Suzanne Shaw

Last updated
Suzanne Shaw
Suzanne Shaw.jpg
Shaw, 2007
Born
Suzanne Christine Crowshaw

(1981-09-29) 29 September 1981 (age 42)
NationalityBritish
EducationSt. Mary's Primary School, Radcliffe. St. Gabriel’s RC High School, Bury.
Alma mater St. Gabriel's R.C. High School
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
  • television presenter
  • media personality
  • musical theatre performer
  • dancer
  • writer
Years active2000–present
Height5 ft 2 in (157 cm)
SpouseJason King (m. 2009; div. 2012)
Children2
AwardsCelebrity Mum of the Year 2008
Musical career
GenresPop, Dance
Years active2001–2002, 2006
Labels MCA Music, Island, Cordless Recordings, Polydor

Suzanne Christine Crowshaw (born 29 September 1981), [1] known as Suzanne Shaw, is an English actress, singer and television personality, who rose to fame after winning the talent contest Popstars and subsequently being a member of the band Hear'Say.

Contents

Shaw is now an established musical theatre and West End performer, actress, model and television presenter in her own right. She won the third series of the ITV skating show Dancing on Ice in 2008 and participated in the 'All Stars' series in 2014.

Shaw played the character of Eve Jenson in the soap opera Emmerdale . [2]

Early life

At the age of two, Shaw started ballet and tap classes at the Janet Lomas School of Dancing [3] in Bury. While training at the school, she took exams in ballet, tap and modern. She also performed in annual shows and competed successfully in dance festivals and competitions across the North West. At five years of age, Shaw performed in her first amateur dramatics show, Annie . Shaw developed a love for theatre, performing in various amateur dramatic productions, including The Sound of Music and a West End production of Showboat at the age of nine. Shaw went on to train at Freelance Dance School (formerly Lupino School of Dancing). She was a member of an ABBA tribute band, The Right Stuff, and appeared in television roles including an Esso advertisement, Holby City , and a BBC production, Elidor . She also tried for the part of Maria Sutherland in Coronation Street , and made it to the final three along with Girls Aloud member Kimberley Walsh, but lost out to Samia Smith.

Shaw also developed her musical abilities, learning the recorder and violin, at St. Mary's primary school and later the saxophone at St. Gabriel's R.C. High School. After leaving school, she attended Oldham College for a BTec National Diploma in Performing Arts with extra units in acting essentials and devising and developing performance. [4]

Popstars

Shaw's break came in 2000 when the ITV show Popstars launched a competition for contestants to become part of a newly formed pop band. Shaw had just turned 18, and attended the auditions and successfully made it through several elimination rounds. She was chosen as one of the ten finalists and became one of the members of Hear'Say, along with Kym Marsh, Myleene Klass, Noel Sullivan and Danny Foster, having beaten 4,000 other hopefuls. Their debut single was the fastest selling non-charitable record ever in the UK, selling 1.3 million copies. Their first album, Popstars, went on to sell 1.2 million copies in the UK, [5] followed by their own television show entitled Hear'say It's Saturday, performing with established artists such as Lionel Richie, Joe Pasquale, Bradley Walsh, Blue and Atomic Kitten.

Subsequently, the band achieved a sell-out arena tour and performed numerous television guest appearances. They released their second album Everybody for the Christmas market in 2001.

Shaw made many appearances with the band on TV and in live performance venues, including "Hear'Say: A New Chapter in Full", "The Hear'Say Story", "Hear'Say It's Saturday!" and the "Royal Variety Performance" for television. Hear'say had two number one singles, a number three single and a number six single in the British charts as well as many awards and accolades, before splitting in 2002.

Post Hear'Say

Since the band broke up on 1 October 2002, just after her 21st birthday, Shaw has established herself as a leading lady in musical theatre as well as an actress, television presenter, model and as a popular media personality.

Musicals

Shaw has appeared in musical theatre from a young age but following the break-up of Hear'Say has begun to firmly establish herself as a leading musical theatre actress.

She landed a role in the remake of the Summer Holiday musical in London's West End, and later in a UK tour of the show starring alongside Darren Day and Christopher Biggins. Despite initial scepticism about the part going to a popstar Shaw received huge praise for the role such as from the British Theatre Guide which stated "And those who, like me, only know Suzanne Shaw (Bobby) as part of the manufactured pop group Hear'Say, had their eyes opened. She was a dancer, singer and actress long before Popstars, and it shows". [6] and Nowt2do.com stating "Suzanne Shaw no doubt had the most to prove as Barbara, having come from Hear'Say but she has wowed this critic over. She light up the stage with her stunning smile and had the most powerful voice. It's hard to think that she was in Hear'Say when she was strutting her stuff with such professionalism that you would think she has been in West End Musicals for years. A real killer and big voice mixed with some superb dancing skills showed that Suzanne was the pure and simple choice for the role...sorry couldn't resist!". [7]

In February 2005, Shaw took on the role of narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat , also in the West End. The leading role in Snow White followed, and then as Janet in The Rocky Horror Show national tour, appearing twice on Londons West End. Shaw once again received rave reviews for her role from fans of the show, critics as well as creator Richard O' Brien. The Stage commented that Shaw was "a delectably wide-eyed Janet", [8] with Critic Chris High stating "Shaw is delightful as the naive Janet and proves she has far more to offer than anything a reality TV show could ever uncover" [9] and the British Theatre guide stating "A big surprise to me was how outstanding former Hear'Say popstar Suzanne Shaw was: she is so at home on stage with strong voice and fabulous presence". [10] Shaw has also appeared in the musicals Chicago and White Christmas; for further details see notable roles and appearances.

Television

Acting roles post Hear'say have included The Court for Channel Four and a guest appearance on the British television police procedural The Bill , broadcast on ITV1 in June 2007, playing the character of Laura Matthews. [11] Shaw has been a panellist for Loose Women on ITV1 as well as appearing in the reality television programmes Have I Been Here Before? and Britain's Worst Celebrity Driver and the popular ITV show Dancing on Ice .

Media

Shaw is the face and body of the Michelle for George Ultimo range at Asda. In 2008, Shaw wrote a weekly column for Woman Magazine which has a circulation of over 370,000 each week. Shaw is also an ambassador of Mattel and the deal with Shaw is the first time that Mattel and Barbie DVD distributor Entertainment Rights have undertaken together. Shaw lent her vocals to the theme tune "Connected" from 2008's "Barbie(TM) and the Diamond Castle" children's movie. Shaw has brought out a successful perfume "Ice" and interactive family DVD "Suzanne Shaw's Showtime Showdown". [12] She is current face of Tesco Mobile as well as Disney for which she has launched the interactive games "Disney's Sing It" and "Disney's A Christmas Carol". [13]

Music

Shaw recorded a song entitled "Calling" for dance duo Koishii & Hush which was a hit in dance charts both in the UK and the US. She also co-wrote several tracks for Hear'Say one of which was also recorded by and featured on the second album of American pop group Jump 5.

Presenting

Shaw presented a live gameshow Bingolotto on Virgin 1 and Challenge every Friday night. [14]

Pantomime

Shaw took the title role of Cinderella, at the Bristol Hippodrome for the 2013 Christmas period. In the 2021 Christmas period Shaw played Belle in Beauty and the Beast at Chesterfield's Pomegranate Theatre. [15]

Notable roles and appearances

Dancing on Ice

In 2008, Shaw won series 3 of the popular ITV show Dancing on Ice , performing technical footwork and solo skating skills as well as many lifts and tricks with her partner Matt Evers, the "Headbanger" being her most best-known of the series (recreated with the twister in her final performance). Bonnie Langford was the first celebrity to perform the 'Headbanger' move in series 1, albeit from a lying position. Shaw is the only celebrity ever to do the Headbanger from a standing takeoff position, which is more difficult and more dangerous. Shaw also remains the only female celebrity to do the twister in the headbanger, the splits lift, the ballet lift, the walk over, a 3 jump, the famous Torvill and Dean overhead flip and cartwheel and a full death spiral amongst other moves.

On 1 March 2008, it was confirmed that she had chipped a bone in her ankle during training and there were doubts as to whether she would be able to continue in the competition. Having previously received a gash to the head and a broken rib, this did not deter her, and she vowed to carry on for her dance partner and the people who had voted for her. On 2 March, she skated with her ankle strapped and finished second from bottom on the leader board with a total of 24; however, the public saved her from the skate-off.

On 9 March, she skated in the semi-final of Dancing on Ice and again achieved the highest score of the series so far with 27.5 (it also being the score of her "Music" routine) to the song "Eternal Flame". Christopher Dean stated that he was hugely impressed with her skating and performance, saying she could do both fast and slower numbers equally well and was exceptionally versatile. He also revealed that Shaw was very good at improvising as she forgot some of the steps at the start of the routine.

On 16 March, Suzanne Shaw was named the Series 3 Dancing on Ice champion, after Phillip Schofield announced she had won the public vote. She skated three times during the series finale, scoring a flawless five sixes with the judges in two of her routines. No contestant on Dancing on Ice had ever received five sixes before. She then went on to win the show by getting the majority of the public votes.

She also took part in related competitions, including the Tour and Christmas Special with Team Torvill. In the Christmas special Shaw again received the maximum score of 30 for her performance of the Santa Baby effectively winning the show for team Torvill. She still holds the record for being the only celebrity to have 3 perfect scores in a row.

Shaw wowed crowds in her second dancing on ice tour in April despite having to adjust to a new partner. Christopher Dean praised Shaw stating that she had "done wonders" despite less than 3 weeks training with her new partner prior to the tour. Shaw also received high praise from the judges as well as Torvill and Dean for being "an absolute professional" regarding the change of partners.

The Baron

In 2007, Shaw filmed a reality TV show named The Baron. It was due to air in autumn 2007, but following the death of her co-star Mike Reid in July of that year, it was postponed until April 2008. The series featured Shaw, Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren and Mike Reid competing for a vacant Baronial title in a small Scottish town called Gardenstown, near Banff in Aberdeenshire.

During the filming, McLaren was thrown out of the village for unruly behaviour, leaving Reid and Shaw to contest the final election, which was won by Reid. Before his death, Reid had expressed a wish to have a new community centre built in the village; a number of donations have since been secured from his family and others, and this is likely to go ahead in the near future.

The show premièred on 24 April 2008 on ITV and attracted good viewing figures for the 3 episodes for its 10:35 pm timeslot.

Chicago

After her success on Dancing on Ice , Shaw joined the West End cast of Chicago . Shaw was originally only due to play the role of Roxie Hart for 6 weeks but due to good reviews and several standing ovations (Daily Mail) her contract was extended until August 2008. Shaw received a nomination for best takeover in the prestigious whatsonstage theatregoers choice awards for her performance of the role. It is rumoured that Shaw was offered the role again on the West End and in a national tour in 2009 but decided to reprise her role in the Dancing on Ice Tour as she is 2008 Champion.

The Vagina Monologues

Shaw toured in The Vagina Monologues throughout the summer of 2009 alongside actresses such as Jessie Wallace, Wendi Peters and Sue Holderness. This is the second time Shaw has appeared in the production; her previous appearance was in Brighton in 2007. [16]

White Christmas

Shaw starred as Judy Haynes alongside Aled Jones, Adam Cooper and Roy Dotrice in the musical White Christmas at the Lowry arts centre in Salford from November 2009 to January 2010. She received very positive reviews for the role from, for example, The Stage, which commented "The beautiful Haynes Sisters are delightfully played by Suzanne Shaw as Judy, who sings and dances with ease with talented Rachel Stanley as her sister Betty", [17] The Lancashire Evening Post which stated "Former Hearsay star, Suzanne Shaw is a revelation, dancing, singing and acting with seasoned aplomb". [18] and the Flintshire Chronicle which said "The show played to the actors' strengths so (Aled) Jones and (Rachel) Stanley took the big songs and (Adam) Cooper and (Suzanne) Shaw the dazzling dance routines. The former were in good voice and it was well worth the trip to Salford just to see the sublime I Love a Piano tap routine by a flying Cooper and Shaw". [19]

Emmerdale

Shaw appeared as Eve Birch, the granddaughter of longstanding character Edna Birch, in the British ITV1 soap Emmerdale. [2] The character first appeared on the show in 2001 originally played by Raine Davison, where she remained a series regular until her departure in 2002. Eve returned to the show briefly in October 2006 when she married James Jenson. In January 2010 it was announced that Eve would be returning to the show after nearly a four-year absence with the part being recast. Series producer Gavin Blyth stated in an interview with Digital Spy that he auditioned 50 to 60 actresses for the role, one of them being former Hear'Say singer and West end star Shaw who made the trip to Yorkshire to audition from Manchester where she was playing Judy Haynes in the record breaking musical White Christmas. The decision to cast Shaw was announced on 29 January. Her original contract was for a year and she made her debut on 2 April 2010. [2] In April 2011 it was announced Shaw would quit Emmerdale with her character later leaving onscreen in August 2011. [20]

Funny Peculiar

In 2012, Shaw toured in Funny Peculiar with Vicky Entwistle, Craig Gazey, Dominic Cazenove and Gemma Bissix. [21]

Suzanne is also a regular in pantomime.

Personal life

Shaw gave birth to her first child, a boy named Corey MacKenzie Shaw-Day, on 16 December 2004. Corey's father is actor and singer Darren Day.[ citation needed ]

Shaw started a relationship with DJ and television presenter Jason King. The couple had been friends since Shaw's Hear'Say days, but began dating in December 2005 after appearing together on Britain's Worst Celebrity Driver . The couple lived together with Shaw's son in Oxenhope, Yorkshire. They announced their engagement in August 2008 [22] [23] and the couple wed in Christchurch, Dorset, in June 2009. [24] [25]

On 13 February 2012, it was announced that the couple had separated. [26]

In 2008, Shaw was voted Celebrity Mother of the Year by the public. [27] Following her marriage Shaw took some time off to support her new husband and to dedicate herself to family life. Shaw also said that she prefers quiet family life and goes out of her way to avoid the press and a showbiz lifestyle. [28] [29]

On 4 March 2015, Shaw announced that she was expecting a second child, with fiancé Sam Greenfield. [30] Shaw gave birth to a boy on 6 October 2015 whom she named Rafferty. [31] [32]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonnie Langford</span> British actress (born 1964)

Bonita Melody Lysette Langford is an English actress, dancer and singer. She came to prominence as a child star in the 1970s, when she had a notable role in the TV series Just William.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myleene Klass</span> British musician, television presenter

Myleene Angela Klass is a British musician, singer, television presenter and model. She was a member of the pop group Hear'Say, and later released two solo classical crossover albums in 2003 and 2007. More recently, Klass has been a television and radio presenter. She has hosted television series including Popstar to Operastar (2010–2011) and BBQ Champ (2015) on ITV and The One Show (2007) on BBC One. She was a regular panellist on the ITV lunchtime chat show Loose Women in 2014 and again from 2024 onwards. In 2006, Klass was runner-up on the sixth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, and returned in 2023 for the "all-stars" series I'm a Celebrity... South Africa, which she won.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hear'Say</span> 2001–2002 British pop group

Hear'Say were a British pop group. They were created through the ITV reality TV show Popstars in February 2001, the first UK series of the international Popstars franchise. The group, who were signed to Polydor Records, originally consisted of Danny Foster, Myleene Klass, Kym Marsh, Suzanne Shaw, and Noel Sullivan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Lusardi</span> English model, television presenter and actress

Linda Frances Elide Lusardi is an English actress, television presenter and former glamour model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kimberley Walsh</span> English singer, television personality and actress (born 1981)

Kimberley Jane Scott is an English singer, television personality and actress. She rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality series Popstars: The Rivals on ITV. The series announced that Walsh had won a place as a member of the girl group Girls Aloud. The group achieved large success, having twenty consecutive top ten singles in the UK, six studio albums have all been certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), two of which went to number one in the UK, and accumulating a total of five BRIT Award nominations. In 2009, Girls Aloud won "Best Single" with their song "The Promise".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Dean</span> English ice dancer (born 1958)

Christopher Colin Dean, OBE is a British ice dancer who won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics with his skating partner Jayne Torvill. They also won a bronze medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torvill and Dean</span> English ice skating duo

Torvill and Dean are British ice dancers and former British, European, Olympic, and World champions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samia Longchambon</span> English television actress

Samia Maxine Longchambon is an English actress. She has played the role of Maria Connor in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street since 2000. She also appeared as a contestant on the eighth series of Dancing on Ice in 2013, and won the third series of Cooking with the Stars in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kym Marsh</span> English actress, singer-songwriter (born 1976)

Kimberley Gail Marsh is an English actress, television presenter and singer. In 2001, she won a place in the band Hear'Say as a result of appearing on the reality television series Popstars. Hear'Say enjoyed brief success, achieving two UK number one singles and a UK number one album, but Marsh left the band in 2002 to pursue a solo career. She released an album titled Standing Tall in 2003, which peaked at number nine in the UK and spawned two UK top ten singles.

Noel Sullivan is a Welsh singer and actor. He was a member of the British pop group Hear'Say. Like the other members of the group, he won his part through the talent show Popstars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denise Welch</span> English actress and television personality

Jacqueline Denise Welch is an English actress, television personality, writer and broadcaster. Her roles include Natalie Barnes in Coronation Street (1997–2000), Steph Haydock in Waterloo Road (2006–2010), and Trish Minniver in Hollyoaks (2021–2022). Welch also appears as a regular panellist on the ITV chat show Loose Women.

<i>Dancing on Ice</i> British ice skating competition series

Dancing on Ice is a British television series currently presented by Stephen Mulhern and Holly Willoughby. Former hosts include Phillip Schofield, who hosted from 2006 to 2023, and Christine Lampard, who hosted in Willoughby's absence from 2012 to 2014. The series features celebrities and their professional partners figure skating in front of a panel of judges. The series, broadcast on ITV, started on 14 January 2006 and initially ended on 9 March 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roxanne Pallett</span> English actress

Roxanne Carrion is an English actress, television personality, and broadcaster. She played Jo Stiles in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale (2005–2008), and has appeared in the horror films Lake Placid 3 (2010), Wrong Turn 6: Last Resort (2014) and Devil's Tower (2014).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hayley Tamaddon</span> British actress and dancer

Hayley Soraya Tamaddon is a British actress. She is known for her roles in the ITV soap operas as Del Dingle in Emmerdale and Andrea Beckett in Coronation Street.

<i>Popstars</i> (British TV series) 2001 British reality television series

Popstars is a reality music competition series that was broadcast on ITV in early 2001. It was the first UK series of the international Popstars franchise, and was billed as a documentary on the formation of a modern pop group. The programme began with audition rounds of aspiring singers performing covers of classic songs before a panel of judges. The best performers were selected to come to London for further rounds of auditions. Over the weeks, the judges eliminated various singers from the auditions until just a few singers were left in contention. In the final weeks, five contestants were chosen by the judges to form the new pop group Hear'Say. The programme then showed the group recording and promoting their first single, documenting their first ventures into the music industry.

Rokhsaneh Ghawam-Shahidi is an English actress. She is known for portraying the role of Leyla Harding in ITV soap Emmerdale. In 2024, she is set to appear as a contestant on the sixteenth series of Dancing on Ice.

The twelfth series of Dancing on Ice debuted on ITV on 5 January 2020. During the finale of the eleventh series, it was announced that Dancing on Ice had been renewed for another series. The series is once again filmed in the purpose-built studio at Bovingdon Airfield.

The thirteenth series of Dancing on Ice debuted on ITV on 17 January 2021. During the finale of the twelfth series, it was announced that Dancing on Ice had been renewed for another series. The series was once again filmed in the purpose-built studio at Bovingdon Airfield, which had been set up for the tenth series. Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby returned as hosts, while Ashley Banjo, John Barrowman, Christopher Dean, and Jayne Torvill returned as judges.

The fifteenth series of Dancing on Ice debuted on ITV on 15 January 2023. During the finale of the fourteenth series, it was announced that Dancing on Ice had been renewed for another series. The series was once again filmed in the purpose-built studio at Bovingdon Airfield. Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby returned as hosts. Ashley Banjo, Christopher Dean, Oti Mabuse, and Jayne Torvill also returned as judges. This series decreased the number of live shows to nine weeks instead of ten, and featured one fewer celebrity contestant than usual.

References

  1. "My Ickle Stars - Suzanne". Myicklestars.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Kilkelly, Daniel (29 January 2010). "Suzanne Shaw joins 'Emmerdale'". Digital Spy.
  3. "Student Achievements". Janet Lomas School of Dancing | Ballet & Tap Dance Classes | Bury. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  4. "My Ickle Stars - Before hear'say". Myicklestars.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  5. "CBBC Newsround | MUSIC | Hear'Say's full statement". Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  6. "Theatre review: Summer Holiday at Theatre Royal, Newcastle: on tour". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  7. "Summer-Holiday-Review". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011.
  8. "Rocky-Horror-Review" . Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  9. "Rocky-Horror-Review" . Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  10. "Theatre review: The Rocky Horror Show at Sunderland Empire". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  11. "The Bill – Suzanne Shaw" . Retrieved 16 May 2007.
  12. "Jamesgrant.co.uk". Jamesgrant.co.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  13. "Suzanne Shaw Photos Photos: Disney Sing It: Pop Hits - Game Launch". Zimbio.com. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  14. "Bingo Lotto". Spungoldtv.com. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  15. "Beauty and the Beast at the Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield". chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  16. "Theatres & Venues". Atgtickets.com. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  17. "white-christmas" . Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  18. "White-Christmas—The-Lowry" . Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  19. "Flintshire". Dailypost.co.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  20. "Suzanne's off". Emmerdale. Itv.com. 15 April 2011. Archived from the original on 21 April 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  21. Craig Gazey, Dominic Cazenove, Wayne Anthony and Community Champions at bbc.co.uk, accessed 10 June 2012
  22. "Hear'Say singer to marry radio DJ". BBC News. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  23. "Shaw-engaged". Sky News. 28 August 2008. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  24. "Suzanne Shaw and Jason King split". Ca.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  25. "Actress and husband split". Dailytelegraph.com.au. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  26. "Suzanne Shaw and Jason King announce their breakup". Unreality TV. 13 February 2012. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  27. "Suzanne-Shaw-wins-celebrity-mum-award". Archived from the original on 29 February 2008.
  28. [ dead link ]
  29. News, Manchester Evening (27 April 2010). "White Christmas for Suzanne Shaw and Aled Jones". Manchester Evening News . Retrieved 12 August 2020.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  30. "Digital Spy - Showbiz news, showbiz pictures, showbiz interviews". Digital Spy. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  31. "Suzanne Shaw gives birth to her second child". OK! Magazine. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  32. "EXCLUSIVE: Suzanne Shaw and fiancé Sam introduce baby Rafferty and discuss home birth: 'I felt so empowered'". OK! Magazine. Retrieved 4 November 2015.