The legendary pop group The Fizz has officially announced two new members: Matthew Pateman and Nikk Mager.
The news was revealed earlier on BBC Radio 2, sparking a wave of anticipation as the group embarks on a new era in their decades-spanning career.
The new additions come after original singer Mike Nolan announced he was quitting the band for ‘personal reasons’ earlier this year.
As a result, his former bandmates Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston put out an advert calling on members of the public to audition for the group with two new spots vacant.
On the poster titled Making Our Mind Up, the advert stated: ‘Legendary 80s pop group seeking two experienced male singers.’
It seems the band found what they were looking for in Pateman and Mager.
Long-standing members Baker and JAston have expressed their gratitude to their loyal fanbase, saying in a statement: ‘As just announced on Radio 2, we can now reveal the two new members of The Fizz are Matthew and Nikk.
‘Please give them both a very warm welcome to the group. They are both going to be great additions and there really are, exciting times ahead.
‘Cheryl and Jay appreciate your dedication and support, so much more than you can ever possibly know.. Here’s to a New Beginning!’
Matthew Pateman, who will now take to the stage with The Fizz, isn’t new to the music scene even though he is new to the group.
He first rose to fame as the lead singer of the 1990s boy band Bad Boys Inc, a group that achieved six UK chart positions, including the top-ten hit More to This World.
More recently, Matthew has been performing as the frontman for the 80s tribute band Wham! Duran.
Joining Pateman as the second new recruit to The Fizz is Nikk Mager. Nikk first caught the public’s attention on Popstars: The Rivals, the popular talent show that launched several prominent UK pop acts.
From there, Nikk became a member of the boyband Phixx, which enjoyed a string of successes in the early 2000s, securing four Top 20 singles on the UK charts. He then went on to have a successful solo career.
The Fizz, the rebranded version of Bucks Fizz, won Eurovision in 1981 and then went on to dominate the 1980s with hits like Making Your Mind Up and The Land of Make Believe.
The original line-up of Bucks Fizz was: Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan, Jay Aston, and Bobby G.
Fans have been quick to welcome the new additions, expressing excitement for what this new era will bring.