Kym Marsh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kym Marsh
Marsh in 2015
Born	Kimberley Gail Marsh (1976-06-13) June 13, 1976 (age 49) Whiston, Merseyside, England
Occupation	Actress singer television presenter
Years active	2000–present
Employer	BBC
Spouse(s)	Jack Ryder ​ ​ (m. 2002; div. 2009)​ Jamie Lomas ​ ​ (m. 2012; div. 2014)​ Scott Ratcliff ​ ​ (m. 2021; div. 2023)​
Children	4
Musical career
Genres	Pop rock
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Island
Associated acts	Hear'Say

Kimberley Gail Marsh (born 13 June 1976) is an English actress, TV presenter, and singer. She became famous in 2001 after winning a spot in the band Hear'Say on the TV show Popstars. Hear'Say had quick success with two UK number one songs and a number one album. Kym left the band in 2002 to start her own music career.

In 2003, she released her solo album, Standing Tall, which reached number nine in the UK. It also had two songs that made it into the top ten. From 2006 to 2019, Kym played Michelle Connor in the popular TV show Coronation Street. She won awards for her role, including Best Newcomer in 2007. Kym also appeared on Popstar to Operastar in 2010, where she learned to sing opera. Since 2020, she has been a co-presenter on the BBC One morning show Morning Live. In 2023, Kym joined the cast of the BBC school drama Waterloo Road.

Early Life and Education

Kym Marsh was born on 13 June 1976 in Whiston, Merseyside, England. Her parents are Pauline and David Marsh. She has two older brothers and one older sister. Her father was a joiner and also played guitar in a band called Ricky and the Dominant Four. This band even supported The Beatles at The Cavern Club!

Kym went to Byrchall High School and also studied at the Elliot Clarke Stage School in Liverpool for two years. She left school when she was 15 years old.

Music Career Journey

Starting with Hear'Say

Before joining a band, Kym sang for other artists, including Matt Darey and Hemstock & Jennings. One song she sang, "Arctic," was later remixed and became "Nothing But You," which reached number 14 in the UK charts.

In late 2000, Kym tried out for the TV talent show Popstars. She was chosen as one of the five singers for the new band Hear'Say. The other members were Danny Foster, Myleene Klass, Suzanne Shaw, and Noel Sullivan. In March 2001, Hear'Say released their first song, "Pure and Simple." It quickly went to number one on the UK Singles Chart, selling almost 550,000 copies.

The group's second song, "The Way to Your Love," also became a number one hit in June 2001. After this, the band went on a tour across the UK. In January 2002, Kym announced she was leaving Hear'Say. The group looked for a new singer, but they eventually broke up in October 2002.

Kym's Solo Music

Marsh performing at G-A-Y in 2003

After leaving Hear'Say, Kym signed a solo record deal with Island Records. Her first solo song, "Cry," reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart. Her second song, "Come on Over," made it to number 10.

In July 2003, Kym released her first solo album, Standing Tall. It reached number 9 in the UK. However, her third song, "Sentimental," only reached number 35, and she was later dropped by her record label. In 2006, Kym tried to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest with her song "Whisper to Me" on the show Making Your Mind Up. She finished in fourth place.

Television Acting Career

Kym Marsh started acting on TV in 2005. She appeared in an episode of the BBC One show Doctors. That same year, she also became a regular guest on ITV's daytime show Loose Women. In 2006, she had a role in the Channel 4 show Hollyoaks: In the City.

Starring in Coronation Street

Kym joined the cast of Coronation Street in April 2006, playing the character Michelle Connor. She stayed on the show until 2019. For her role, she won several awards, including Best Newcomer at the 2007 British Soap Awards and the 2007 National Television Awards.

Her character, Michelle, had many important storylines. These included a relationship with Steve McDonald, discovering her son was swapped at birth, and the sad passing of her baby. Kym's performance in the storyline about her baby, which was inspired by her own experience, was highly praised. She spoke about how important it was to raise awareness for families who go through similar situations. She won the 2017 British Soap Award for Best Female Dramatic Performance for this role. Kym left Coronation Street after 13 years, with her final scenes airing in December 2019.

Marsh opening a clothes shop in Manchester in 2012

Presenting and Other Roles

On 26 October 2020, Kym Marsh began co-presenting the daily morning show Morning Live on BBC One with Gethin Jones. The show returned for a second series in 2021. In March 2021, Kym appeared in the fourth series of the BBC One drama The Syndicate.

In February 2022, it was announced that Kym would be a main cast member in the new series of the BBC school drama Waterloo Road, which started in January 2023.

On 4 August 2022, Kym was announced as a contestant on the twentieth series of Strictly Come Dancing. She danced with Graziano Di Prima. Kym had to miss one show after testing positive for COVID-19. She was the tenth celebrity to leave the competition on 3 December 2022.

Personal Life

A wax figure of Marsh as Michelle Connor at Madame Tussauds Blackpool

Kym Marsh has been married three times and has three children and two grandchildren. She has a son named David (born 1995) and a daughter named Emilie (born 1997) from a previous relationship.

She married actor Jack Ryder in August 2002. They announced their separation in 2008 and divorced in 2009.

In July 2008, Kym started dating actor Jamie Lomas. They married in September 2012. Kym and Jamie had a baby boy, Archie, in February 2009, who sadly passed away shortly after birth. On 23 March 2011, their daughter, Polly, was born. Kym and Jamie separated in 2013 and divorced in 2014.

In May 2017, a wax figure of Kym's Coronation Street character, Michelle Connor, was added to the Madame Tussauds Blackpool museum.

Kym became a grandmother for the first time in May 2019 when her daughter Emilie had a son. On 14 June 2021, Kym announced her engagement to army major Scott Ratcliff. They married on 16 October 2021. Kym became a grandmother for the second time in August 2022, when her son David had a son named Clayton. Kym and Scott Ratcliff separated in May 2023 and divorced later that year.

Film and Television Appearances

Film Roles

Television Roles

Music Releases

Studio Albums

Extended Plays (EPs)

Singles

Awards and Recognitions

Other Awards

See also

In Spanish: Kym Marsh para niños