Girls Aloud share plans to 'celebrate' late bandmate Sarah Harding on tour: 'Our aim is to do her justice'

Girls Aloud have shared how they plan to “celebrate” late bandmate Sarah Harding's life on tour.

The beloved pop group kick off their highly anticipated UK and Ireland tour, The Girls Aloud Show, in Dublin on Friday.

The group, who formed in 2002 on Popstars: The Rivals, previously revealed that a reunion had originally been planned to mark their 20th anniversary, but Sarah was diagnosed with cancer before it could happen.

The singer died in September 2021 aged 39, after being diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer in 2020.

Since her passing, Nadine Coyle, Cheryl Tweedy, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh have raised more than £1million for cancer charities, including The Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal.

Although the late star’s absence will be felt during the tour, her bandmates have explained that they will pay tribute to her throughout their shows, incorporating her vocals on several tracks and show footage of her on screens.

Speaking ahead of the tour’s opening night, Kimberley, 41, shared: “One of our main aims on this tour is to do Sarah justice and give us and our fans that moment to celebrate her. I think they need it; I think we all need it.”

Cheryl, 40, added that she hopes their upcoming shows “bring back happy memories” for their fans.

“I love listening to music that transports me to the way I felt at a different time, and I think Girls Aloud are that band for a lot of people,” she told Official Charts.

Bandmate Kimberley added: “It's amazing at this stage in our career to be able to go out there and do this. We're coming into this tour from a place of joy.

"There's always something really special when we get together. It's a bit mad, but that's just us. I think I'm only realising now just how much our music means to people. “

The band will take up residence at London’s O2 Arena next month where they will perform a sold out five-night run.