Heather Small's iconic songs, famous partner and cancelled album
Soul singer Heather Small is appearing in Michael McIntyre's Big Show on Saturday, February 1, as she gets stuck in a lift with the Unexpected Star of the Show. Heather shot to fame for her singing talents as part of the bands Hot House and M People, as well as a solo artist.
She is well known for her powerful voice and her album Proud, featuring a song of the same name. It was linked to the 2000 British Olympic team, used as the theme song for The Oprah Winfrey Show and often referenced in the hit BBC One comedy Miranda.
In the 1990s M People had 20 hit songs in the Top 20, one of the most famous being the song Moving on Up in 1993. But surprisingly, it only ever reached number two in the charts.
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Alongside her singing career, Heather has starred in several reality TV shows. In 2008 she took part in Strictly Come Dancing and was partnered with Brian Fortuna.
The pair came ninth overall. Following the series, Heather went on to appear in an associated BBC Three show called Dancing on Wheels. The concept of the show is that an able-bodied celebrity dances with a wheelchair user.
In 2022 Heather starred in The Masked Singer. She was Chandelier and became the first celebrity to be unmasked.
She also took part in the 2017 programme Pilgrimage: The Road To Santiago where she explored her faith and religion. After the show, Heather said: "I was a believer before I set off, but this trip made me realise my faith and beliefs were much stronger than I had realised."
During the 1990s Heather had a long-term relationship with English rugby player and coach Shaun Edwards. They have a son together, James Small-Edwards, who is a Labour Party councillor.
Heather is now married to lawyer David Neita, who she married in 2012. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter
In 2018 Heather planned to release an album to celebrate 25 years in the music industry, called Heather Small: Orchestral Greatest Hits, but just days before the release date the album was cancelled.
Michael McIntyre's Big Show airs at 6.50pm on Saturday, February 1 on BBC One.
