Cheryl Baker, of Bucks Fizz, from Tunbridge Wells, reveals her finances have been hit hard by pandemic
Published: 16:09, 31 January 2021
Updated: 17:31, 31 January 2021
A member of Bucks Fizz has revealed she is living on her pension and growing vegetables at her Kent home to keep costs down, after her finances were hit hard by the pandemic.
Cheryl Baker, 66, from Tunbridge Wells, who rose to fame after her band won Eurovision in 1981, says money is tight since gig offers dried up.
Speaking to The Sun, Cheryl said she lives on £950 a month and famous friends have even offered her money.
The former Dancing on Ice star formerly made cash by touring with bandmates Mike Nolan and Jay Ashton in a break-away group called The Fizz.
But the pandemic has seen live concerts cancelled and performances due for March 2021 pushed back to 2022.
She told The Sun: “I started paying into pensions when I was 21 but, for one reason or another, had to cash in all but one.
“So I get a £700 state pension a month plus £250 from my private one, which is great.
“At 66 I still have a mortgage. I don’t suppose there are many people my age who still have one, they’ve been sensible with their money or downsized.”
Bucks Fizz had three number one singles in the early 1980s and sold millions of records worldwide.
The singer now grows her own food at home to save the pennies.
Famous friends and fans have even offered to help her financial situation.
She said: “My skating partner from Dancing On Ice, Dan Whiston, called and offered to send money."
She told The Sun that an Australian fan even started a collection for her.
To make cash she charges fans £30 for private video messages on the CelebVM app.
She said she could become a delivery driver but had concerns over coronavirus.
Read more: All the latest news from Tunbridge Wells
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Katie Heslop