SUGABABES STAR KEISHA BUCHANAN REVEALS TEENAGE KIDNAPPING ORDEAL

Keisha Buchanan, a founding member of Sugababes, has disclosed that she was kidnapped as a teenager in the period leading up to her GCSE examinations. Buchanan made the revelation on the Live, Laugh, Luke… podcast, speaking to host Luke Hamnett. She said she was taken after school by an individual and held for several hours. The incident occurred as the group were preparing to release their debut single, "Overload."

Buchanan began performing with Mutya Buena and Siobhán Donaghy at the age of 13, with all three members balancing schoolwork alongside their emerging pop career. Following the kidnapping, Buchanan's parents decided she should complete her education through alternative means, meaning she did not sit her GCSEs. She described the experience as traumatic and said she subsequently underwent therapy to help her process it. "Overload" was released in September 2000 and reached number six in the UK Singles Chart.

The original Sugababes line-up did not remain intact for long after the group's debut. Donaghy left the band in 2001 and was replaced by Heidi Range, whilst Buena departed in 2005 and was succeeded by Amelie Berrabah. Buchanan herself remained with the group until 2009, when Jade Ewan joined in her place. The podcast appearance marks the first time Buchanan has spoken publicly about the kidnapping in this level of detail.