BBC HomeExplore the BBC
This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.

24 September 2014
top of the pops 2top of the pops 2

BBC Homepage
Entertainment
ยปTOTP2
PLAY
Video Quiz
Decades Quiz
PHOTOS
Wallpaper
Flick Books
Postcards
Fancy Dress
MUSIC
Show Clips
Classic Shows
ARTISTS
Interviews
Top 5s
School Reports
Where Are They?
TV SHOW
Lineup
Performances
Show History
Presenters
Titles & Themes
Logos
Annuals
Pan's People
Ruby Flipper
Legs & Co
LINKS
Contact Us
BBC Music
BBC News
Radio 2
6 Music


TOTP Online

Contact Us

Where Are They now?
Cherul
Ever wondered what happened to Cheryl Baker of Bucks Fizz?

Described by some as "Britain's answer to Abba", Bucks Fizz were the product of music gurus Nichola Martin and Andy Hill. They were shot into the limelight in 1981 when they won Eurovision with 'Making Your Mind Up'. Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan, Bobby Gee and Jay Aston had a string of chart hits including three No.1 singles. In 1985, Jay was replaced by Shelley Preston and in later years, Mike Nolan was replaced by Dollar's David Van Day.

Cheryl Baker has since become a popular TV presenter. Who can forget Eggs & Baker and her stint on Record Breakers which lasted throughout much of the '90s?

TOTP2 tracked Cheryl down to find out her current projects and talk about her TOTP memories.

Of course, Bucks Fizz wasn't your first Eurovision attempt - we remember you from Coco in 1978...
Cheryl: I can't believe it was 25 years ago. I remember it as if it were yesterday. It was in Paris at Place de la Concorde (if my memory is as good as I think it is). It was the first time I remember staying in a posh swanky hotel. CocoOn the night of the competition, where we came a miserable tenth (or was it eleventh?) I remember going back to the hotel feeling totally disillusioned. We had been built up by the British press to be out-right favourites, so to lose so badly was soul-destroying. I can't honestly say that I enjoyed anything about my first Eurovision experience, even though it had been a childhood ambition. Dublin in 1981 however, was a completely different kettle of fish. They know how to party in Ireland! We had an absolute ball. If we had lost, I would have still come out of it with good memories.

How do you feel when you look back at old clips of you and the gang on
TV?

Cheryl: I love watching old clips, although all my old videos had been stored away for years. I got them out recently (as recent as last week, some of them!) to show my children and have discovered two new fans! The only problem with watching yourself when you were 20 years younger, is that you were two stone lighter as well!

Pop's never been quite the same since the Fizz introduced the skirt-ripping-off technique. How inspired! Who came up with the idea??
Cheryl: Bucks Fizz, our manager and our production company were sitting in a room discussing what to wear. Was the song more '50's or '60's? In other words, was it Rock and Roll or mini-skirted Mod? I remember distinctly suggesting that we wear both, ripping one off during the song. Trouble is, everyone else at that meeting remembers distinctly that it was them that suggested it! My story still sticks though.

Want to know if Cheryl still talks to Jay Aston and what she's up to now? Read on...

News image
Modern Romance
'Two flop records.' Andy's explanation for shift from new romantic to salsa.
Mungo Jerry
'It just kept selling!' Ray Dorset talks about his seasonal anthem.
Dave Dee
Dave Dee discusses the hazards of using a bullwhip on stage.
Pete Burns
We chat to androgynous Dead or Alive frontman about the '80s revival.
The Searchers
'At the time, I really didn't think it was going to be a lifetime job'.
Middle Of The Road
Ken Andrew talks about the cheap and chirpy world of Middle Of The Road...
Howard Jones
We ask the synth wizard a heap of questions, including "What is love?"
Paul Hardcastle
We speak to the Electro-pop wizard about his TOTP memories...
The Stranglers
The history of The Stranglers, according to bassist and songwriter JJ Burnel.
S'Express
Mark Moore tell us what he's up to these days.
Owen Paul
He's back! And music is still his favourite waste of time.
Bucks Fizz
We speak to Cheryl Baker about Eurovision, Jay Aston and mini-skirts
The Foundations
We track down Clem Curtis of 'Build Me Up Buttercup' fame


About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy