Steps singer Ian "H" Watkins, set to appear on the new series of Celebrity MasterChef, is a familiar face on British TV screens. The 48-year-old shot to fame as one-fifth of the pop group in the late 1990s, enjoying a string of chart-topping singles and albums between 1997 and 2001. While Steps disbanded in 2001, "H" continued his musical career with bandmate Claire Richards, releasing three singles and an album. In 2011, Steps reunited for a documentary and have since continued performing in sell-out tours.
Beyond the spotlight, "H" has led a busy and sometimes controversial life. As MasterChef kicks off, we take a look at some of the headlines he's made.
A Bitter Split
The former Dancing on Ice star experienced a heartbreaking split from his partner of ten years, Craig Ryder, in 2017. The couple separated just a year after welcoming their twin sons, Macsen and Cybi, via surrogacy in March 2016.
The split turned bitter, with Ryder labelling Watkins a "bully" during a legal dispute over a Range Rover. In January 2019, Watkins took legal action against Ryder, claiming he had lent him £15,000 to purchase the car. Ryder, however, maintained that the money was a gift, branding Watkins a "financial bully" who had "deleted him" from his life. In court, Ryder stated, "I would never take a loan. We had been together for many years and we have children together."
Three years after the split, Watkins found romance with a new partner, Tom, but the relationship ended just three months later.
Fatherhood
Watkins has been open about his experiences as a single father to two twin boys, describing it as "brutal." In 2021, he told Sky News that life as a single parent can be "tough" and "a little bit crazy," but he also highlighted that modern family life is changing and comes in different forms.
"I have been a single parent virtually from the beginning," he told Sky News. "It's tough... There is no traditional family unit anymore. Families come in all shapes and sizes."
He continued, "When it comes to single parent families, I'm outnumbered, completely. So I have to divide my time and I have to devote attention to what's needed. I am a little bit of a, well, 90%, I'd say, I'm bad cop because I have to be, you know, I do rule my children with discipline, but I also put the fun dad hat on as well. So it's a juggling act, really. And it's tough."
A Statue Controversy
Earlier this year, Watkins dismissed reports that he was to be honoured with a statue in his hometown, labelling the news "fake." In April, media outlets buzzed with stories about an 8-foot-tall tribute to the Steps star being erected in Cowbridge.
Watkins later revealed the truth behind the story, saying, "If you've watched @joelycett last night then you'll know that it was FAKE NEWS! Just a bit of fun to distract from the damaging fake news stories that are made on a daily basis."
He also highlighted the reactions of some online users, saying, "I also knew that this story would shine a spotlight on the keyboard warriors! The ones that whinge day in, day out! And boy did it bring them out! The ones that feel that they are entitled, but do very little to contribute."
Watkins concluded his message by urging people to focus on more important issues: "Perhaps if the people that screamed loudly about this could focus on supporting issues that really matter.... local businesses that are struggling, the children's play park that needs updating, the fact that young people have nowhere to go, donating to food banks, or maybe helping to set up support groups for minorities? THAT would be time well spent!"
