Singer Claire Richards, at 47, hails from Hillingdon, Greater London. As a prominent member of Steps, the UK’s most successful mixed-gender pop group, she has also embarked on a solo career, releasing two albums—My Wildest Dreams in 2019 and Euphoria, a covers album, in 2023. She and her husband, Reece, met when he was a publicist for Steps’ record label and later transitioned to becoming an electrician. They reside in Surrey with their children, Charlie, 17, and Daisy, 15.

During the vibrant Nineties, filming music videos in breathtaking locations was commonplace. One notable shoot was for ‘When I Said Goodbye’ in Rome, where they traveled from the Spanish Steps to the Trevi Fountain. The previous year, the group had another adventure in Havana, Cuba, filming ‘The Last Thing on My Mind.’ Havana’s striking visuals made it an ideal setting, and the band enjoyed their week there, capturing fun moments in vintage American cars against the backdrop of colorful streets.

In September 1997, Steps traveled to Spain to film the music video for ‘5,6,7,8’ on a beach in Estepona. They shared an apartment in Malaga and one night ventured to Puerto Banus in Marbella. Although Claire isn’t a heavy drinker, turning 20 led to a memorable wrap party where she became very ill due to overindulgence. Ian ‘H’ Watkins even helped her out of bed just in time for their flight home.

The challenges of traveling long distances followed by immediate work commitments were a tough reality for the group. Their first significant trip was in 1998 to Singapore, where Claire, alongside bandmates Faye and Lisa, squeezed into economy seats near the toilet, which offered no recline for comfort. After spending a few days in Singapore, they flew economy to Australia, arriving at 6 AM and immediately jumping into a photoshoot at Sydney Town Hall. The hectic travel schedule left Claire battling severe jet lag, feeling more awake at night than during the day.

Before joining her first band, TSD, at 17, Claire had a less than ideal trip to Tenerife with a friend. They stayed in a shabby hotel in Los Cristianos with a meager budget of £200 for the week. The trip ended with a fallout between the friends, which ultimately led to the end of their friendship.

Before the first rehearsals for Steps began when she was 19, Claire’s parents arranged a package holiday to the Dominican Republic, a stark contrast to childhood trips to caravan parks in France. This vacation took place nearly three decades ago when the area was less developed for tourism. The initial hotel was subpar, prompting her mother to demand a change, and they were eventually relocated to a beautiful resort that made Claire and her sister feel grown-up enough to visit the in-house nightclub while their parents enjoyed dinner—an idyllic prelude to her future in the spotlight.

Following the reunion of Steps and their world tour in 2018, Claire treated her family to a stay at the Mandarin Oriental in Kuala Lumpur, allowing them to explore the city, before heading to Langkawi where they enjoyed a remarkable villa at the Four Seasons. Their stay in Langkawi was a refreshing escape from the heat of Kuala Lumpur, and memorable moments included visits from a small monkey named Michael.

Claire has developed a passion for escape rooms, partaking in experiences in various cities including New York, Paris, and San Francisco. She approaches these challenges with a competitive spirit, often leading the charge and encouraging her group, as she seeks to conquer escape rooms around the globe.