".BBC News.2 December 2002.Retrieved28 February2009.
  4. ^"Kimberley Walsh infosite".Popstarsplus.com.Retrieved16 December2010.
  5. ^"Emmerdale role for Hollyoaks Later actress Amy Walsh".Digital Spy.2 May 2014.
  6. ^Barnett, David (22 May 2013)."Kimberley Walsh: 'How I've finally learned to love my curves'".Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  7. ^Day, Elizabeth (9 November 2008)."The nation's new sweetheart".The Guardian.London.Retrieved12 November2008.
  8. ^"Girls Aloud top festive chart".BBC News.23 December 2002.Retrieved24 February2008.
  9. ^"Cheryl Cole Attending Kimberley Walsh 26th Birthday Party".The Insider.26 November 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 17 August 2009.Retrieved11 June2010.
  10. ^Wilkes, Neil (30 April 2003)."Girls Aloud prepare for album release".Digital Spy.Hachette Filipacchi Médias.Retrieved9 May2010.
  11. ^"Take That shine among IFPI Platinum elite".Music Week.United Business Media. 29 January 2009.Retrieved30 January2009.
  12. ^"Polydor Records".Polydor Official Website.
  13. ^"Girls Aloud crowned the biggest selling girl group of the 21st Century".Officialcharts.com. 18 October 2012.Retrieved27 December2012.
  14. ^Caulfield, Keith (21 March 2013)."Girls Aloud: A Whole Lotta Chart History".Billboard.Prometheus Global Media.Retrieved21 March2013.
  15. ^"Girls Aloud deny split rumours".NME.16 July 2009.Retrieved3 September2009.
  16. ^"Girls Aloud Won't Officially End".Contactmusic. 6 February 2011.Retrieved6 February2011.
  17. ^"Girls Aloud film comeback video – TV3 Xposé Entertainment".Tv3.ie. Archived fromthe originalon 7 November 2012.Retrieved19 January2013.
  18. ^"Girls Aloud to make comeback".CBS News.19 October 2012.Retrieved19 October2012.[dead link]
  19. ^Savage, Mark (19 October 2012)."Girls Aloud reveal reunion plans".BBC News.Retrieved19 October2012.
  20. ^"Girls Aloud reveal details of 'enormous, magical' reunion tour".BBC.22 November 2023.Retrieved22 November2023.
  21. ^"Kimberley Walsh record deal?".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on 12 December 2021.
  22. ^ab"Amanda Holden to be replaced by Kimberley Walsh in Shrek the Musical".Kimberley Walsh takes over Shrek role.3am. Archived fromthe originalon 26 August 2011.Retrieved24 August2011.
  23. ^"Strictly Come Dancing: Full line-up confirmed".BBC News.11 September 2012.Retrieved16 September2012.
  24. ^"Pasha Kovalev".Strictly Come Dancing.BBC. 2012S.Retrieved16 September2012.
  25. ^"Kimberly Walsh to release debut solo album 'Centre Stage' next year".MTV. Archived fromthe originalon 15 December 2012.Retrieved12 December2012.
  26. ^"Kimberley wants to star in musical – Entertainment, Breaking News".The Belfast Telegraph.18 June 2010.Retrieved16 December2010.
  27. ^"Kimberley Walsh – Coronation Street trivia – 10 things you didn't know about Corrie".Virgin Media. 26 February 2009.Retrieved16 December2010.
  28. ^"Showbiz – News – Kimberley Walsh: 'I'd star in a musical'".Digital Spy.18 June 2010.Retrieved16 December2010.
  29. ^"Kimberley Walsh: the pop star now lighting up the West End".The Telegraph.24 October 2015.Retrieved28 October2015.
  30. ^ab"Kimberley Walsh explains why she joined the cast of Ackley Bridge:" It's really nice to be a part of such a brilliant northern drama "".Radio Times.Retrieved24 April2020.
  31. ^"Morning Live presenters: Who hosts the show in Manchester?".Radio Times.Retrieved16 April2024.
  32. ^Walsh, Kimberley (2013).A Whole Lot of History.London: Headline Publishing Group. p. 259.ISBN9781472209306.
  33. ^"OK! Magazine: First For Celebrity News:: Latest Celebrity News:: Kimberley Walsh Exclusive: Chantelle is still so hurt over Preston".Ok.co.uk. 14 September 2010.Retrieved16 December2010.
  34. ^"OK! Magazine: First For Celebrity News:: Latest Celebrity News:: Kimberley Walsh talks to OK! about Glee, Girls Aloud and her naughty drawer".Ok.co.uk. 15 September 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 7 March 2012.Retrieved16 December2010.
  35. ^"Tess Daly, Kimberley Walsh and Joanna Page reach for the stars".Evening Standard.1 February 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 5 May 2013.
  36. ^Kimberley Walsh gets her running shoes on as new face of PUMA.Metro.
  37. ^Red Pages: Right Guard names Kimberley Walsh as Ambassador
  38. ^"Celebrity Antiques Road Trip – Series 11: Episode 20".Retrieved29 December2022.
  39. ^"Kimberley Walsh: Barbados wedding everything we wanted it to be".Bradford Telegraph and Argus.1 February 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 11 September 2017.Retrieved11 September2017.
  40. ^Adetula, Elizabeth (30 January 2017)."Kimberley Walsh introduces baby Cole Jacob Scott for the first time".Metro.Retrieved11 September2017.
  41. ^"Girls Aloud's Kimberley Walsh gives birth to third son and reveals sweet name".Digital Spy.28 June 2021.Retrieved30 June2021.
  42. ^"Girls Aloud / Kimberley's Debut Solo Album".Girlsaloud.com. Archived fromthe originalon 12 September 2013.Retrieved19 January2013.
  43. ^Peak positions for the featured singles in the UK:
  44. ^"Discography Kimberley Walsh".Hung Medien. irish-charts.com/.
  45. ^"FHM's Sexiest Women in the World Poll 2009".FHM.Retrieved21 September2009.
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