Former Coronation Street star Kym Marsh has spoken out about feeling ‘ashamed’
Kym Marsh as Michelle Connor in Coronation Street(Image: ITV)
Former Coronation Street star Kym Marsh has spoken out about feeling “humiliated and ashamed” after being branded “fat” on TV. The 49-year-old actress first rose to fame as a member of Hear’Say, the band created on Popstars on ITV back in 2001.
Recently resurfaced footage from the show captures judge Nigel Lythgoe, who became known as “Nasty Nigel” due to his harsh critiques, instructing Kym to shed pounds before a major performance. Reflecting on her experience, Kym told Prima Magazine: “It’s the reason I’m sitting here today, so I’m very fortunate to have had that experience.
“There were so many things that happened at that time that you’d never get away with today. There’s that famous scene where Nigel Lythgoe called me fat. I’ve never been anywhere near massively overweight, but even if I was, how dare you? It really upset me.
“I felt humiliated and ashamed, and insecure about myself. I was chosen to be in Hear’Say because of my talent but then hearing a comment like that made me feel like an object, an item, not a human being.”
Hear’Say, featuring Marsh alongside Danny Foster, Myleene Klass, Suzanne Shaw and Noel Sullivan, enjoyed chart success with tracks including Pure And Simple and The Way To Your Heart before disbanding in 2002. Discussing the prospect of a Hear’Say reunion, Kym said: “I always laugh and say ‘never say never’ about a Hear’Say reunion.
Kym Marsh on the front of Prima Magazine(Image: Prima UK / Nicky Johnston/PA)
“We might pop up somewhere, just for a one-off performance down the line, to surprise everyone. But I think we are all just doing our own thing. We all still chat, which is nice.”
The actress, who turns 50 in June, also shared her positive outlook on the milestone, revealing she plans to embrace it fully and focus more on her own wellbeing. She said: “I’m not horrified about turning 50. Isn’t 50 the new 40?
“I’m very excited about it; I’ve already said I’m going to milk it for all it’s worth! I’ve decided that every month for the whole year, I’m going to do something to celebrate. There’s still more planning to do, but I don’t plan to turn 50 quietly. Half a century needs celebrating!
“Whether it’s personal life or career, I feel like I’ve learned something from every chapter of my life. This is a whole new one that’s about to start, so it’s good that I have a clean slate and I’m in a nice place in my life, in every aspect.
“I’m feeling good about it all. I want to take care of myself a bit more and prioritise my own health and wellbeing. Sometimes I can neglect myself and tend to focus a lot on other people. While I don’t think that’s a bad thing, I need to be able to take some time out for me and do things for me sometimes.”
The actress is set to take the stage in the production of Single White Female in January, premiering at Brighton’s Theatre Royal before embarking on a UK and Ireland tour until June 13. Written by author, journalist and broadcaster Rebecca Reid, the play is a fresh take on the 1992 psychological thriller of the same name, which was originally based on the novel SWF Seeks Same by John Lutz.
Kym, who played Michelle Connor in Corrie for 13 years, said: “I’m so excited for Single White Female. It’s the world premiere of the show, so it’s a massive deal because it’s brand new and hasn’t been done on stage before, so there aren’t any expectations about what it will be.
“Sometimes when you go into theatre jobs, someone’s done that role before you and people have an idea of what they are going to see. With Single White Female, no one’s bringing expectations for what they’ll see on stage. Some elements of the story are very different, but the heart of it remains the same. It is going to be ‘on the edge of your seat’ stuff!”.
Kym is also recognised for her role as canteen worker Nicky Walters in the BBC soap Waterloo Road. The February 2026 issue of Prima is out now.