The five-piece, who released their first single in March last year, cited pressure and public abuse as the reason for the decision.

Hear'Say members beat hundreds of rivals to win the ITV show Popstars

Their reward was �100,000 and a record contract

In April 2001, they became the first UK act to top the single and album charts simultaneously with their debut releases

But they ran into trouble when Myleene Klass (above) fell out with fellow member Kym Marsh

Marsh quit the group in January 2002

Her exit left Hear'Say with just four members

Hundreds queued up for auditions to find Marsh's replacement

Accusations of bias followed when Johnny Shentall (centre) was chosen - he had already been in a group called Boom!