S Club 7 star Hannah Spearritt paid tribute to her bandmate and “true first love” Paul Cattermole.

The singers were friends before they started dating during their time in the pop group in the early 2000s, when the band featured hits like S Club Party, Reach and Don’t Stop Movin’.

Cattermole was found dead at his home in Dorset on April 6, just a few weeks later 7 . club announced a major reunion tour to mark their 25th anniversary.

Speaking about his death for the first time, Spearritt said her ex-boyfriend was “excited” about being able to perform again.

“Even now, it’s still very raw,” she said Sun. “Even now I still have moments where you don’t quite believe it’s [real].”

Spearritt talked about their romance, saying the pair became close while the band spent time in Los Angeles.

“He was my first love,” she said. “I had a boyfriend before Paul, but I have to say he was my first true love.”

The pair were previously together for a few years before breaking up and then mending their relationship for a few months in 2015.

Talking about the plans for the reunion tour, Spearritt said she was happy that they were seeing each other again after several years of not seeing each other after their breakup.

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“I’m grateful to have had that time with him, to make peace with each other,” she said. “Because I know it was everything we both ever wanted… To have a chance to meet him, and to meet him… unfortunately, he didn’t go on tour.. . He was very excited for the trip.”

Spearritt, now a mother of two, went on to thank fans for the support that has been shown since Cattermole’s death.

“The love that came to him was wonderful, but its timing was tragic.”

Following Cattermole’s death, S Club 7 encouraged fans to donate to the National Youth Music Theater “in lieu of flowers”.

The band – which also features Rachel Stevens, Bradley McIntosh, Jo O’Meara, Jon Lee and Tina Barrett – reunited in October for a 25th anniversary tour of the UK and Ireland.

Police have confirmed there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding Cattermole’s death.

(c) Sky Bulletin 2023: S Club 7 star Hannah Spearritt pays tribute to ‘first true love’ Paul Cattermole