Presenter and pop star Frankie Bridge tells Jane McGowan why she’s backing the Epsom Derby
Frankie Bridge is ready for a break. The past 12 months have seen her evolve into a fully-fledged presenter on ITV game show Cannonball, head up a star-studded Children in Need campaign and don ice skates for a role with Disney on Ice.
And she isn’t done yet. For the former singer with The Saturdays is already galloping ahead towards her next high-profile assignment: ambassador for the Investec Derby Festival at Epsom Downs Racecourse (June 1-2). With seven races on both days – including a Classic on each, The Oaks on Ladies Day (Fri 1) and The Investec Derby itself – picnicking on the Downs and a Derby Day post-race party hosted byRadio 2 DJJo Whiley, it promises to be a festival worthy of one of Britain’s oldest sporting events.
“Yes, it has been a busy few months and I am certainly looking forward to the summer, when I can spend time with my boys,” says the 29-year-old ambassador, who lives in nearby Cobham with her husband, former England and Chelsea footballer Wayne Bridge, and their two sons, Parker and Carter.
“That was partly why I wanted to get involved with the Derby Day campaign – it’s just around the corner from me. It’s also a really family-friendly event that everyone can enjoy.”
Stylish too. Along with fellow ambassador Vogue Williams, the model and TV personality, Frankie has already boosted the forthcoming festival with a gloriously glamorous fashion shoot.
“Oh, I am all about the glamour,” she laughs. “I love an excuse to dress up.”
Even with the racing itself, she confesses, you’re more likely to catch her inspecting the jockeys’ colours than studying the form.
“I’ll have a flutter, but I’m no expert,” she admits.
Born at Upminster, on the borders of London and Essex, in 1989, Frankie first found fame in 2001 as a member of S Club Juniors – a group put together via a CBBC talent search for a ‘mini’ version of S Club 7, with a view to its supporting the chart-toppers on tour. Frankie, who’d been singing and dancing since she was three, was keen to audition. No one, however, could have predicted the success that ensued.
“I had no idea what would happen. I was just happy to be doing what I loved. All us kids thought we’d be lucky if we got to do a few shows with S Club 7 and that would be it. We never imagined that the band would take off in its own right.”
Following the success of the TV show, the group (later renamed S Club 8) was asked to record an album. That sold 40,000 copies in its first week. In fact, the group’s first four singles all made the Top 10, but by 2005 the party was over. Like so many talent show products, before and since, Frankie and co found themselves out of favour.
Undeterred, however, Frankie pushed on. In 2007, aged just 18, she was chosen to be part of The Saturdays, a new girl group put together by Fascination Records, a subdivision of Polydor. The line-up, which also included fellow S Club 8 member Rochelle Humes (then Wiseman), achieved massive success during a seven-year career, notching up numerous number ones and selling more than seven million records in the UK and Ireland.
Frankie is adamant that a reunion is not on the cards. But the girls – now mostly married with a couple of children each – remain in close contact.
“There was no fight; we have never fallen out. In fact, we are always in touch and see each other whenever we can. Una’s husband [England rugby player Ben Foden] is having a testimonial match soon and we are all going to that. It’s always such a laugh when we’re together.
“I loved every minute of the group, and I think that’s why I didn’t want a solo singing career – I enjoyed being part of a band so much. I didn’t want to do it on my own.”
Not that individual success has eluded her. In 2014, Frankie shone in series 12 of Strictly Come Dancing, finishing second with her partner, Kevin Clifton.
“That was a wonderful experience, although I’m sorry to say that I haven’t kept the dancing up. When you’ve worked with someone as fantastic as Kevin, you just can’t imagine dancing with anyone else. But if I ever get the chance to dance with him again, I’ll be there.”
More recently she has fronted a documentary about social media trolls, joined ex-cricketer Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff among the hosts of knockabout game show Cannonball and appeared in the Disney on Ice spectacular Worlds of Enchantment, with shows in London and Liverpool.
“I have never skated before, but they asked and I was up for it 100%. I was just pushed and pulled around most of the time,” she laughs modestly.
So, with more television work to come – she has “something lined up” that she cannot yet discuss – is that where her future now lies?
“Really, I would love to do musical theatre,” she confesses. “I went to New York for an intensive acting course earlier this year and I intend to do more studying before having a go. But theatre is something I definitely want to do.”
For all the glitz and glamour, however, being a “self-employed former pop star” can be tricky.
“It’s no different forme than for anyone else who works for themselves. Sometimes there are too many offers and I am away from home a lot, and then at other times there’s no work at all and you start to panic.”
Which, of course, makes it tough to strike a balance between motherhood and work.
“I’m lucky because I get so much support from Wayne and our parents, but it’s still hard when I have to leave the boys. Parker starts school in September and I don’t know how I’ll cope with him being away all day. I can’t believe it’s actually happening, it has come round so quickly. He’s still a baby to me.”
Frankie giggles as she recalls a recent occasion when her son played football with his friends. With Wayne’s accomplishments familiar to the other parents, all eyes were on Parker to see if he had inherited his dad’s skills.
“It was so embarrassing. He just kept picking the ball up and running off and bashing into the other players. We were like: ‘Er, maybe rugby is more his game.’”
And while Parker’s sporting career stutters into embryonic life, two-year-old Carter looks set to take after his mum.
“Well, I don’t know about that,” laughs Frankie. “Yes, Parker loves running around while Carter is always singing and dancing, but we’ll see. They’re only little.”
Watch this space.
Investec Derby Festival, Epsom Downs Racecourse, June 1-2. For tickets visit: epsomderby.co.uk
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