Faye Louise Tozer (born 14 November 1975) is an English singer, dancer, and actress, best known as a member of British pop group Steps.

Career

Music

Steps are a pop group that have had a series of charted singles between 1997 and 2020. Their name is based on a gimmick: each of their music videos are choreographed, and the dance steps are included with most of their single releases. Steps have sold over 25 million records, including 15 million albums. During Steps split Tozer returned to the pop charts once, duetting with

Russell Watson Russell Watson is an English tenor who has released singles and albums of both operatic-style and pop songs. He began singing as a child, and became known after performing at a working men's club. He came to attention in 1999 when he sang "God ...

. Their UK single "Someone Like You" charted at No. 10 in May 2002 and she joined him on his UK tour around the same time. In 2006, Tozer was featured as a guest vocalist for Plastic Cinema for two songs: "Take Me Under" and "Any Minute Now". Steps reformed in May 2011 for a four-part documentary series on

Sky Living Sky Living was a British pay television channel owned and operated by Sky. The channel's programming was aimed mainly at women and young adults. It originally launched as UK Living in 1993 and closed 25 years later, being replaced by Sky Witnes ...

titled ''Steps: Reunion''. The series started airing on 28 September, following an announcement of a second greatest hits album, '' The Ultimate Collection'', that was released on 10 October 2011. The album entered the charts at number one, becoming the band's third album to achieve this feat. The second series of ''Steps: Reunion'' titled "Steps: On the Road Again" aired on

in April 2012; the series followed the band as they embarked on their sellout 22-date UK tour. On 24 September 2012, the group confirmed they would release their fourth studio album '' Light Up The World'' on 12 November 2012, alongside a six-date Christmas tour, starting from 30 November and ending on 5 December. The group reformed for a second time on 1 January 2017 in celebration of their 20th anniversary, and later announced their fifth studio album ''

Tears on the Dancefloor ''Tears on the Dancefloor'' is the fifth studio album by British group Steps. It was released on 21 April 2017, by Absolute and Fascination Records. The album is the group's first album in five years since ''Light Up the World'', and their fi ...

'', which was released in April 2017 and entered the charts at number 2. On 5 March 2017, the group confirmed the release of the new album, alongside its lead single, "

Scared of the Dark "Scared of the Dark" is a song recorded by British group Steps for their fifth studio album, ''Tears on the Dancefloor'' (2017). On 6 March 2017, the group announced their twentieth anniversary celebrations in the form of a new single, album ...

", and a 22-date tour, Party on the Dancefloor. A deluxe edition of the album, titled ''Tears on the Dancefloor: Crying at the Disco'', was released on 27 October. In November 2017, Tozer announced that the reunion was no longer just a 20th-anniversary celebration and that the group intends to continue after their 2018 Summer of Steps tour. In April 2018, Richards announced that following their summer tour, they would begin work on their sixth studio album. In February 2019, Richards announced the group would begin recording their next album during the summer months. On 7 September 2020, via their social media accounts, Steps announced the release date of their album entitled ''

What the Future Holds ''What the Future Holds'' is the sixth studio album by the British group Steps and was their first album to be released with their new record label BMG on 27 November 2020. They had originally intended to release the project in the Spring, how ...

''. The album was released on 27 November of the same year, with pre-orders available from 8 September. The next day, they confirmed a new 14-date UK tour (with special guest

Sophie Ellis-Bextor Sophie Michelle Ellis-Bextor (born 10 April 1979) is an English singer and songwriter. She first came to prominence in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the indie rock band Theaudience. After the group disbanded Ellis-Bextor went solo and ach ...

) starting in November 2021. The first single from the album was the

Greg Kurstin Gregory Allen Kurstin (born May 14, 1969) is an American record producer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter. He has won nine Grammy Awards, including Producer of the Year, Non-Classical in 2017 and 2018, and written and produced four songs ...

-and-

Sia Sia Kate Isobelle Furler ( ; born 18 December 1975) is an Australian singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Adelaide, she started her career as a singer in the acid jazz band Crisp in the mid-1990s. In 1997, when Crisp disbanded, she rel ...

-penned "

", released on 9 September 2020. It was followed by " Something in Your Eyes" on 27 October 2020. " To the Beat of My Heart" was released as the album's third single in January 2021. The first single of '' What the Future Holds Pt. 2'' was confirmed as a reworked version of "Heartbreak in This City" featuring

Michelle Visage Michelle Lynn Case (nee Shupack), better known as Michelle Visage (born September 20, 1968), is an American singer, television host, actress, radio DJ and producer. She first gained recognition as a member of the musical group Seduction which ...

Film and theatre

Tozer has combined a pop career with theatre work and acting. In 2004 she made her professional musical-theatre debut in a national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's one-woman musical ''

Tell Me on a Sunday ''Tell Me on a Sunday'' is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Don Black. A one-woman show, it has been performed by a number of female singers/actors, most notably Marti Webb and Bernadette Peters. A one-act song cycl ...

''. She and

Patsy Palmer Julie Anne Merkell (''née'' Harris; born 26 May 1972), known professionally as Patsy Palmer, is an English actress and DJ, known for her roles as Natasha in the children's drama series ''Grange Hill'' (1985–1987), and Bianca Jackson in the ...

alternated in the role. Tozer toured with the musical ''Love Shack'', which also featured former pop singers Jon Lee and

Noel Sullivan Noel Sullivan (born 28 July 1980 as Noel John Hayes) is a Welsh singer and actor. He was a member of the British pop group Hear'Say. Like the other members of the group, he won his part through the talent show '' Popstars''. Early life Sulli ...

, and soon after starred as ''Jubilee Climax'' in a production of '' Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens'' at

The Venue Leicester Square The Leicester Square Theatre is a 400-seat theatre in Leicester Place, immediately north of Leicester Square, in the City of Westminster, London. It was previously known as Notre Dame Hall, Cavern in the Town and The Venue. The theatre hosts st ...

in London's West End. In 2006 she toured in a production of '' Me and My Girl'', acted in the film ''Lady Godiva Back in the Saddle'' and appeared in the charity fitness DVD ''The Allstar Workout''. In 2007, Tozer appeared in a production of ''

Dial M for Murder ''Dial M for Murder'' is a 1954 American crime thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, Robert Cummings, Anthony Dawson, and John Williams. Both the screenplay and the successful stage play on which it was b ...

'' and in October began touring with the production ''Over the Rainbow – the Eva Cassidy Story'' playing

Eva Cassidy Eva Marie Cassidy (February 2, 1963 – November 2, 1996) was an American singer and guitarist known for her interpretations of jazz, folk, and blues music, sung with a powerful, emotive soprano voice. In 1992, she released her first album ...

. At Christmas 2007, she appeared in the pantomime '' Aladdin'' at the

Theatre Royal, Newcastle The Theatre Royal is a historic theatre, a Grade I listed building situated on Grey Street in Newcastle upon Tyne. History The theatre was designed by local architects John and Benjamin Green as part of Richard Grainger's grand design for the c ...

. Over Christmas 2008, Tozer played alongside ''

X Factor ''The X Factor'' is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for ''Pop Idol'' (2001–2003) ...

'' finalist

Ray Quinn Raymond Arthur Quinn (born 25 August 1988) is an English actor, singer, dancer and carpet layer. He is best known for his role as Anthony Murray in ''Brookside'' from 2000 to 2003. He achieved more public recognition when he auditioned for the ...

in Aladdin, at the Broadway Theatre in

Peterborough Peterborough () is a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, east of England. It is the largest part of the City of Peterborough unitary authority district (which covers a larger area than Peterborough itself). It was part of Northamptonshire until ...

. Tozer has filmed roles in the independent films ''Kung Fu Flid'' & ''Mixed Up''. In 2010, Tozer appeared in "In The Spotlight – Songs From The Musicals" which completed a UK tour, directed by Karen Edwards and choreographed by Tom Gribby. In December 2010 she starred in ''Aladdin'' at the Grove Theatre in her home town of Dunstable. In 2011 Tozer starred alongside her fellow Steps group member

Ian "H" Watkins Ian Watkins (born 8 May 1976), known by his stage name as H, is a Welsh singer and actor. He is known as a member of the British pop group Steps. In 2020, he competed in the twelfth series of '' Dancing on Ice''. Career Steps In May 1997, W ...

in a UK premier tour of ''Rhinestone Mondays''. The musical was the first Country and Western to be produced with Tozer playing the part of Annie. In 2013 Tozer starred in the musical ''The Tailor-Made Man'' at the

Arts Theatre The Arts Theatre is a theatre in Great Newport Street, in Westminster, Central London. History It opened on 20 April 1927 as a members-only club for the performance of unlicensed plays, thus avoiding theatre censorship by the Lord Chamber ...

in London's West End for a limited 8-week run. She played the part of silent movie star

Marion Davies Marion Davies (born Marion Cecilia Douras; January 3, 1897 – September 22, 1961) was an American actress, producer, screenwriter, and philanthropist. Educated in a religious convent, Davies fled the school to pursue a career as a chorus girl ...

. Tozer has played the role of Miss Hedge in ''

Everybody's Talking About Jamie ''Everybody's Talking About Jamie'' is a coming-of-age stage musical with music by Dan Gillespie Sells and book and lyrics by Tom MacRae. The musical is inspired by the 2011 British television documentary ''Jamie: Drag Queen at 16'' directed ...

'' in London's Apollo Theatre in the West End.

Television

Tozer appeared on the fifth series of ''

Big Star's Little Star ''Big Star's Little Star'' is a British game show that began on ITV on 4 September 2013 and is presented by Stephen Mulhern. The show sees three celebrity contestants and their children or grandchildren answering questions about each other to w ...

'' with her son Benjamin. She also placed third in a celebrity edition of '' Four Weddings'' losing out to

Michelle Marsh Michelle Marsh (born 30 September 1982) is an English former glamour model, known for her appearances on Page 3 of several tabloids and in numerous British lads' mags. Career Michelle Marsh was born on 30 September 1982 in Royton, England. B ...

. In 2017, Tozer was one of four contestants on season 7, episode 8 of The Celebrity Chase, progressing to the episode's Final Chase. From September 2018, Tozer participated in the sixteenth series of '' Strictly Come Dancing'' where her professional dance partner was

Giovanni Pernice Giovanni Pernice (born 5 September 1990) is an Italian professional dancer based in the United Kingdom, best known for his appearances on the British television show '' Strictly Come Dancing''. He is also an Italian Open Latin Dance Champion (201 ...

. The couple were joint runners up in the final. She appeared on a celebrity special of the classic game show ''

Catchphrase A catchphrase (alternatively spelled catch phrase) is a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance. Such phrases often originate in popular culture and in the arts, and typically spread through word of mouth and a variety of mass ...

'', with Sir Chris Hoy,

Martine McCutcheon Martine Kimberley Sherrie McCutcheon (formerly Ponting, born 14 May 1976) is an English actress and singer. She began appearing in television commercials at an early age and made her television debut in the children's television drama '' Bluebir ...

and hosted by

Stephen Mulhern Stephen Daniel Mulhern is an English television presenter, magician, and comedian. He began his television career on CITV, presenting the children's shows ''Finger Tips'' (2001–2004) and ''Tricky TV'' (2005–2010). Mulhern has presented vario ...

all trying to guess the familiar phrases.

Discography

*"Someone Like You" (with

) (2002),

Decca Decca may refer to: Music * Decca Records or Decca Music Group, a record label * Decca Gold, a classical music record label owned by Universal Music Group * Decca Broadway, a musical theater record label * Decca Studios, a recording facility in W ...

– UK #10,

IRE Ire or IRE may refer to: Ire * Extreme anger; intense fury * Irē, the Livonian name for Mazirbe, Latvia * A town in Oye, Nigeria * ''Ire'' (album), a 2015 album by the Australian metalcore band Parkway Drive * Ire (Iliad), a town mentioned in ...

#46

Personal life

In 2002, she married her longtime Danish boyfriend Jesper Irn at the Priory Church in

Dunstable Dunstable ( ) is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in Bedfordshire, England, east of the Chiltern Hills, north of London. There are several steep chalk escarpments, most noticeable when approaching Dunstable from the ...

Bedfordshire Bedfordshire (; abbreviated Beds) is a ceremonial county in the East of England. The county has been administered by three unitary authorities, Borough of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Borough of Luton, since Bedfordshire County Council ...

. They divorced after five years. On 24 February 2009, she gave birth to her first child, named Benjamin Barrington Tozer-Smith. On 5 December 2009, Tozer married Michael Smith in a ceremony at

Beamish Hall Beamish Hall is a mid-18th-century country house, now converted to a hotel, which stands in of grounds near the town of Stanley, County Durham. It is a Grade II* listed building. History The history of Beamish Hall can be traced back to the No ...

, televised on an episode of '' Celebrity Four Weddings''.

References

External links

*
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tozer, Faye 1975 births Living people English women singers Steps (group) members Musicians from Northamptonshire People from Northampton English musical theatre actresses English stage actresses People from Dunstable