S Club 7 star quits

S Club 7 star Paul Cattermole announced today he was quitting for a solo career - but the band are to carry on.

His departure came as the rest of the band resigned their deal with both their management company and record label, which will make each of the members a millionaire.

Cattermole was keen to move into different styles of music and did not want to sign up for the next few years.

However the departure is amicable, a band spokeswoman said.

The oldest member of the group at 25, he will continue to remain close to them as he dates fellow member Hannah Spearitt.

The band will carry on under the name S Club and he will remain with them for the next few months to work on their fourth TV series.

He will also perform at the Queen’s Golden Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace in June.

Cattermole has been with the band - put together by former Spice girls manager Simon Fuller - for four years.

They have chalked up four number ones and each of their first eight singles made it into the top three of the UK chart.