Editing S Club 8 (section)

===2001–2002: Formation and ''Together''===
{{see also|S Club Search|Together (S Club Juniors album)}}
S Club Juniors was formed in 2001 through a [[CBBC]] reality television show, [[S Club Search]], and originally was supposed to consist of seven members, mirroring the pop group [[S Club 7]], who were the inspiration behind the group. Thousands of children auditioned, and were whittled down in several rounds. Notable people who also auditioned for ''S Club Search'' included [[Rylan Clark]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Delaney |first=Zoe |date=2023-02-15 |title=Frankie Bridge gobsmacked as she learns Rylan's link to S Club Juniors |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/frankie-bridge-gobsmacked-learns-rylans-29221938.amp |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=The Mirror |language=en}}</ref> and [[Lorna Want]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-10-23 |title=Move over Charlotte, here's Lorna |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/opera/3584583/Move-over-Charlotte-heres-Lorna.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawFaalNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHWP-_q_jJ1tjNGKihqvqbpFWfsk2Kw_O2-lqdiKOKXaLj17FaFHYhXr01Q_aem_MMOGDbYWy8miNoXq6MaE-w |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=The Telegraph |language=en}}</ref> The children who made the final round met S Club 7, who helped judge. As he was unable to make the audition date, eventual member Jay Asforis sent a video tape of himself to the producers, and was immediately put into the final round.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stafford |first=Indigo |date=2021-02-04 |title=Where the S Cub Juniors are now - from Barclays Bank jobs to This Morning fame |url=https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/club-juniors-now-xfactor-saturdays-19770422.amp |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Edinburgh Live |language=en}}</ref>

The first seven members chosen were Asforis, Calvin Goldspink, Daisy Evans, [[Stacey McClean]], [[Rochelle Wiseman]], [[Francesca Sandford]] and Connor Daley. All were aged 12.

The producers of the show and S Club 7 discussed two other candidates who had impressed them: 13-year-old Aaron Renfree and 10-year-old Hannah Richings. It was decided to make S Club Juniors a nine member group.<ref>https://youtube.com/WBbG8dJfLtk?si=6ditF2EjYaWkdD1F</ref> Shortly after, the group went into rehearsals, taught by choreographer Gary Lloyd<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.pazaz.digital |first=PAZAZ {{!}} |title=BBA Management |url=https://bba.management/creatives/gary-lloyd#:~:text=Gary%20Lloyd%20was%20born%20and,published%20by%20The%20Book%20Guild. |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=bba.management |language=en}}</ref> and vocal coaches [[David Grant (singer)|David]] and [[Carrie Grant]].

In the later stages of rehearsals, 3 weeks before their support act slot at Wembley Arena,<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=xPChgeEaeGX9iKe6&t=5m55s&v=xD-PERIyHEA&feature=youtu.be |title=S Club Search Episode 2 : Bringing The House Down |date=2012-08-27 |last=SClub8HD |access-date=2025-04-17 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Daley was removed from the group.

S Club Juniors' appearances were considered a success by [[19 Entertainment]], the management company that had created S Club 7 and auditioned S Club Juniors. Consequently, it was decided they should perform as a support act at all of the venues on the tour. The juniors made their first television appearance on ''[[Children in Need]]'' on 16 November 2001. By the end of the tour, S Club Juniors had created a following and [[Polydor Records]] signed the group. Their first single was called "[[One Step Closer (S Club Juniors song)|One Step Closer]]". It was promoted by the TV series ''S Club Junior: The Story'', and released in the UK on 22 April 2002, staying in the UK top 75 for 11 weeks.

The group began working on their first album in June 2002. A video for the second single, "[[Automatic High]]", was filmed in Spain, while S Club 7 began their fourth TV series. Released on 22 July 2002, the single reached number 2 in the UK charts. The third single, "[[New Direction (song)|New Direction]]", was released on 10 October and also reached number 2. The Juniors released their debut album ''[[Together (S Club Juniors album)|Together]]'' on 21 October reaching number 5. Their fourth single, "[[Puppy Love/Sleigh Ride]]", was released on 9 December 2002. The single debuted at number 6 in the UK charts. The song was also used in the 2003 film ''[[Love Actually]]''.