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Natasha Hamilton grew up in the
Kensington area of Liverpool, and started singing and performing from the
age of 12 in the Starlight Show Group. Hamilton says she was inspired by
Marvin Gaye, Barry White and Quincy Jones. After Heidi Range left the
early Atomic Kitten, Hamilton was offered the opportunity to replace her.
Hamilton dated Fran Cosgrave, a club owner and former bodyguard of
Westlife. Natasha announced in April 2002 that she was pregnant, but she
had no intention of leaving the band and wanted the scheduled 2002 tour to
continue. Natasha also featured in the video "The Tide Is High" with her
last duty being the 2002 Party in the Park before finally going on
maternity leave. On August 24, 2002 she gave birth to a boy, Josh
Cosgrave. The pair split shortly after.
Natasha decided to take her baby with her on the 2003 tour with Atomic
Kitten, however on January 23, 2004 Natasha decided to take a break from
Atomic Kitten because she wanted to spend more time with her son, since
then they have released several singles. On December 31, 2004, Natasha
gave birth to her second son, Harry Hatcher, whose father is dancer Gavin
Hatcher. In July 2005, Hamilton and Hatcher split up, and she briefly
returned to live with Cosgrave. By February 2006, they had split for a
second time after a falling out over her breast implants.
Hamilton made a return to music after appearing on the BBC1 television
show, Just the Two of Us, which paired celebrities with recording artists
to compete in a duet singing showdown. Eight couples competed before a
panel of judges and the voting public. Hamilton was paired with Mark
Moraghan, famous for his portryal of Doctor Owen Davies in Holby City, and
the pair came second. They performed classic songs like "Over the Rainbow"
and "Do You Love Me". This was one of the first times that Natasha didn't
perform pop songs and showed that she could perform Rock and roll and soul
as well. The overall setting complete with petticoats gave the performance
a 1960s feeling.
In addition to this, Hamilton is preparing to release her debut solo album
in, her first material released since she was part of Atomic Kitten. The
album will be in Motown-style and has been co-written with Christopher and
Anthony Griffiths, Ciaron Bell, among others.
Since June 29, 2006 Natasha also embarked on a road safety campaign with
Brum and Minister Stephen Ladyman in order to make the streets safer for
children under six years old. When Natasha was just three years old, she
survived being hit by a car and is therefore passionate about making the
roads safer for children.
On September 27, 2006 Hamilton announced her engagement to Riad Erraji and
that they plan to get married in 2007, they will marry in November 2007
with both of her Atomic Kitten bandmembers Jenny Frost and Liz McClarnon
present. Hamilton has since said that her former bandmate Kerry Katona has
not been invited stating that the two of them have drifted too far apart.
Natasha is due very soon to open her first cafe with Fiance Riad Erraji in
Liverpool - names Hamilton's. |
