Louise Redknapp
Template:Short description Template:BLP sources Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox person
Louise Elizabeth Redknapp (née Nurding; born 4 November 1974), known simply as Louise, is an English singer, dancer and media personality. She was a member of Eternal, an R&B girl group which debuted in 1993 with their quadruple-platinum studio album Always & Forever. In 1995, she departed from the group for a solo career. Aside from music, Redknapp has presented several television shows and was a judge on the UK version of So You Think You Can Dance. She was married to the English former footballer Jamie Redknapp. In 2016, Redknapp reached the final in the fourteenth series of BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing. Redknapp's memoir entitled You've Got This: And Other Things I Wish I Had Known was released in 2021.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Redknapp has released five studio albums: Naked (1996), Woman in Me (1997), Elbow Beach (2000) and, following a 17-year hiatus from recording, Heavy Love (2020). Redknapp's Greatest Hits was released on 2 June 2023 and contains reimagined versions of her past singles plus five new songs. Her fifth studio album, Confessions, was released in May 2025; a preceding single, "Confession", was released in February 2025.
Early life and education
Redknapp was born Louise Elizabeth Nurding in Lewisham, London.<ref name=Western-Mail-2009-09-20>Template:Cite news</ref> Her father was a builder and her mother worked at Gatwick Airport.<ref name=Mirror-2011-12-11>Template:Cite news</ref> Redknapp and her two younger brothers grew up in Eltham, London, and Oxted, Surrey. She describes herself as having come from a single-parent family with her mother.<ref name=pelley>Template:Cite web</ref>
At the age of 11, Redknapp won a scholarship<ref name=pelley/> to the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London, where she met her future Eternal colleague Kéllé Bryan on her first day.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Career
1989–1995: Career beginnings and Eternal
While out clubbing at the age of 15, Redknapp met the music manager Oliver Smallman of First Avenue Management, who was forming an all-girl group.<ref name=Mirror-2011-12-11/><ref name=Western-Mail-2009-03-21/> She subsequently introduced Denis to Kéllé Bryan.<ref name=Western-Mail-2009-03-21>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="brigatti">Template:Cite web</ref> Kéllé and Redknapp, together with sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, formed the band Eternal in 1992.<ref name=Western-Mail-2009-03-21/> The group performed R&B, and recorded a number of hits during the 1990s.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Eternal's debut single "Stay" entered the UK charts at number sixteen and climbed to number four.<ref name=Western-Mail-2009-09-20/> Redknapp left the group in 1995 to pursue a solo career,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> amid unsubstantiated rumours that she was forced to leave because a radio station in the United States dedicated to black music would not promote the racially mixed group.<ref name=ST-1997-11-30>Template:Cite news</ref> Redknapp said that she left because she was miserable and homesick.<ref name=pelley/>
1995–1997: Naked and Woman in Me
In late 1995, Redknapp signed a record deal with First Avenue management and EMI Records. Now professionally known simply as "Louise", her debut solo single was the orchestral ballad "Light of My Life" (which reached number eight on the UK charts). Her second solo release, "In Walked Love" (previously a hit from the self-titled 1992 album by the dance/pop group Exposé), fared less well and missed the UK top ten. However, Redknapp's third single, "Naked", turned things around and became her biggest hit to date, peaking at number five in the UK. Redknapp's debut solo album, also entitled Naked, was subsequently released in 1996 on the back of the single's success. The album received lukewarm reviews,Template:Citation needed but nevertheless peaked at number seven on the UK Albums Chart. It was later certified Platinum by the BPI for over 400,000 copies sold in the UK alone and over a million copies worldwide. Two further singles were released: "Undivided Love" (UK No. 5) and "One Kiss from Heaven" (UK No. 9).
In 1997, Redknapp returned with the single "Arms Around the World", which reached number four in the UK. Her second solo album, Woman in Me, peaked at number five in the UK and went on to gain platinum status in the UK and sold over a million units worldwide. The album also made an impact across Europe, charting in a number of countries. To support and celebrate the success of the album, Redknapp embarked on a UK-wide 'sell-out' arena tour of over twenty dates, including Wembley Arena. "Let's Go Round Again" (a cover of a song by the Average White Band) was the second single released from the album, which reached number ten. She was voted "Sexiest Woman in the World" by the readers of SKY Magazine in 1997.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2002–2016: Lil' Lou and music hiatus
In 2002, Redknapp signed with Positive Records (a division of Universal Music) to record her fourth solo album. The album, titled Lil' Lou was due for release in 2004 alongside the double A-side "Pandora's Kiss"/"Don't Give Up", which peaked at number five and raised money for Tickled Pink/Breast Cancer Care.<ref name=":0" /> Redknapp submitted "about 10 or 12 tracks" for the album to the label. However, due to the singer becoming pregnant with her son Charley, the album was never released.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album would also have included Redknapp's first duet with boy band 3rd Wish on the track "Don't Ever Change".Template:Citation needed
Later, on 15 September 2023, Louise released the Lil' Lou extended play, which featured five previously unreleased songs originally recorded for the unreleased album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The EP debuted and peaked at number 73 on the UK Albums Downloads Chart one week later.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In the July 2004 edition of FHM magazine, Redknapp was named the "Sexiest Woman of the Decade".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2017–2024: Heavy Love and Greatest Hits
In August 2017, Redknapp posted a picture of herself in the recording studio on her Instagram account, showing that she had been working on new music. On 13 September 2017, Redknapp revealed she would be returning to the music industry by announcing her first live show in more than 15 years at Under The Bridge in London on 22 December 2017. Titled 'Intimate & Live', the show had enough demand for tickets selling out in under 5 minutes, leading promoters and Redknapp to announce additional dates for January 2018 in Manchester, Glasgow, and Birmingham.Template:Citation needed On 1 February 2018, Warner/Chappell UK confirmed Redknapp had signed a deal with them to release new material later in the year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 10 November 2022, Redknapp released the single "Super Magic".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In an interview with Fault magazine, Redknapp shared, "I wanted to make music I loved rather than just ticking a box for what worked in the industry. I think I’ve forever had to fight to prove myself [...] I’m still fighting to prove myself. I feel that the hardest hurdle is to keep on knocking down those doors to prove myself."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Super Magic" is Redknapp's first release under BMG.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It debuted at number 89 on the UK Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100 on 18 November 2022.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref>
On 12 January 2023, Redknapp announced that her Greatest Hits collection, spanning thirty years in the music industry, would be released in June 2023. The compilation will contain five new songs, including a cover of Janet Jackson's 1997 single "Together Again".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the same month, Louise revealed she had been cast as Teen Angel in the summer 2023 production of Grease.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Louise released reimagined versions of her singles "Just A Step From Heaven" and "Naked" as promotional singles from her Greatest Hits compilation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Her single "High Hopes" was released on 27 April 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 1 June 2023, Louise performed in concert at the Shepherd's Bush Empire;<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Michelle Gayle appeared as a guest and former Eternal bandmate Kéllé Bryan made a surprise appearance on stage to perform 1994 single "Crazy".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Louise's compilation album Greatest Hits was released on 2 June 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 25 September 2023, it was reported that Redknapp and her former bandmate Kéllé Bryan had pulled out of a purported Eternal reunion tour scheduled for 2024 after a row occurred because their former bandmates, sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, purportedly refused to play at LGBTQ and Pride events over objections that the trans community had "hijacked" Pride.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2025–present: Confessions
On 13 February 2025, Louise released the single "Confession",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and announced her fifth studio album, Confessions, which was released in May 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album debuted at number 8 on the UK Albums Chart Top 100, becoming her first album since 1997's Woman in Me to reach the top 10.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Television career
On television, Redknapp has presented editions of SMTV Live, CD:UK, Soccer Aid: Extra Time, This Morning, three series of the revived The Clothes Show for UKTV Style, and in March 2007 the controversial documentary The Truth About Size Zero for ITV.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Louise Redknapp has been seen as the face of a number of advertising campaigns: the "Safe and White" campaign for Boots, Flora's "Omega 3" products, Boots and BT. She became brand ambassador for Orbit gum in 2007<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2009, Louise Redknapp filmed a follow-up documentary The Truth About Super Skinny Pregnancies displaying the pressures on women to stay in shape during and after their pregnancies. Later that year in September 2009, Redknapp presented The Farmer Wants a Wife for Five, a relaunch of a series that originally appeared on ITV in 2001.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2009, Redknapp was also announced as the face of online fashion retailer Fashion Union. The following year in January 2010, Redknapp took over as the full-time presenter of the BBC Sunday morning programme Something for the Weekend for two years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Redknapp was a judge on the UK version of So You Think You Can Dance, broadcast on BBC One.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2011, Redknapp made her acting debut alongside Ray Winstone as Diana Smith in the feature film The Hot Potato. Redknapp had a cosmetic range named Wild About Beauty, which she launched with make-up artist Kim Jacob;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> which she sold in 2017.
On 15 August 2016, Redknapp was announced as a contestant for the fourteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She reached the 2016 finals with professional dancer Kevin Clifton.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In April 2018, Redknapp made her radio debut, guest-presenting two evening shows on Heart, on Sunday 8 April and Sunday 15 April.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In May 2021, Redknapp appeared on The Masked Dancer masked as Flamingo. She was the second celebrity to be unmasked.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> That same month, Redknapp appeared on the first series of BBC game show I Can See Your Voice, performing "Let's Go Round Again".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Other endeavours
In 2003, Redknapp published a magazine called Icon, aimed solely at professional sports stars and celebrities with then-husband Jamie Redknapp and former footballer Tim Sherwood. They later sold the magazine to another publisher.
Personal life
Nurding married football player Jamie Redknapp at a ceremony in Bermuda on 29 June 1998.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They have two sons.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Prior to giving birth to her first son, Redknapp suffered from endometriosis, which was treated with laser surgery.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The couple confirmed in September 2017 that they had separated.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A family court in central London granted a decree nisi for divorce after 19 years of marriage on 29 December 2017.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In December 2024, Redknapp was banned from driving for six months, after police caught her using her mobile phone whilst driving.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Philanthropy
In 2003, Redknapp's double A-side single "Pandora's Kiss/Don't Give Up", was released to raise money for Breast Cancer Care's "Tickled Pink" campaign.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> She also participated in a celebrity edition of The Apprentice in 2008, to raise money for charity.<ref>"Louise Redknapp to appear in Sport Relief Does The Apprentice for charity", Charities Aid Foundation, 28 February 2008. Retrieved 29 February 2008.</ref> Redknapp organised a charity sale of celebrity designer clothes at the London department store Selfridges for the charity Mothers4Children in November 2009.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK <ref name="UK">Template:Cite web</ref> |
FRA <ref name="FRA">Template:Cite web</ref> |
NLD <ref name="NLD">Template:Cite web</ref> |
SCO <ref name="UK"/> | |||
| Naked |
|
7 | — | — | 16 |
|
| Woman in Me |
|
5 | 65 | 76 | 11 |
|
| Elbow Beach |
|
12 | — | — | 23 |
|
| Heavy Love | 11 | — | — | 6 | ||
| Confessions |
|
8 | — | — | 7 | |
Compilation albums
| Title | Year | Chart positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK <ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">Template:Cite book</ref> | |||
| Changing Faces – The Best of Louise |
|
9 |
|
| Finest Moments |
|
— | |
| Greatest Hits |
|
11 |
Extended plays
| Title | Year | Chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| UK Digital | ||
| Lil' Lou |
|
73<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
Singles
| Title | Year | Chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK <ref name="UK"/> |
AUS <ref>Template:Cite Ryan</ref> |
FRA <ref name="FRA"/> |
IRL <ref>Peaks of singles in Ireland:
|
NLD <ref name="NLD"/> |
SCO <ref>Peaks of singles in Scotland:
| |||
| "Light of My Life" | 1995 | 8 | — | — | 18 | — | 11 | Template:Center |
| "In Walked Love" | 1996 | 17 | — | — | — | — | 22 | |
| "Naked" | 5 | 70 | — | — | — | 7 | ||
| "Undivided Love" | 5 | — | — | — | — | 7 | ||
| "One Kiss from Heaven" | 9 | — | — | — | — | 13 | ||
| "Arms Around the World" | 1997 | 4 | — | — | — | 95 | 9 | Template:Center |
| "Let's Go Round Again" | 10 | — | 30 | — | 70 | 8 | ||
| "All That Matters" | 1998 | 11 | — | — | — | — | 13 | |
| "2 Faced" | 2000 | 3 | — | — | 13 | — | 4 | Template:Center |
| "Beautiful Inside" | 13 | — | — | — | — | 17 | ||
| "Stuck in the Middle with You" | 2001 | 4 | — | — | 44 | — | 3 | Template:Center |
| "Pandora's Kiss/Don't Give Up" | 2003 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 5 | Template:Center |
| "Stretch"<ref name="Heavy Love">Template:Cite web</ref> | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Template:Center |
| "Lead Me On"<ref name="Lead Me On">Template:Cite web</ref> | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Breaking Back Together" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Not the Same"<ref name="Not the Same">Template:Cite web</ref> | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Hurt"<ref name="Hurt">Template:Cite web</ref> | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Super Magic"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 2022 | —Template:Efn | — | — | — | — | — | Template:Center |
| "High Hopes" | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Confession" | 2025 | —Template:Efn | — | — | — | — | — | Template:Center |
| "Borderline" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Only Dancer" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
Promotional singles
| Song | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Better Back Off" | 2000 | Elbow Beach |
| "Small Talk"<ref name="Small Talk">Template:Cite web</ref> | 2019 | Heavy Love |
| "Hammer" | ||
| "Just a Step from Heaven (Reimagined)" | 2023 | Greatest Hits |
| "Naked (Reimagined)" | ||
| "Love Me More" | 2025 | Confessions |
Tours
- Soft & Gentle No Sweat Tour (1997)
- Changing Faces Tour (2001)
- Louise Intimate and Live (2017/2018)
- Heavy Love Tour (2020)
Awards and nominations
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Template:Abbr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brit Awards | 1997 | British Female Solo Artist | Herself | Template:Nom | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 1998 | Template:Nom | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |||
| NME Awards | 1998 | Best Solo Artist | Template:Nom | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| Most Desirable Person | Template:Won | ||||
| 1999 | The Pop Personality You Would Most Like To Be Marooned On A Desert Island With | Template:Won | |||
| Smash Hits Poll Winners Party | 1996 | Best Female Singer | Template:Won | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| Best Album | Naked | Template:Nom | |||
| Best Album Cover | Template:Nom | ||||
| 2000 | Most Fanciable Female | Herself | Template:Nom | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| Best Dressed Female | Template:Nom
NotesReferencesExternal links |
- 1974 births
- Living people
- English dance musicians
- English women pop singers
- Eternal (band) members
- Alumni of the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
- People from Lewisham
- English female dancers
- British female dancers
- Singers from the London Borough of Lewisham
- Musicians from Kent
- British contemporary R&B singers
- 21st-century English women singers
- 21st-century English singers
- British hip-hop singers
- British women hip-hop musicians
- Redknapp–Lampard family
- EMI Records artists
- Warner Records artists