Editing Hear'Say (section)

===2001–2002: Line-up changes, decline and break-up===
Tabloids began reporting that Kym Marsh, who had gained attention due to her relationship with former ''[[EastEnders]]'' actor [[Jack Ryder (actor)|Jack Ryder]], had left the band following feuds with bandmate Myleene Klass.<ref name="rollercoaster"/><ref name="talkskym">{{ cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1759165.stm | title=Hear'Say in talks over Kym | publisher=[[BBC News]] | date=14 January 2002 | access-date=4 December 2012 }}</ref> A representative for Hear'Say denied the reports, stating: "Everybody who is involved with Hear'Say will be sitting down this week to discuss the future. Kym Marsh is still with the band."<ref name="talkskym"/> However, in January 2002, Kym Marsh announced that she was leaving Hear'Say, later revealing she often fought with Klass and Noel Sullivan.<ref>{{ cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/arts/music/kym-hearsay-was-one-big-row-6320730.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421065051/http://www.standard.co.uk/arts/music/kym-hearsay-was-one-big-row-6320730.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 April 2013 |title=Kym: Hear'Say was one big row |work=[[London Evening Standard]] |date=28 January 2002 |access-date=4 December 2012 }}</ref> Auditions were held to find Marsh's replacement.<ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1383619/HearSay-search-for-replacement.html | title=Hear'Say search for replacement | work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | date=3 February 2002 | access-date=4 December 2012 }}</ref>

The audition process was televised in segments of ''[[This Morning (TV programme)|This Morning]]'', an ITV daily morning show, mirroring the procedure during which the original members of Hear'Say were chosen.<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1798677.stm | title=Hear'Say auditions reject thousands | publisher=[[BBC News]] | date=3 February 2002 | access-date=4 December 2012 }}</ref> [[Johnny Shentall]], husband of [[Steps (group)|Steps]] singer [[Lisa Scott-Lee]], won the auditions, joining the group on 5 February 2002.<ref name="shentall">{{ cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/feb/05/simonjeffery | title=Hear'Say announce new fifth member | author=Jeffery | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=5 February 2002 | access-date=4 December 2012 }}</ref> Controversy erupted when it was found out that Shentall had previously been a member of short-lived pop group [[Boom! (group)|Boom!]] and a back-up dancer for Hear'Say.<ref name="rollercoaster"/><ref name="shentall"/> In March 2002, Hear'Say cancelled their planned arena tour to allow Shentall time to "settle in" to the group.<ref name="rollercoaster"/>

Hear'Say began recording their third album. During the summer of 2002, the group toured the UK radio roadshows circuit, where they were constantly booed and abused by members of the public, with a performance in Brighton being cut short due to the animosity concerned – evidence of the degree of public animosity that had built up. During the tour, the group's vehicle was threatened by an apparently armed man at a motorway service area on the [[M1 motorway]] in Leicestershire.<ref name="rollercoaster"/> The man, later arrested, claimed to have been playing a prank on the group. In August 2002, Hear'Say released their only single with Shentall, entitled "Lovin' Is Easy". The track had a new sophisticated feel in an attempt to regenerate interest in the group's music. The single became Hear'Say's lowest charting single to date when it peaked at number six.<ref>{{ cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/story/122431/sugababes-back-on-top |title=Sugababes back on top |publisher=[[Sky News]] |date=18 August 2002 |access-date=4 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004234523/http://news.sky.com/story/122431/sugababes-back-on-top |archive-date=4 October 2013 }}</ref> Media reports suggested that Polydor Records wanted the single to at least reach the UK Top 5. Following the disappointing sales of the single, it was thought that they would be dropped by the label, though no official word came from Polydor.

Hear'Say split up on 1 October 2002, citing "abuse from the public" as the main reason.<ref name="rollercoaster"/><ref name="cnn">{{ cite web | url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/News/10/01/hearsay.quit/ | title=Abused pop band Hear'Say split up | publisher=[[CNN]] | date=1 October 2002 | access-date=4 December 2012 }}</ref> The group admitted to being a [[fad]] that had passed.<ref name="cnn"/> Hear'Say's popularity had been eclipsed by that of [[Liberty X]], a band composed of the five other finalists of ''Popstars''.<ref name="rollercoaster"/>