Eurovision legends Bucks Fizz revealed on Monday’s Lorraine that they are looking for two new members after one original star expressed a desire to retire.
The band, which rose to fame after winning Eurovision in 1981, currently consists of Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston.
However, Mike stressed that he “wants to take it easy” and leave the band after having done “a fair amount of shows” over the past 43 years.
Speaking to Christine Lampard on the ITV show, Mike said: “I feel like I’ve had enough. The last show I do with them will be sad, but I’ll be happy, I want to relax and take it easy.
“I was thinking about it for two or three years, but finally earlier this year I thought there was no point in dragging it out any longer, I would just tell them and they weren’t happy, were they?” he joked, as he looked in Cheryl’s direction.
Eurovision legends Bucks Fizz reveal on Lorraine on Monday that they are looking for two new members as the original star has “had enough” and wants to retire.
The band, who rose to fame after winning Eurovision in 1981, currently consists of (l-r) Mike Nolan, Jay Aston, Cheryl Baker; pictured with former member Bobby G
However, Mike stressed that he “wants to take it easy” and leave the band, but as he has done his “good sample of samples” over the past 43 years,
Cheryl jokingly replied: “I was ecstatic!” Before that, Mike added: “You weren’t ecstatic, you were actually crying!”
Mike also said: ‘I’ve been in Bucks Fizz for 43 years! If I had committed murder, I would get a lower sentence!’
Cheryl revealed that she and Jay are currently looking for two male singers “of a certain age” to join them in the group.
She said: ‘We’re going back to the format of when we were at Eurovision, we were looking for two guys of a certain age, like we are of a certain age, but it works better vocally and we still do the dance routines.’
Jay added: “If people want to submit their information, please go to our website, but we are looking for someone over 50.”
The group is currently organizing a farewell concert before Mike’s departure.
Bucks Fizz rose to stardom in the 1980s after winning the historic Eurovision Song Contest with the song Making Your Mind Up in 1981.
Its success catapulted it to number 1 in the UK charts and sold four million copies worldwide.
The group was originally formed solely for the contest and consisted of vocalists Mike, Bobby G, Cheryl and Jay.
Mike said: ‘I feel like I’ve had enough. The last show I’ll do with them will be sad, but I’ll be happy, I want to relax and take it easy.’
Cheryl revealed that she and Jay are currently looking for two male singers “of a certain age” to join them in the group.
She said: ‘We’re going back to the format from when we were at Eurovision, we’re looking for two guys of a certain age like we are of a certain age, but it works better vocally and we still do the dance routines.’
In 2004, a spin-off group called The Fizz was formed after 70-year-old Bobby G won a court case preventing his former bandmates from performing under the name The Original Bucks Fizz.
The three remaining members of the band said they were “extremely disappointed” by the ruling, which came in August 2011 after a lengthy legal battle.
The judge ruled in Bobby’s favor because since his wife (Heidi Manton, also a member of his group) owned the name Bucks Fizz, use of the name The Original Bucks Fizz was an impediment to her trademark.
The history of Bucks Fizz has been consistently dramatic with various members coming and going over the years.
In 1985, Aston left the group, leading to Bobby performing as a trio with Nolan and Baker.
But when Baker left in 1993, Bobby largely took over management and hired new members Heidi Manton and Amanda Schwartz.
Heidi would later become his wife in 2000, and the couple had a daughter, Millie, in 2006.
The original group was formed solely for the Eurovision Song Contest and consisted of vocalists Mike, Bobby G, Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston.