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Noel Sullivan claims he was ‘chucked back into the closet’ during his ‘damaging’ years in noughties pop band Hear’Say but 24 years on he has turned his back on fame

BBG News

As a lifestyle expert looking back on my journey, I’d say it’s important to remember that my sudden rise to fame in Hear’Say didn’t come without its challenges. While the 00s were filled with glitz and glamour on the surface, behind the scenes, I faced significant struggles.

In 2001, during the reality TV show Popstars, a 44-year-old Welsh singer was chosen to join the band alongside Myleene Klass, Kym Marsh, Suzanne Shaw, and Danny Foster.

Nevertheless, the group disbanded prematurely, splitting up in 2002 – only 20 months following their initial formation. Now, Noel reflects on that stormy period of his life.

Currently leading a more tranquil life as a stage actor, Noel acknowledged that his short-lived career as a pop star at the age of 19 didn’t live up to the hype.

Instead of following the path of his well-known peers, Noel opted for a life free from the spotlight alongside his spouse James. His primary focus is now on his theater projects, but he continues to share glimpses of his private life through his publicly accessible Instagram account.

Despite accepting his challenging experience under the limelight, Noel expressed that joining Hear’Say was detrimental to him as he was prohibited from openly discussing his sexual orientation.

In a candid disclosure, the acclaimed artist known for his clean-cut hits admitted he experienced a sudden return to secrecy about his sexuality, which he didn’t openly acknowledge until 2017 when he finally revealed he is gay.

As a die-hard fan, I eagerly share my personal account: “I once recounted to Heat magazine, ‘That moment was absolutely insane! It feels like eons ago, but reminiscing now brings a warm glow. The aftermath was quite the turmoil, and it took some time to heal. Yet, here I stand, a testament to survival and enduring memories.

At a previous point, Noel, currently blissfully wedded to his partner James, had concealed his sexual orientation. He later disclosed that he was instructed to remain silent on this matter.

At that point in time, I was around 19 or 20 years old, which is typically the stage for self-discovery and understanding one’s identity.

Reflecting on a past event, I found myself confined once more, pushed into obscurity – a feeling that left deep scars. It took considerable effort and patience to heal from this experience, to let go of the guilt and shame that had lingered within me.

Indeed, it wasn’t until 2017 that he openly declared his homosexuality in public, having kept silent about his sexuality for numerous years, despite facing pressure to do so earlier. He used Instagram as a platform to discuss this prolonged silence.

On that special occasion, I took to social media to celebrate both my birthday and our upcoming six-month wedding anniversary with a heartwarming photo of myself and my dear husband, James.

In a piece discussing the early decriminalization of homosexuality, he expressed his profound appreciation towards those who made tremendous sacrifices so that we could enjoy our current freedoms.

Later, he shared that he was instructed to hide his sexuality during his professional journey, confessing that the experience on Popstars left him feeling devastated and damaged.

At the age of 19, I was advised to keep quiet regarding my sexuality. To pursue a career, I needed to hide this aspect and remain silent, which took a toll on me, as he reminisced.

No one was made responsible for the long-lasting depression and self-harm I endured. Eventually, it seemed as though I could no longer voice my struggles, feeling that my moment in the limelight had faded and people wouldn’t take notice anymore.

During challenging times, my family and theater provided comfort for me. The extraordinary, nurturing, and gifted individuals I collaborated with, resided with, and entertained, played a crucial role in helping me discover who I am.

Following many years of internal struggle, I now have the courage to express what’s been on my heart. I am liberated from the shackles of the past, learning to embrace and cherish myself. Above all, I am liberated to love – both others and myself. Thank you.

After experiencing a brief and stormy period under the limelight, Noel chose to step away from fame for a more tranquil professional path. However, he has continued to maintain his presence within the entertainment world.

In his acting career, the star born in Cardiff has featured in numerous television shows, such as Russell T Davies’ production “Years and Years” and the BBC drama titled “Ordinary Lies.

Apart from that, he played the role of Marcus Howell in the soap opera Doctors and made an appearance in the 2021 Christmas special of Call The Midwife. These days, however, he has shifted his focus towards his theatrical projects.

Over time, Noel has risen to prominence in the world of musical theater, gracing the stage on London’s West End for several key characters. Among his notable performances are Galileo in “We Will Rock You” and Danny Zuko in “Grease.

In addition to leading the cast as Dewey Finn in School of Rock, he underwent a significant transformation and became almost unrecognizable when he gained approximately two stones for the part. This was because he preferred not to perform in a weight-enhancing suit on stage.

Lately, Noel’s schedule has been packed as he manages his theatrical education business, and he’s soon going to star as King Charles III in the musical drama titled “The Diana Mixtape.

Even though he has distanced himself from the limelight, Noel doesn’t seem averse to joining forces once more with his ex-Hear’Say bandmates, as he disclosed that they had attempted to arrange a 20th anniversary reunion.

Nevertheless, the concept remained unrealized, and Noel has been estranged from his past band companions for quite some time now. Unlike his fellow ex-band members, TV host Myleene (aged 47) and actress Kym (aged 49), he prefers to steer clear of the limelight.

When discussing his private life, Noel was open about it saying, “I’m free from the complications that come with being famous.

‘I can move around day to day, I can get on the Tube while working in this amazing environment.’

Despite Hear’Say being a brief group, their first single, “Pure and Simple,” broke records as the quickest-selling pop record in British history, and their debut album immediately climbed to the number one spot on the charts.

They even met the Queen when they starred at a Royal Variety performance. 

Yet, it didn’t take long for them to be beset with whispers of heated arguments among the band members, eventually leading to Kym leaving the group.

Johnny Shentall replaced her, with the group releasing flop single, Lovin Is Easy.

In October 2002, the group disclosed their decision to part ways, citing constant harassment on the streets and unfriendly crowd reactions during their performances as reported to The Sun by members Noel, Myleene, Suzanne, Danny, and Johnny.

Danny told the newspaper: ‘We have had enough. The public make you and break you.’

Myleene added: ‘Nobody deserves what we went through.’

Suzanne shared: “It’s just a passing trend, more like fashionable sneakers that are popular one moment and forgotten the next.

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2025-07-26 12:07

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