By Owen Tonks

New Sugababe Jade Ewen has defended the group’s decision to continue under the same name despite there being no founding members in the band.

The last original member Keisha Buchanan left last month with Mutya Buena and Siobhan Donaghy having left in previous years.

Speaking to The Times, Jade said: “As a consumer, Heidi to me is one of the original members. She’s been in the band eight years, was there for their first number one – from the point they had success, she was involved.”

She added: “It’s a business, at the end of the day. We’re just ending one business and starting a new one.”

Heidi Range joined the band in 2001 following the departure of Siobhan Donaghy.

By Owen Tonks

Sugababe Heidi Range has denied rumours that the group’s new line-up has fallen out already.

Shortly before Amelle took time off after being diagnosed with nervous exhaustion it was alleged the girls were arguing over who should take lead position in photos.

Speaking to The Times, Heidi said: “Apparently the three of us were having a photoshoot together, and we were rowing over who was going to be in the middle of the picture. Completely made up! We hadn’t even had a photoshoot together.”

Heidi also denied that she was the reason for the departure of founding member Keisha Buchanan: “I’ve also read things about how we ‘plotted’ to get Keisha out of the band, how I was ‘the silent assassin’. It’s just horrible because the last few months leading up to the previous lineup ending was really stressful. It was a horrible time, particularly for Amelle.”

The bands next album Sweet 7 is due out in March.

By Owen Tonks

Heidi Range has claimed that the Sugababes would not have been a success without her, reports suggest.

Heidi joined the band three years after they formed following the departure of Siobhan Donaghy.

In an interview with BBC Newsbeat, Heidi said: “I don’t want to sound like I’m being bigheaded but the Sugababes had one album which didn’t sell and they were dropped.

“I joined eight years ago and we were signed together to Island Records. I’ve been there since our first number one Freak Like Me and been part of the history of the band ever since.”

Heidi insisted even though there are no original Sugababes in the band they will continue to use the same name, saying “We were signed as Sugababes to Island Records and I’m still signed to Island Records as Sugababes.”

By Owen Tonks

Mutya Buena has reportedly been in contact with original Sugababes Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy in an attempt to convince the group to reform.

Keisha Buchanan’s recent departure from the band means that there is no original member in the current line-up.

Speaking to The Sun a friend of Siobhan Donaghy, the first member to leave, said: “She met up with Mutya for the first time in ages over the summer and they got on well.

“Now Mutya is convinced the original three could be huge again. She was on the phone all last weekend trying to convince the girls to reform. Siobhan’s considering it.

“Mutya is very keen to do this. Keisha has her solo career on the go – including recording with new star Jay Sean – but she feels more comfortable as part of a band.

“There were arguments in the past, but all three realise it was because they were young, headstrong and finding fame hard to cope with.”

Siobhan left the Sugababes in 2001, followed by Mutya in 2005 and Keisha in 2009.

By Owen Tonks

The Sugababes have cancelled a performance at the Scottish Royal Variety Show on Thursday.

The girls were due to be the headline act and it was set the be the band’s first live performance with new member Jade.

A statement from the group’s management said: “Following the recent and well documented change of lineup to Sugababes, there are a number of legal issues to be finalised by all parties in order that the band can move forward.

“Sadly, whilst these negotiations are approaching completion, it will not be possible for the band to finalise its business affairs prior to Thursday’s event.”

Speaking on the matter, new member Jade said: “This is such a disappointment to all of us because not only were we looking forward to this being our very first gig together, but my dad happens to be blind and my mum is partially sighted, and I know first-hand the great work the charity does for families like mine.”

The Sugababes plan to organise a concert to raise funds for the Scottish Royal Variety’s chosen charity.

By Owen Tonks

The Sugababes have been arguing over who should take the lead in the band since Keisha Buchanan’s departure, reports suggest.

It is alleged that the girls had a massive argument over the matter at Pinewood Studios last week.

The group’s management has suggested that Heidi stand in the centre at photoshoots but Amelle believes that she would be the better choice.

A source told the Daily Star: “There was a massive fight when the band were recording. Amelle was shouting and saying she refuses to stand in Heidi’s shadow and she’s a better singer.”

A representative for the Sugababes said: “The lineup changes from time to time and the girls are getting on fine.”

By Owen Tonks

The new Sugababes line-up is arguing already, reports suggest.

Despite being together for only two weeks Amelle, Heidi and new addition Jade allegedly had a heated argument whilst at a photoshoot in London last week.

The girls are said to have fallen out after Heidi and Jade became annoyed by Amelle’s phone which was constantly ringing throughout the shoot.

A source told The Sun: “The others were kept waiting and got increasingly wound up. Heidi has seen it all before but Jade just wanted to get on and get the job done.

“Their management had to come down hard on the girls and tell them to behave.”

The trio apparently needed two hours to cool off after the confrontation.

By Owen Tonks

Jade Ewen has been driven off of Twitter after receiving hate mail from fans of recently departed Sugababe Keisha Buchanan.

Keisha was allegedly asked to leave the band she co-founded following rumours of bullying and in-fighting and UK Eurovision entrant Jade Ewen replaced her.

In an attempt to defend herself against the messages from angry Keisha fans, Jade took to her official Twitter page and said: “Let’s clear this up. I have never met Keisha in my life. We were never friends. I don’t understand what she’s trying to achieve by saying this.”

Despite this the abusive messages continued and Jade has since deleted her Twitter profile.

By Owen Tonks

Amelle Berrabah has spoken publicly about Keisha Buchanan’s departure from the Sugababes for the first time.

The singer admitted that the working relationship within the band got so bad that she became depressed.

Talking to The Mirror, she said: ”I was depressed. You shouldn’t have to go to work treading on eggshells.

“Before going to LA, I disappeared for three days and I got to the point where I just couldn’t take any more. I needed to be on my own. Even my own family couldn’t get hold of me. I hit that wall.”

Amelle, who replaced Mutya Buena in 2005, suggested Keisha leave and claims that fellow band member, Heidi Range, supported this.

“Keisha didn’t leave off her own back – me and Heidi couldn’t carry on,” she continued.

“Heidi completely supported me and knew what was going on within the band. But we all couldn’t work together anymore. We weren’t happy, me and Heidi, and it was a struggle to come into work. We didn’t enjoy it.

“We didn’t think [management would] want to carry on when we said we’d had enough. We met Jade for the first time on Sunday and we all got on well, it seemed natural. It’s totally different – we have started enjoying ourselves again and I do feel a bit relieved.”

Sugababes release new album Sweet 7 in November.

By Owen Tonks

Heidi Range has admitted that the reason for Keisha Buchanan’s recent departure from the Sugababes is because they were unable to work together anymore.

The singer claims the situation got so bad that Amelle Berrabah threatened to quit, telling The Sun: “We couldn’t work together any more. It suddenly came to a head last week, me and Amelle knew we couldn’t move forward the way it was, we couldn’t work together anymore.

“But we did not want to throw away what we had achieved and split up. None of us was happy. We had to make a decision. Things have not been good for a few months.”

Heidi said that she had no bad feelings towards Keisha: “I’m not going to say anything bad about Keisha. I’m not going to start telling tales because I have too much respect.”

The Sugababes new album Sweet 7 is released in November.