Why did Girls Aloud split up?

As the chart-conquering pop group Girls Aloud prepare to reunite on stage in honour of the late singer Sarah Harding next year, let's delve into what broke them apart in the first place.

Earning a record deal thanks to Popstars: The Rivals back in 2002, members Harding, Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh took Britain by storm with their blend of electro-pop and dance-rock bangers, including Love Machine and Sound of the Underground.

By 2012, Girls Aloud had become the UK's biggest-selling female band of the 21st century - selling 4 million albums and 4.3 million singles - but just one year later, they went their separate ways after wrapping up the Ten: The Hits Tour.

"Dear Alouders, we just want to say from the bottom of our hearts Thank you!!" read an announcement on the social media platform known as Twitter at the time.

"This tour has been an amazing experience and the perfect chance to say thank you for being on this journey with us through a decade. It has far exceeded any of our dreams and we hope we are forever your inspiration and reminder that dreams really do glitter!!

"Your love and support will stay with us forever but we have now come to the end of our incredible time together. Love you lots."

Despite this seemingly amicable end, though, subsequent interviews from the girls contradicted their joint message to the fans.

Nadine Coyle on Girls Aloud split

Speaking to The Mirror in 2014, London-native Coyle alleged that the rest of the group pulled the plug without even consulting her.

"I didn't want the band to end, it was as simple as that. I didn't think we were going to end – we had done all the promo saying we were all together, having a great tour, wearing Victoria's Secret wings and stomping up and down the catwalk every night, loving every single minute of it.

"And then, on the very last night of the tour, our management and publicist came up to me and said the girls wanted to split up the band," she recalled.

"I was thinking, 'What?!' I was in hair and make-up, about to get into my costume, and the show was starting in 20 minutes. I was shocked. I went back to my make-up lady and told her, and was like, 'F***! I don't have a job! What am I going to do?'

"But after that I was fine. I refused to even be sad about it. It is what it is. I couldn't kick and scream, and change their minds – but had it been me, I would have done it differently. Not just before you go out on stage."

Cheryl on Girls Aloud break up

Cheryl, who began a solo career while still performing with Girls Aloud – releasing four albums between 2009 and 2014 – shared her own version of events during a chat to Attitude magazine.

"She wants to come out and say we broke the band up? No! She shouldn't tell porkie pies," the Geordie fired back.

"Okay, so do you want us to tell the truth? She wasn't going to make another Girls Aloud record until she got a solo deal. I feel she held us to ransom and then made her solo record deal. It's the truth. She's saying that we broke the band up. So there you go."

Did Girls Aloud fallout behind the scenes?

Backing up the former X Factor coach, Harding (who sadly lost her life to cancer in 2021) claimed that Coyle never once aired her grievances when the decision was made.

On a potential behind-the-scenes rift, she told Look magazine: "No, that's never happened. We all went to Manchester and had the after-party with our friends and family. Then we kind of hugged it out and just danced.

"Of course it worries me there are reports of fallouts between us, because it's upsetting to our fans. We wouldn't be where we are now without their loyalty."

Four years ago during an appearance on Loose Women, fellow singer Walsh seemingly directed a dig towards Coyle regarding their relationship.

"It is a true, genuine, real connection between [her, Cheryl and Roberts]. With Sarah and Nadine, it was more of a work relationship but it's like family, you'd feel for them. You don't see them all the time," she reflected.

Whatever the truth behind Girls Aloud's initial break-up, we're just glad they're getting the band back together.

The group were initially reunited over Harding's cancer battle and they rallied around her until her sad death.

Read more: Girls Aloud

• Lorraine Kelly praises Sarah Harding's breast cancer legacy

• Louis Walsh on why he thinks 'girls in bands don't like each other'

Watch: Girls Aloud are reuniting for a greatest hits tour