Hannah Spearritt of S Club 7 expresses her affection for late former partner Paul Cattermole.

S Club 7’s Hannah Spearritt has been overtaken by her crush on late ex Paul Cattermole when they lived in LA.

The singer and actress, 42, dated Paul — who died suddenly earlier this month at the age of 46 – seven years after being friends and bandmates for a long time.

WWhen the group traveled to LA in 1999 to film their hit TV sitcom Miami 7 Hannah, they realized it was much more than a friendship.

She now reminisces about the trip to America where she fell for Paul, where they watched the sunset together after romantic rides and he would play the guitar for her.

She said The sun: “It was all honeymoon-like. I can’t remember a day when I felt bad. Life was really very good.

Fun: When the group traveled to LA in 1999 to film their hit TV sitcom Miami 7 Hannah, they realized it was much more than a friendship (the band pictured in LA in 1999)

“It was fun from the start, it was a long honeymoon. He was also happy to play his guitar for me. Then he just picked up his guitar, made up songs and sang to me.’

“We would go on long drives together at night, up into the hills to watch the sunset.

Paul was found dead at his home in Dorset on April 6.

The sad news came six months before the S Club 7 tour was due to take place in October.

Hannah shared how she received a message from her management team asking her to contact them and then she got the news.

Hannah has focused on her life with her loved ones – partner Adam Thomas, 42, and their children Taya, four, and Tora, two.

However, Hannah said she is overwhelmed with grief when she is alone, adding ‘my heart is broken for him and his family’.

Hannah said Paul was happier than he had been in years, which makes it “even more heartbreaking.”

Romance: The singer and actress, 42, dated Paul – who died suddenly aged 46 earlier this month – after they had been longtime friends and bandmates for seven years

Love: She now reminisces about the trip to America where she fell for Paul, where they watched the sunset together after romantic car rides and he would play guitar for her

Back together: (L-R) Paul, Rachel Stevens, Jo O’Meara, Jon Lee, Hannah, Bradley McIntosh and Tina Barrett are seen this February before announcing their upcoming reunion tour

Oerstar Hannah expressed her gratitude for the “heartwarming” messages of support from fans, saying they had brought “a little ray of sunshine into the darkness.”

S Club 7 announced in February this year that they would embark on a reunion tour in October to celebrate their 25th anniversary as a band.

Hannah and Paul dated for seven years and finally went through a rough breakup as a couple in 2015.

Their management arranged to meet with a mediator so they could resolve their differences in January.

Hannah said she wanted to look to the future and make sure they could work together in harmony and not make the rest of the band feel uncomfortable.

After their initial nerves wore off, she said the pair spoke fondly of their time working together as a band in the ’90s.

The pair first met when Hannah was 13, when they were both members of the National Youth Music Theatre.

They were both chosen three years later for S Club 7, which was put together by the Spice Girls’ manager, Simon Fuller, when Paul was approached directly and Hannah auditioned.

They later moved into a flat in London’s East Finchley, but they became romantically linked while filming for the group’s BBC television series Miami 7 in the United States in 1999, with Hannah describing Paul as “my first true love.”

Paul left S Club in 2002 and he and Hannah separated four years later.

They rekindled their romance when the pop group reunited in 2015, but they went their separate ways for good three months later.

It comes after Bradley McIntosh broke his silence to pay tribute to his late S Club 7 bandmate Paul Cattermole.

The singer spoke out on Friday after his bandmate was found dead at his home in Dorset on April 7, with an undisclosed cause of death.

Bradley, 41, wrote on Instagram alongside an old video of himself and Paul messing around putting on wigs in a shop at the height of their fame: “I can’t believe I’m writing this now but as many of you know we lost our dear friend, fellow band member and big brother Paul last week.

Thank you for the good times, the memories and great love. We have had so many wonderful adventures together.

“I know you won’t be with us next in the physical, but you will always be with us in our hearts and minds. Will miss you. love you brother. REST IN PEACE’

Tributes had already been paid to Paul by his other bandmates Rachel Stevens, 45, Jo O’Meara, 43, Jon Lee, 40, Tina Barrett, 46 and Hannah.

Jo wrote on social media: ‘I wanted to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for the love and kindness you have shown at the tragic passing of our dearest soul Paul.

“This has been utterly devastating and I am totally shocked and heartbroken.

“We have lost someone so incredibly special to all of us, and there is a tremendous sense of sadness that will never go away.

“Paul will forever be a huge part of our lives, and I will forever cherish the memories we made! I will always love you Paul, God bless you my love, Rest in Peace Eternal Love JoJo.’

Rachel added, “Thank you so much for all your beautiful messages of love and support. The outpouring of love for our Paul has been so incredibly special and has meant so much. I hope he knew how loved he was.

‘Such a kind, gentle and sensitive soul with the most incredible energy and such a wild free spirit. He would light up any room.

“We are heartbroken, but so thankful for the memories we all shared. An absolute shining star that we will always love and miss. RIP dear Paul.’

Performance art: The pair, who first met as teenagers when they were part of the National Youth Music Theatre, can be seen on stage in London in 2001

And Tina said, “Goodbye dear Paul, your star shines so brightly, forever in our hearts, sleep well and good night.”

The band also said on Twitter in a joint statement: ‘We are truly devastated by the passing of our brother Paul.

“There are no words to describe the deep sadness and loss we all feel. We were so lucky to have him in our lives and are thankful for the great memories we have.

“He will be so greatly missed by all of us. We ask that you respect the privacy of his family and the band at this time.”