Cheryl Baker

Rita Maria Stroud (née Crudgington; born 8 March 1954), known professionally as Cheryl Baker, is an English singer and television presenter.Baker, who as a member of Co-Co had earlier represented the UK at the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest, left Bucks Fizz in 1993 to concentrate on her television career.Cheryl Baker was born as Rita Maria Crudgington on 8 March 1954 in Bethnal Green, London.[8][9] John Kennedy O'Connor, author of The Eurovision Song Contest – The Official History, described the group giving "a very weak and off-key vocal performance"."[18] In Nul Points (2007), his book about Eurovision, Tim Moore wrote that Baker's "detachable skirt [would] help Bucks Fizz to the Euro crown".[19] Baker later recalled that as the group was on stage being photographed after winning, she thought "That piece of Velcro on the skirts has just changed my life.[24][25] According to journalist and author Simon Garfield, "petty jealousies over who sang lead vocals and designed outfits and routines" frequently occurred, and Baker would often clash with both Gee and Martin.[32] In an interview with Boyz in 2015, Baker said that, "When I left the group in the 90s, we were doing bingo halls and places like that and it was soul destroying because no one cared.[45] Baker released the solo singles: "If Paradise Is Half as Nice" (1987) and "Sensuality" (1992), although neither of these found chart success.[46][47] In June 2011, she reached the final of the ITV series Popstar to Operastar, where she was beaten into second place by Joe McElderry.[56] Her stage acting debut was in Babes in the Wood, the 1987 pantomime at the London Palladium, alongside Cannon and Ball, Marti Webb and John Inman.[6] Baker played Maid Marian, and Peter Hepple of The Stage called her "a new and highly promising recruit to the pantomime ranks".[58] The Stage critic Pat Rusch praised Baker's 1991 turn as Cinderella, writing that she "looked good, played the part with gusto" and sang well, but lamented that the lack of musical numbers in the show meant that she was not able to stand out as much as she could have done otherwise.[66][67] The same year, she fronted a series of television commercials for Safestyle windows; the company felt that she represented an "instantly recognised image of the 'girl next door'".[22] She is the vice-president of the stillbirth charity Abigail's Footsteps,[71] became an Ambassador of Festival4Stars talent competition after she judged a national final in 2008.
Baker in 1983
Two women and a man performing on stage
Baker (left) performing with The Original Bucks Fizz in 2011
Bethnal GreenBucks Fizz1981 Eurovision Song Contestthe FizzMaking Your Mind UpThe Land of Make BelieveMy Camera Never Lies1978 Eurovision Song ContestHow Dare You!Record BreakersEggs 'n' BakerPopstar to OperastarCelebrity Mastermindtenth seriesDancing on IceShelley PrestonMike Nolanthe Original Bucks FizzJay Astonpantomimesmusical theatreFootloosecobblerMike ReadMelody MakerBrotherhood of ManThe Bad Old DaysJohn Kennedy O'ConnorUK Singles Chartcassette tapesAndy HillBobby GeeNick BrownleeTim MooreWhen We Were YoungWho's That Girl?EurythmicsSimon GarfieldNewcastle upon TynevertebraeHere and Now TourCarrie GrantChildren's ITVMark CurryRoy CastleMichael AspelBlankety BlankSurprise, SurpriseThe Stagereality televisionI'm Famous and Frightened!If Paradise Is Half as NiceJoe McElderryDisney FilmsBBC OneEastEndersEurovision Song Contest 2023CinderellaBabes in the WoodpantomimeLondon PalladiumCannon and BallMarti WebbJohn InmanMaid MarianAladdinDick WhittingtonThe F–Z of PopSmoke & MirrorsNovello TheatreMenopauseCliff RichardIn vitro fertilisationstillbirthAbigail's FootstepsFestival4StarsBlackpool TowerRiverdanceGyles BrandrethThe GuardianOfficial ChartsBrownlee, NickGambaccini, PaulGarfield, SimonLarkin, ColinMoore, TimO'Connor, John KennedyBobby GAre You ReadyHand CutI Hear TalkWriting on the WallGreatest HitsThe Story So FarThe Ultimate AnthologyThe Lost MastersThe Very Best of Bucks FizzThe Lost Masters 2 - The Final Cut The Best of the Lost Masters and More!Live at the Fairfield Hall, CroydonPiece of the ActionOne of Those NightsNow Those Days Are GoneIf You Can't Stand the HeatRun for Your LifeLondon TownRules of the GameTalking in Your SleepGolden DaysYou and Your Heart So BlueMagicalNew Beginning (Mamba Seyra)Love the One You're WithKeep Each Other WarmHeart of StoneWhat's Love Got to Do with ItDiscographyChristmas with the FizzEverything Under the SunPeter SinfieldIan BairnsonBrooksUnited Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1981