S Club Juniors pay tribute to Paul Cattermole as the singer dies age 46

The stars of S Club Juniors flocked to social media to share touching tributes to Paul Cattermole after the devastating news of his death at the age of 46.

The S Club 7 singer was found dead at his home in Dorset on Thursday, just one day after he had been pictured walking through the countryside and weeks after the reunion was announced.

Following the shock news, the stars of S Club spin-off band S Club Juniors took to social media on Friday to share an array of loving tributes to Paul.

A tearful Stacey Franks admitted she was ‘taken aback’ by his death while Rochelle Humes said she was ‘heartbroken’, and Aaron Renfree and Jay Perry also paid tribute.

Stacey, 34, took to her Instagram Stories to share that she was ‘really upset’ after returning home following a gig to hear the news of Paul’s tragic passing.

Tragic: The S Club 7 singer (pictured in 1990s) was found dead at his home in Dorset on Thursday

Devastated: Following the news, the stars of S Club Juniors took to social media on Friday to share an array of loving tributes to Paul, with Rochelle Humes sharing her upset

The star, formerly known as Stacey McClean before marrying footballer husband Fraser Franks, sent her support to Paul’s family and friends in a very tearful video.

As her voice cracked with emotion, she admitted that although she didn’t know Paul personally, she was left ‘taken aback’ by the sudden news of his death. 

She tearfully said: ‘I’ve just got back from my gig and I don’t really know what to say but I just wanted to thank everyone for their lovely messages regarding Paul. 

‘I didn’t really know Paul on a personal level but it’s really upset me because S Club as a whole has just been such a huge part of my life and you know I owe so much to S Club.

‘I just wanted to send my love and strength to everybody that knew Paul, all the others, his friends, his family and god, I don’t even know what to say.

‘I’m not ignoring people I’m just a little bit taken aback. But thank you.’ 

Rochelle – who started her career in S Club Juniors, later renamed as S Club 8 – also took to her Instagram Stories to share a tribute to Paul.

The Saturdays singer, 34, simply wrote: ‘Utterly heartbreaking news.’

Emotional: Stacey, 34, took to her Instagram Stories to share that she was ‘really upset’ after returning home following a gig to hear the news of Paul’s tragic passing

Heartbroken: Rochelle – who started her career in S Club Juniors, later renamed as S Club 8 – took to her Instagram Stories to share a tribute to Paul

‘I just can’t believe it’: Rochelle also re-shared a tribute from her former bandmate Aaron, 35, who had posted snaps of the original S Club 7 line-up with the Juniors

RIP: Jay, 33, who was known as Jay Asforis before changing his stage surname to Perry, simply shared a black-and-white picture of Paul and wrote: ‘RIP OG’

She also re-shared a tribute from her former bandmate Aaron, 35, who had posted snaps of the original S Club 7 line-up with the Juniors.

Alongside the images, Aaron penned: ‘I just can’t believe it… Paul you will be deeply missed by your S Club family, friends and fans. 

‘You were a big part of my childhood – thanks for some special memories. Shine bright up there!’

Jay, 33, who was known as Jay Asforis before changing his stage surname to Perry, simply shared a black-and-white picture of Paul and wrote: ‘RIP OG.’  

Paul was found dead at his £172,000 flat in Dorset on Thursday, with the news leaving his ex-girlfriend Hannah and her fellow band members in ‘shock’. 

Hannah has been left ‘inconsolable’ over the death of her ex-boyfriend as friends have said he was ‘excited’ about their reunion tour in October.

A source said: ‘Hannah couldn’t even speak of the news – her boyfriend has been having the conversations that need to be had. She is inconsolable. This has come out of nowhere and she is simply numb.’ 

Sources close to the band said he was ‘excited’ about their forthcoming reunion tour and was focusing on getting fit for the rehearsals, which were due to begin in the early summer.

While Paul was excited about his return to the limelight, The Daily Mail has been told his bandmates had concerns about him as he appeared very quiet.

Meanwhile, insiders say the group are now determined to press on with their 11 concerts in the autumn as a tribute to Paul.

One said: ‘A dark cloud has fallen over the reunion, it was supposed to be such a happy event but what wonderful way it would be to remember Paul.’

A statement released by his family on Friday read: ‘It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved son and brother Paul Cattermole.

‘Paul was found yesterday, 6th April 2023 at his home in Dorset and was pronounced dead later that afternoon.’ 

It continued: ‘While the cause of death is currently unknown, Dorset Police has confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances.

‘Paul’s family, friends and fellow members of S Club request privacy at this time.’

On Friday, a member of manager Simon Fuller’s team called round the six group members – Hannah Spearritt, 42, Rachel Stevens, 44, Tina Barrett, 46, Jon Lee, 40, Jo O’Meara, 43, and Bradley McIntosh, 41 – to tell them the news, which left all of them distraught. 

The band paid tribute to Paul on Twitter, writing: ‘We are truly devastated by the passing of our brother Paul. 

‘There are no words to describe the deep sadness and loss we all feel. We were so lucky to have had him in our lives and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. 

Passing: Paul was found dead at his £172,000 flat in Dorset on Thursday, just one day after he was pictured walking through the countryside smiling 

Announcement: The band paid tribute to Paul on Twitter, writing: ‘We are truly devastated by the passing of our brother Paul’

‘He will be so deeply missed by each and every one of us. We ask that you respect the privacy of his family and of the band at this time.’ 

The news of Paul’s shock death comes just weeks after S Club 7 announced they will reunite for an 11-date tour of the UK and Ireland, performing classics such as Reach, Bring It All Back, and Never Had A Dream Come true.

All seven of the group agreed to the comeback, which was masterminded by music mogul Simon Fuller – the man who put them together in 1998 after the Spice Girls, his previous band, sacked him as their manager.

He called each of the seven stars in person to suggest the project and made it clear it would only work if all of them were to agree. 

Paul left S Club 7 in 2002, citing ‘creative differences’, and the group changed their name from S Club 7 to simply S Club before splitting for good a year later. 

Their TV show Miami 7 was first aired in 1999 – getting around 90m viewers, before in 2001, the band starred in Hollywood 7, when Paul started dating co-star Hannah.

Hannah and Paul’s friendship predates the creation of the noughties group after they became friends in their teens at the National Youth Music Theatre.

They first kept their romance private, with Paul later revealing he would sneak to and from Hannah’s house in the early hours to avoid being spotted by fans.

Hannah and Paul split up in 2006 and got back together for a few months in 2015, before calling it time on their relationship for good. 

Following a seven-year feud, Paul and Hannah recently rekindled their friendship, before the tragic news of his passing.

S Club 7 recorded four studio albums, released 11 singles that all entered the Top 5 UK charts, and went on to sell over 10 million albums worldwide.

After their split in 2003, the band all went in different directions.

Rachel went onto have a solo music career and came runner up on Strictly Come Dancing in 2008. 

Hannah, who’s a mum to daughters Tora and Taya, enjoyed an acting career, performing on the likes of BBC One soap EastEnders and Brit drama Primeval.

In 2021, Paul launched a new YouTube channel called Tarot Me This, where he called upon fans to make a donation in exchange for a reading, explaining ‘clairvoyance’ was his new line of work.

He later revealed he hid his psychic abilities from the rest of S Club 7 because he feared it would make him sound ‘crazy’.

At the height of their fame, the band’s management had the idea to form a younger group known as S Club Juniors to support them at a Wembley Arena concert.

The group, which later became known as S Club 8, was formed in 2001 from the reality show S Club Search, with thousands of hopefuls auditioning. 

S Club 7’s young spin-off S Club Juniors – also made up of Frankie Bridge, Calvin Goldspink, Daisy Evans and Hannah Richings – disbanded just three years later in 2005.

Rochelle and Frankie, 34, both went on to find huge fame in The Saturdays and have since made names for themselves as TV presenters.

Stacey joined the band at the age of 12 and later auditioned as a solo artist on The X Factor in 2009, performing Christina Aguilera’s Ain’t No Other Man. 

She made it far as Judges’ Houses in Dubai, but wasn’t chosen by Dannii Minogue to progress further to the live shows.

In 2013, Stacey reunited with former S Club Juniors bandmates Daisy, Aaron and Jay for a tour.

Jay went on to carve out a successful theatre career while Aaron performed in the West End show We Will Rock you, before working as a dancer and choreographer.

Reunited: (L-R) Rachel Stevens, Paul, Jo O’Meara, Jon Lee, Hannah Spearritt, Bradley McIntosh and Tina Barrett were gearing up to reform for a 25th anniversary tour later this year 

Fame: S Club 7 recorded four studio albums, released 11 singles that all entered the Top 5 UK charts, and went on to sell over 10 million albums worldwide 

Calvin, who was the lead male vocalist, now lives in Los Angeles where he runs the company Breaking Sound which helps emerging artists showcase their talents. 

Daisy is now a make-up artist and works with the likes of TOWIE’s Saffron Lempriere. She also married Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey in 2015. 

Hannah, 32, was originally not part of the line-up but manager Simon Fuller said he didn’t want the group to go ahead unless she was part of it.

Hannah has kept in touch with her bandmates since their pop star days and served as a bridesmaid at Stacey’s wedding to Fraser Banks.