Claire Richards is an English singer who is best known for being in the pop group Steps. She is the youngest member of the group. As a solo artist, Richards has released two studio albums: her debut, My Wildest Dreams, was released in 2019 and Euphoria, a covers album, was released in 2023.
Richards performing at Newcastle in 2012
Steps are a British dance-pop group consisting of Lee Latchford-Evans, Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee, Faye Tozer and Ian "H" Watkins. Steps were formed in May 1997 and achieved two number-one albums in the UK, 14 consecutive UK top-5 singles including two number ones, and a string of hits across Europe. The group has sold over 22 million records worldwide. In-addition to earning a BRIT Award nomination in 1999, for Best Newcomer, the group would be an opening support act for Britney Spears on her debut American tour the same year. When Richards and Watkins departed to form a recording duo, the group disbanded, on 26 December 2001 (officially). Their penultimate single reached No. 5 on the UK charts, while their final album of greatest hits, Gold (2001), was the group's second No. 1 album in the UK.
Steps performing live at their Party on the Dancefloor Tour at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, November 2017. From left to right: Ian "H" Watkins, Lisa Scott-Lee, Claire Richards, Lee Latchford-Evans & Faye Tozer