Natasha Maria Hamilton Gay (born 17 July 1982)[1] is an English singer and stage actress. She is best known as member of girl group Atomic Kitten.[2]

Natasha Hamilton
Hamilton in 2005
Hamilton in 2005
Background information
Birth nameNatasha Maria Hamilton
Also known asTash
Born (1982-07-17) 17 July 1982 (age 41)
Kensington, Liverpool, Merseyside, England
GenresPop
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • actress
Years active1999–present
Member ofAtomic Kitten
Spouse(s)
Riad Erraji
(m. 2006⁠–⁠2013)
Charles Gay
(m. 2021)
Websitewww.natashahamilton.com

Early life edit

Hamilton was born in Kensington, Liverpool, and started singing and performing from the age of 12 in the Starlight Show Group.[3] Her father is mixed race, being of white and black ancestry.[4]

Hamilton attended St. Sebastian's Catholic Primary School and then Broughton Hall Technology College, both situated in her home city of Liverpool.[citation needed]

Career edit

In May 1999, Hamilton joined Atomic Kitten, a girl group founded by OMD frontman Andy McCluskey, replacing Heidi Range who left the early line up. With Hamilton, Liz McClarnon and Kerry Katona, the group released their first record in 1999. Katona left the group in 2001 and was replaced by Jenny Frost. Atomic Kitten had three UK number one singles, "Whole Again", "Eternal Flame", and "The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)". They also had two UK number one albums, Right Now, and Feels So Good, both being certified double-platinum in the UK for sales of over 600,000 copies each. The total worldwide sales are estimated at 6.2 million singles and 4 million albums.[5] Hamilton was also winner of the annual Rear of the Year award.[6]

In 2006, Hamilton appeared on the BBC1's talent show Just the Two of Us, paired with Mark Moraghan, finished in second place. Hamilton announced that she was recording solo songs and intended to release her first solo album in 2007, but she failed to sign with a label and the project was postponed.[7] In 2007, under the nickname Tash, Hamilton was featured artist in Mischa Daniels's hit song "Round & Round", which samples Crystal Waters' "Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)" and has been included on the Ministry of Sound compilation Housexy: The Afterparty. In 2009, Hamilton appeared on Celebrity Come Dine with Me Celebrity.[8] From December 2009 to January 2010, she played the title role in the musical Peter Pan at the Liverpool Empire.[9]

On 30 October 2010, Hamilton released her debut single solo, "Ms Emotional", as an independent artist.[7] In the interview, she again announced her intention to release her debut solo album soon, but nothing happened.[10] In 2011 she played Mrs Johnstone at the West End musical Blood Brothers. In 2012 Hamilton appeared as the title character in Cinderella in Southport theatre.

In 2013, the original line-up of Atomic Kitten – Hamilton, McClarnon and Katona – reformed for The Big Reunion, along with five other pop groups of their time – 911, Honeyz, B*Witched, Five and Liberty X. They have been performing live and touring Europe ever since.[11] In 2015, Hamilton joined the Celebrity Big Brother, reaching the third place.[12] In 2023, she joined the reality docu-series The Real Housewives of Cheshire.

Personal life edit

From 2001 to 2002 Hamilton dated businessman Fran Cosgrave, with whom she had her first child, Josh, born on 24 August 2002.[13] In 2003 she started dating professional dancer Gavin Hatcher, with whom she had her second child, Harry, born on 31 December 2004.[14] They broke up briefly between July and December 2005, when Hamilton got back together with Cosgrave.[15] Hamilton and Hatcher got back together from February 2005 to February 2006.[16] In 2006 she started dating Riad Erraji and they were married on 23 November 2007 at Crewe Hall Hotel.[17] In January 2008, Hamilton found out she was expecting her third child, but she miscarried after six weeks.[18] Hamilton's third child, Alfie, was born on 14 June 2010. The couple announced their separation in July 2013.[19]

From 2013 to March 2016, Hamilton dated singer Ritchie Neville, member of pop group Five, with whom she had her fourth child, Ella Rose, born on 22 September 2014.[20][21][22] On 28 November 2016, Hamilton announced her engagement to Charles Gay and the couple married in Lake Como, Italy on 25 September 2021.[23] In February 2023, Hamilton announced that she is expecting her fifth child, a girl.[24] Her daughter, Kitty Iris, was born on 16 August 2023.

Discography edit

Singles edit

As main artist
Title Year Album
"Ms. Emotional"[25] 2010 non-album single
As featured artist
Title Year Album
"Round & Round"[26]
(Mischa Daniels featuring Tash)
2007 non-album singles
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"[27]
(among Homeless Worldwide and Friends)
2019
"I Can't Wait to Spend Christmas with You"[28]
(Tom Seals featuring Natasha Hamilton)
2020

Guest appearances edit

Title Year Album
"You're My World" 2008 Liverpool: The Number Ones Album[29]

Stage edit

Year Title Role
2009–2010 Peter Pan Peter Pan
2011 Blood Brothers Mrs Johnstone
2012 Cinderella Cinderella

Filmography edit

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Just the Two of Us Contestant Series 1
2010 The Weakest Link Contestant Pop and Rock Special, winner
2015 Celebrity Big Brother Contestant Series 16, 3rd place
2023 The Real Housewives of Cheshire Herself Reality Show

References edit

  1. ^ "Southport & Mersey Reporter... PCBT Photography, Online Newspapers". Southportreporter.com. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  2. ^ "Atomic Kitten planning reunion television show?". Digital Spy. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  3. ^ "Liverpool – Entertainment – Natasha Hamilton interview". BBC. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  4. ^ "Natasha Hamilton went on Celebrity Big Brother 'to put food on the table'". Female First. 24 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Musicstop article". Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  6. ^ "History of Event". Rear of the Year. Archived from the original on 1 December 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  7. ^ a b "[2]". 14 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  8. ^ Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 17 June 2001. ITV.
  9. ^ "Natasha Hamilton On...Peter Pan – - Interviews". Whatsonstage.com. 3 January 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  10. ^ Beth Hardie (8 May 2009). "Ex-Atomic Kitten Natasha Hamilton talks Kerry Katona, Susan Boyle and her debut solo album". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  11. ^ "The 90s are back: reunions from Atomic Kitten, 5ive, and more". Gigwise. 10 April 2013.
  12. ^ "Bobby Davro and Natasha Hamilton out of CBB house". tv3.ie. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  13. ^ "Atomic Kitten – Fun Facts and Information". Funtrivia.com. 9 October 2000. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  14. ^ "EXCLUSIVE Lover's going overboard for pregnant pop star Natasha". thefreelibrary. 9 October 2000. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  15. ^ "Van Tango: September 2005". Strictmochine.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  16. ^ "Atomic Kitten's Natasha Hamilton pregnant with 'miracle' baby". Yahoo. 9 October 2000. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  17. ^ "Kerry's Wedding Snub". Sunday Mirror. 13 May 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2007.
  18. ^ "Natasha Hamilton Suffers Miscarriage". Celebrity Baby Scoop. 22 October 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  19. ^ Fear, Helen (28 July 2013). "Atomic Kitten's Natasha Hamilton splits from husband after six years". Reveal. Nat Mags. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  20. ^ Aldridge, Gemma (19 October 2013). "Atomic Smitten: Natasha Hamilton and 5ive star Ritchie Neville are all loved up". Daily Mirror.
  21. ^ OK! Magazine
  22. ^ Hello! Magazine
  23. ^ "Natasha Hamilton is engaged to boyfriend Charles Gay". HELLO!. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  24. ^ Robertson, Danielle (27 September 2021). "Natasha Hamilton marries Charles Gay at luxury ceremony in Italy". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  25. ^ "Natasha Hamilton unveils new single". Digital Spy. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  26. ^ "Mischa Daniëls Featuring Tash". Discogs. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  27. ^ "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother". iTunes. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  28. ^ "I Can't Wait to Spend Christmas with You". iTunes. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  29. ^ "Natasha Hamilton unveils new single". Digital Spy. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2020.

External links edit