‘A BRIGHT SHINING STAR’
Sarah Harding 1981-2021
POP star Sarah Harding has died aged 39 after a year-long battle with cancer.
The Girls Aloud singer was diagnosed with breast cancer last August and underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy in a bid to prolong her life.
But her mother Marie yesterday confirmed news of her daughter’s death.
Posting a black and white picture of Sarah smiling on Instagram she said her ‘bright shining star’ had ‘slipped away peacefully’.
‘It’s with deep heartbreak I’m sharing the news my beautiful daughter Sarah has sadly passed away,’ she wrote.
‘Many of you will know of Sarah’s battle with cancer and that she fought so strongly from her diagnosis until her last day.
‘I’d like to thank everyone for their kind support over the past year. It meant the world to Sarah and gave her great strength and comfort to know she was loved.
‘She won’t want to be remembered for her fight against this terrible disease – she was a bright shining star and I hope that’s how she can be remembered instead. Marie x.’
Former bandmate Nadine Coyle, 36, said she was ‘absolutely devastated’ after learning of Harding’s death.
‘I can’t think of words that could possibly express how I feel about this girl & what she means to me! I know so many of you will be feeling this way,’ she wrote on Instagram.
Former Spice Girl Geri Horner, 49, tweeted: ‘You’ll be remembered for the light and joy you brought to the world.’
Ex-Big Brother host, Davina McCall, 53, described Harding as ‘a star from the get go, hugely fun and outgoing’.
And reality TV star Calum Best, 40, who posted pictures of him with Harding, said: ‘So damn sad, so young. I hope u rest in peace Sarah. We had some crazy fun times and adventures. U will be so very missed.’ Harding shot to fame after being selected to join Girls Aloud on the ITV talent show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002.
The band went on to record two No.1 albums and four chart-topping singles before splitting in 2013.
The singer then moved into acting, starring in ITV soap Coronation Street as a love rival to Tracy Barlow. Earlier this year, she revealed in her memoir, Hear Me Out: ‘In December, my doctor told me that the upcoming Christmas would probably be my last.
‘I don’t want an exact prognosis. Comfort and being as pain-free as possible is what’s important to me now.’
She added she was ‘trying to live and enjoy every second’ of her life, however long it might be.
‘I don’t know how many months I have left. Who knows, maybe I’ll surprise everyone,’ she added.