Steps singer Ian ‘H’ Watkins ‘knocked for six’ after losing half his vocals
The singer has been struggling for months.
Steps star Ian ‘H’ Watkins is still suffering from the effects of an ‘awful virus’ that has meant he has lost half of his vocals.
The Tragedy singer, 48, was busy working on the Steps The Musical stage show in Birmingham at the end of last year when he was struck down with an illness.
However, while it has been four months since he fell ill, Watkins has revealed he is still battling with some symptoms and it’s affecting his ability to perform.
‘When we launched Steps The Musical in Birmingham, I had this awful virus and I still have not recovered from that,’ the popstar shared.
He added to Heat magazine: ‘So, if I had been asked to do a show, I would have had to have cancelled. Half of my range has just gone. It knocked me for six.’
It’s not known what illness Watkins was battling but he did previously share an insight into his health woes in 2020, opening up about his struggle with insomnia.
Watkins was working on Steps The Musical when he fell ill (Picture: Getty Images)‘Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and can be wide awake for two hours, then by the time I fall back to sleep, it’s time to get back up again,” adding that he often feels “pretty wrecked” in the mornings,’ he told HuffPost at the time.
‘It really did screw with my body clock for years and years, and I think that pattern has just settled with me now – it’s not great.’
A new Steps tour may be off the cards for now but Watkins did suggest they could get back together for something big to mark their 30th anniversary in 2027.
Steps, also consisting of Claire Richards, Lee Latchford-Evans, Lisa Scott-Lee and Faye Tozer, rose to fame in the late 90s with their collection of pop hits including 5,6,7,8, Tragedy, Stomp, One For Sorrow, Chain Reaction and Deeper Shade of Blue.
After a successful run, the group disbanded in 2001 but have continued to perform together on and off since.
Steps might be planning something big for their 30th anniversary in a couple of years (Picture: Redferns)Previously speaking to Metro, band member Claire shared: ‘I feel like there’s a bit of escapism when it comes to our music. People are able to leave the bags at the door when they walk into a Steps concert or even put the album on.
‘It’s definitely a safe space as well, which we always say – everybody’s welcome, nobody’s judged and we don’t apologise for what we are.’
In 2024, it was announced they would be working together to produce the stage play Here & Now, created by Hollyoaks writer Shaun Kitchener and based on their popular songs.
The production will be going back out on tour again across the UK in August with dates including Glasgow, Manchester, Scotland and Newcastle.
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