Paul Cattermole

Cattermole performing live at S Club Party Tour in 2001.

Cattermole became a member of S Club 7 after a series of auditions, along with members Tina Barrett, Jon Lee, Bradley McIntosh, Jo O'Meara, Hannah Spearritt and Rachel Stevens in 1999.[2] During five years they released four number one singles and one number one album. They also had a series of TV shows, which were: Miami 7, L.A. 7, Hollywood 7 and Viva S Club. The group rose to fame by starring in their own BBC television series, Miami 7, in 1999. Over the five years they were together, S Club 7 had four UK No.1 singles, one UK No.1 album, a string of hits throughout Europe, including a top-ten single in the United States, Asia, Latin America and Africa.

They recorded a total of four studio albums, released eleven singles and went on to sell over fourteen million albums worldwide. Their first album, S Club, had a strong 1990s pop sound, similar to many artists of their time. However, through the course of their career, their musical approach changed to a more dance and R&B sound. The concept and brand of the group was created by Simon Fuller, also their manager through 19 Entertainment; they were signed to Polydor Records. Their television series went on to last four series, seeing the group travel across the United States and eventually ending up in Barcelona, Spain. It became popular in 100 different countries where the show was watched by over 90 million viewers.[3] As well as the popularity of their television series, S Club 7 won two Brit Awards.[4] Cattermole stayed with the band until June 2002.[5]

In June 2002 Cattermole reunited with his old school friends and formed the nu metal band Skua — described as having a "Limp Bizkit vibe" as well as comparing their style to Rage Against the Machine. The band split in 2003, after they failed to sign with a record label and the number of shows was low.[6]

After a five-year on hiatus, it was announced in October 2008 that O'Meara, Cattermole, and McIntosh were to perform as S Club 3. The group consisted of a series of university and nightclub gigs, where they performed a set list consisting of a selection of songs from their Greatest Hits album.[7][8] This had been performing in various nightclubs, universities and Butlins holiday camps around the United Kingdom. Cattermole sang with his own band at a charity concert called 'The Sounds of Summer' at 'The Lord Taverners' club in London on 27 July 2011. Barrett joined the group for one performance in March 2014.[9]

In January 2014 Skua reformed. On 14 July the band released their first single, "Falling".[10] On 20 July, the released another two singles, "Got Not Choice" and "Out Of Control".[11][12] Their debut album, Kneel, was released on 14 October.[13] Due to commitments with S Club 7's reunion, Skua found themselves lacking a frontman and the project halted having only released one album. The album was promoted only by the band themselves mainly via social media, no record labels were involved.

In October 2014, it was confirmed that the original lineup would reunite for the first time in over a decade for BBC Children in Need. S Club 7 announced their plans for an arena reunion tour, promptly entitled Bring It All Back 2015, which toured the UK in May 2015.[14] After the S Club 7 full reunion tour, Cattermole decided to leave S Club 3 too.[15]

Since 2015, after bankruptcy, Cattermole has been working on odd jobs, like delivering pizza.[16] Cattermole tried a career in reality shows and asked to participate in Celebrity Big Brother, Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing on Ice, but he didn't get invitations.[16] In 2018 he started to work as manager in Swanage's radio station.[17] In September 2019, he appeared on the dating show First Dates Hotel.[18]

Cattermole had been declared bankrupt in 2014.[23][24] In January 2018, he auctioned his Brit Award for Best British Breakthrough Act up on eBay, saying "there are bills to pay."[25] The award eventually closed at £66,100, and Cattermole also listed his 2002 Brit for "Don't Stop Movin'" (Best British Single).[26] The latter hit the same figures, but was ultimately relisted to eventually sell for a more modest £3,000. Cattermole said that half of the payments would go towards paying bills, but was still deciding what to do with the other half.

In February 2018 in an interview with Loose Women, Cattermole stated the depth of his financial burden and thanked the TV producers for giving him a shirt to wear for the interview.[16]