CELEBRITY
Toxic feud that tore Eternal apart: Louise Redknapp’s bandmates re-form with a new singer after row over performing at LGBTQ events – as tension that’s simmered since her sexy lad’s mag days boils over
Eternal have recruited new member Christel Lakhdar as they attempt to return to the charts with their first album in 30 years following a feud among the bandmembers.
Sisters Vernie and Easther Bennett are preparing to return to the spotlight with a comeback show at Scala in London on April 30, and are hoping to put together a new album in the coming months.
Notably missing from the line-up are original band members Louise Redknapp and Kelle Bryan who have expressed disagreement with Vernie and Easther over their views on trans rights.
In September 2023, Louise, 49, and Kelle, 48, pulled out of an Eternal reunion tour because Vernie and Easther had reportedly refused to play any of the LBGTQ+ gigs they had scheduled over claims the community is being ‘hijacked’ by the trans movement.
Shortly afterwards Louise was accused of trying to get her former bandmates cancelled by ‘misrepresenting’ their views.
The band, put together in 1992 featured sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, Kelle Bryan and Louise whose surname was Nurding prior to her marriage to Jamie Redknapp.
Toxic feud that tore Eternal apart: Louise Redknapp’s bandmates re-form with a new singer after row over performing at LGBTQ events – as tension that’s simmered since her sexy lad’s mag days boils over
Eternal have recruited new member Christel Lakhdar as they attempt to return to the charts with their first album in 30 years
Louise Redknapp arriving for the UK premiere of Wicked at the Royal Festival Hall in November 2024
Louise Redknapp arriving for the UK premiere of Wicked at the Royal Festival Hall in November 2024
While she wasn’t the strongest vocalist, Louise was very much the star of the band and became a lad’s mag favourite in the 90s, posing multiple times in her underwear for the cover of FHM as well as Loaded.
At the time the Bennett sisters subtly let it be known in magazine interviews that her sexy image didn’t quite sit well with them as devout Christians.
Lousie left in 1995 to release her solo album Naked, while the band carried on without her – and scored a string of hits, including their first number one.
They finally split in 2000 but reformed in 2013 as a trio – minus Redknapp, who made a telling statement on Loose Women last year about the row over the reunion tour, indicating the state of her relationship with the Bennett sisters.
‘I would have always loved to have done a reunion with the girls,’ she said. ‘I have a lot of love for what we have done together and me and Kelle are still the best of friends.’