SUNDAY MAIL INTERVIEW

THEY can boast a string of massive hits, sang on the original Band Aid and even made the Guinness Book of Records - but Bananarama never managed a UK No.1.
Now Keren Woodward and Sarah Dallin - who look better than ever - hope that will change with new single Move In My Direction.

Keren, 44, said: 'Record sales are so poor now. When I look back at all the discs we have from the 80s it's frightening to see what we sold. Every time we put out a single it would go silver - which is 250,000 records sold. These days you can sell 20,000 and get a No.1. If all our old fans go out and buy a copy we'll definitely get to No.1 we could even have the biggest-selling record of the year.' The new single will be seen as a comeback for the band but Keren insists they have never been away.

She said: 'We've never stopped. We haven't had a release in the UK because we couldn't get one - majors just don't want to take a chance on anything now. In the 90s it all became very rock but it seems the timing may be right now. It's certainly the best chance we've had in years, it's fantastic. It's all very exciting We'd like to do it properly, get out on tour with a band because we had so much fun doing it in the past. And of course we'd play all the old hits - we're very proud of them'

Keren is still happily living with long-term boyfriend, ex-Wham star Andrew Ridgely.
And while her musical future is well planned, she's less clear on her personal future.
'Wedding plans? No. After this long together you think, What's the point? It's fine as it is so we don't see any reason to change it - it's just like we're married anyway. But I wouldn't take him on tour with me. Who would walk the dogs and feed the cats?'