Kicking off tour in Cardiff will be a ‘special’ moment, say Five

Nineties British boyband Five are ready to “get on up” when they kick off their massive UK arena tour in Cardiff.

It’s been a long time coming for many, but fans in the Welsh capital will be the very first to see the original group on stage together after a 25 year hiatus, with the boys saying it will be a “special” and “emotional” moment.

The group – Sean Conlon, Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson, Abz Love and Jason “J” Brown – haven’t performed as a five-piece since they broke up in 2001, amid burnout, mental breakdown and backstage fights.

But the band believe they will enjoy their success much more this time around.

The group sold more than 20 million records in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and announced in February they were reuniting for a UK arena tour.

“I’m so emotional about this. To have my brothers back does feel really, truly special,” Scott told BBC Radio Wales.

“Cardiff really is going to be a special moment, because we open the tour in Cardiff. The 30 seconds before we go out, I think there will be some tears, I really do.”

The band were unsure whether the tour tickets would sell, J said, adding: “After being away for a quarter of a century you really don’t know how you’re going be received.”

But Ritchie said he thinks it’s even better this time around: “There’s something so magical, I never thought this could ever be a reality that the five of us are going out and doing it again.”

In the 25 years apart and band members going their separate ways, Abz moved to Carmarthenshire to escape the limelight and became a farmer.

“I am not a farmer by any means, but I loved it. I had a couple of pigs, two alpacas, two horses, five ducks, a couple of geese, five dogs, three or four feral cats.

“I love Wales so much, I love the people, I was a resident for about two or three years.

“The people are so beautiful so friendly, so yeah, you could say the gig is a bit of a homecoming.”

Five were formed in 1997, in a gruelling audition process that saw more than 3,000 aspiring singers audition for former Spice Girl managers Bob and Chris Herbert.

The band were then signed by Simon Cowell to RCA Records on a five-album deal.

The hits, including Everybody Get Up, Got The Feelin’ and If Ya Gettin’ Down, came thick and fast, but the recent BBC documentary Boybands Forever highlighted the pressures the band felt, with a gruelling schedule of performances, press and promotion.

“Back in that time, a band of our music, they just thought they needed to make as much money as possible because it’s going to be short-lived,” said Sean.

“They never thought a band of our nature would be doing an arena tour. There were some tough times, but there were some great times too.”

Known for their synchronised dance routines, the group plan to keep on movin’ and bring them back to the stage once again, even if they are a little rusty.

“It does come back when you start getting back into the swing of things again, rehearsals, the moves, ‘oh I’m meant to go up there, and go down there’,” said Abz.

“But I do need a little reminder of the lyrics, so I will be going back through the albums and reminding myself which parts were mine and what I’m actually singing where and when.”

“I’m feeling pretty good about the moves,” said Ritchie.

“I can’t wait to get back out there and thrust me hips again.”

The 25-date tour kicks off in Cardiff on 29 October and 2 November 2025.

You can hear Five on BBC Radio Wales at 12:00 BST on Saturday 21 March and on BBC Sounds.