Shelley Preston, of Bucks Fizz fame, is coming to Merton Abbey Mills. Nick Hitchens caught up with her.

Nick Hitchens: This is your first gig in more than four years. Are you excited to return to the stage?

Shelley Preston: I do miss performing, it is great fun. I haven’t sung some of these songs for over four years. I have to say our dog Jinx doesn’t like it when we rehearse at home. He hides in his snuggle bed and all you can see is his paws sticking out. I hope I won’t have the same effect on the audience.

NH: What can audiences expect from your gig, will there be audience involvement?

SP: I shall be expecting them to sing some choruses on their own, yes indeed. They will know the words. There will be some Bucks Fizz songs of course – how could I not?

NH: You will also be performing some Cloudfish tracks, a band you have with your husband Steve Norman, from Spandau Ballet, do these songs have a Bucks Fizz vibe?

SP: No, they don’t because I have different influences when I write and sing for myself. The Bucks Fizz tracks are what people would expect and they are fun to sing, but I wouldn't say its my natural style.

NH: You left Bucks Fizz in 1990 but in 2004 reformed as the Original Bucks Fizz with Bobby Gee, Mike Nolan and Cheryl Baker. How do your two experiences compare?

SP: I was able to enjoy the Original Bucks Fizz more because there was no pressure. It was just fun. Some of my first years in the band are a blur. It was very surreal and we were so busy I couldn’t take in what had actually happened. Sometimes now I look back and can’t believe I did all that.

NH: You left the Original Bucks Fizz in 2009. What have you been up to since then?

SP: I got married, I finally was able to move back to the country side which is where I'm happiest. I’ve never been a townie. It was very sad for me to leave the Original Bucks Fizz and I needed time to get over it to be honest. The upside of leaving though was that it gave me the opportunity to be a full-time mum to my now 15-year-old son.

NH: What led to your decision to return to the stage?

SP: It just came about. I was asked to sing at my old school Wareham Middle in Dorset where I grew up. It was being closed down, which was such a shame as it was a brilliant school. I enjoyed it so much, although very weird to perform to all your former teachers and headmaster, especially as they were all doing the routines. I tweeted about it and mentioned it on Facebook and some Fizz fans started asking when would I do a gig they could come and see. They started trending #shel leyis back which is why it’s on my poster. Out of the blue Mandy Taylor whom I knew from Six Degrees Entertainment offered me one of the gigs at The Colour House Theatre.

The Colour House Theatre, Merton Abbey Mills; November 2, 8pm; £10; colourhousetheatre.co.uk

 


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