Ian "H" Watkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ian Watkins
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Watkins in 2022
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Ian Watkins
8 May 1976 Llwynypia, Mid Glamorgan, Wales
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| Children | 2 |
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| Genres | Pop |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1997–present |
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Ian Watkins (born 8 May 1976), known by his stage name H, is a Welsh singer and actor. He is a member of the British pop group Steps.
In 2020, he competed in the twelfth series of the British television series Dancing on Ice.
Contents
Career Highlights
Steps Pop Group
Before joining Steps, Ian Watkins worked at holiday resorts like Pontins and Butlin's.
In May 1997, Watkins became a member of the British pop group Steps. Steps had many hit songs between 1997 and 2001. They achieved two number-one songs and two number-one albums in the UK. They also had 14 songs in a row that reached the top 5 in the UK. The group sold over 20 million records around the world. They were also nominated for a BRIT Award in 1999.
Steps reunited in May 2011 for a TV show called Steps: Reunion on Sky Living. This show started on 28 September 2011. They also released a new album of their greatest hits, The Ultimate Collection, on 10 October 2011. This album went straight to number one, making it their third album to do so. A second series of their TV show, "Steps: On the Road Again", aired in April 2012. This series followed the band on their sold-out 22-date UK tour.
On 24 September 2012, the group announced their fourth studio album, Light Up The World. It was released on 12 November 2012. They also had a six-date Christmas tour from 30 November to 5 December. The group reunited again on 1 January 2017 to celebrate their 20th anniversary. They then announced their fifth studio album, Tears on the Dancefloor, which came out in April 2017 and reached number 2 on the charts. On 5 March 2017, they confirmed the album's release and its first song, "Scared of the Dark". They also announced a 22-date tour called Party on the Dancefloor. A special edition of the album, Tears on the Dancefloor: Crying at the Disco, was released on 27 October.
In November 2017, Faye Tozer said that the reunion was not just for their 20th anniversary. She said the group planned to continue after their 2018 Summer of Steps tour. In April 2018, Claire Richards announced that they would start working on their sixth studio album after their summer tour. In February 2019, Richards confirmed that the group would begin recording their next album during the summer months.
On 7 September 2020, Steps announced their album What the Future Holds. It was released on 27 November 2020. They also confirmed a new 14-date UK tour with special guest Sophie Ellis-Bextor, which started in November 2021. The first song from the album was "What the Future Holds", released on 9 September 2020. It was followed by "Something in Your Eyes" on 27 October 2020. "To the Beat of My Heart" was the album's third song, released in January 2021.
The first song from What the Future Holds Pt. 2 was a new version of "Heartbreak in This City". It featured Michelle Visage.
H and Claire Duo
After Steps broke up in 2001, Ian Watkins formed a music duo called H & Claire. He teamed up with another former Steps member, Claire Richards. They released three songs and one album together.
Musical Theatre Roles
After his time with H & Claire, Ian Watkins studied musical theatre at the Royal Academy of Music. While studying, he performed in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. A TV show called H-side Story followed him as he tried to start a new career as an actor. Watkins also performed in the pantomime Cinderella in Preston, playing the role of Buttons. In summer 2007, he was in the West End show Fame. During Christmas 2007, he played Buttons again in Cinderella in Grimsby.
In July 2008, he played the Child Catcher in the UK tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in Cardiff Bay. He also played 'Silly Billy' in the pantomime Jack & The Beanstalk from December 2009 to January 2010. In Christmas 2010, he returned to Grimsby for the pantomime Beauty and the Beast, playing Muddles. In 2013, Watkins announced he would return to his role as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for a UK tour. The next year, he played Prince Charming in the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
Television Appearances
In June 2006, Ian Watkins appeared in special episodes of the BBC Radio Drama Silver Street. He played a former soldier named Dave. In November 2006, Watkins was on the BBC Children in Need show Celebrity Scissorhands.
Watkins was a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother in January 2007. He finished in fourth place. In April 2007, Watkins was the hidden celebrity in an episode of the CBBC series Hider in the House. On 11 March 2008, Watkins presented a documentary for BBC Wales.
In December 2008, Watkins was a contestant on Bargain Hunt Famous Finds. He appeared on Skins in 2010. He also appeared in the Living TV series Party Wars in 2010. In February 2013, Watkins was a contestant on the celebrity special of the ITV quiz show The Chase. In 2014, he was one of the celebrities who learned Welsh in a week on the S4C series Cariad@Iaith.
In 2019, he played a fictional version of himself in the comedy mystery Dial M for Middlesbrough.
In 2020, Watkins competed in the twelfth series of the ITV show Dancing on Ice. He was the first celebrity on the show to compete with a same-sex partner, Matt Evers.
In 2024, comedian Joe Lycett created a fun, fake news story about Watkins. The story said Watkins would get an 8-foot statue in Cowbridge. This was part of Lycett's show Late Night Lycett.
Steps Reunion Details
In 2009, Lee Latchford-Evans hinted that Steps might reunite in the future. In 2011, it was announced that Steps would reunite for a four-part TV show on Sky Living. The show would cover their time apart and their reunion. The band also released their Ultimate Collection album.
In an interview on 20 September 2011, Steps said they thought there was still a place for their "happy pop" music. Lisa Scott-Lee said that their music was "light-hearted and fun". She also noted that there were no other boy/girl pop groups at that time.
Community Involvement
Local Politics
In May 2023, Ian Watkins was elected as an Independent town councillor. He serves on the Cowbridge with Llanblethian Town Council. This means he helps make decisions for his local community.
Personal Life Facts
Ian Watkins was born in Llwynypia, Wales, on 8 May 1976. From 1994 to 1995, he studied Fine Art & Design at Pontypridd College.
In 2016, Ian Watkins became a father to twin sons. They were born through a surrogate.
Misidentification Incident
In November 2013, Ian Watkins received messages on Twitter from people who confused him with another singer named Ian Watkins. This other singer had been involved in serious legal issues. H received a public apology from E! Entertainment Television. This was because they had used his photo by mistake in a story about the other Ian Watkins. After this mix-up, H considered taking legal action. This was because his image appeared next to stories about the other Ian Watkins' crimes in online searches.
Discography
