Girls Aloud announce huge reunion tour with Irish shows in emotional tribute to Sarah Harding

Girls Aloud have announced they are making a much anticipated comeback.

The pop group are set to tour Ireland and the UK next year as a "celebration of Sarah, our music and our incredible fans." Sarah Harding sadly died in September 2021, after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Taking to the official Girls Aloud Instagram account, they said: "We’re so excited to announce that we will be touring the UK & Ireland in May and June 2024.

"A celebration of Sarah, our music and our incredible fans. We can’t wait to sing and dance with you all once again. -Cheryl, Kimberley, Nadine & Nicola." Tickets will go on sale on Friday 1 December and fans can get access to an exclusive pre-sale on Wednesday 29 November by signing up at girlsaloud.com.

Girls Aloud, who found fame on ITV's Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, will kick off their tour in Dublin on Saturday 18 May 2024. They will then travel to Belfast, Manchester, Cardiff, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Nottingham, Leeds, Birmingham, London and end in Liverpool.

Fans have been going wild at the news as one said: "I already can’t handle all of these announcements at once. My heart is racing… YOURE BACK!!!" Another added: "All calendars for May and June next year cleared.... Nothing more important than this!!!" Someone else commented: "I have resurrected for this."

Louise Redknapp also wrote: "YES GIRLS!!! [red heart, clapping hand emoji] xxx." James Patrice added: "AAHHHHHH." Ru Paul's Drag Race UK star Just May commented: "ITS ABOUT TIMMMMME"

The four band members - Cheryl Tweedy, Nicola Roberts, Nadine Coyle and Kimberley Walsh - have been teasing their comeback over recent weeks, marking ten years since they split. They went on a hiatus in 2009 but three years later, they reunited in 2012 with four new songs as well as a sell-out tour across the UK. However, one year later, on March 21, 2013, they called it quits.

During a recent performance at Clapham Grand, Derry-born Nadine hinted that there would be a big announcement in the coming weeks. A source told The Sun : "The girls really came back together as friends to rally around when Sarah died, and it repaired some of the old rifts and put things into perspective.

"Suddenly the reunion which had seemed totally impossible for so long just felt a totally natural thing to do — in Sarah's honour. They've got a single and a video in the can, plans for a full record of new music, and for the fans, the most exciting thing will be a massive reunion tour in 2024."

In the UK alone, Girls Aloud have sold over 4.3 million singles and 4 million albums. They ended their last tour at Liverpool's then-Echo arena, which is where their 2024 tour will come to an end. A post read: "We have now come to the end of our incredible time together."

Sarah Harding — Sarah sadly died in 2021 (Image: PA)

They added: "Dear Alouders, we just want to say from the bottom of our hearts Thank you!! This tour has been an amazing experience and the perfect chance to say thank you for being on this journey with us through a decade. It has far exceeded any of our dreams and we hope we are forever your inspiration and reminder that dreams really do glitter!! Your love and support will stay with us forever but we have now come to the end of our incredible time together. Love you lots."

Fans were left heartbroken when Sarah made an unexpected return to social media after two years. Sharing a snap of herself taken in hospital, Sarah announced that earlier in 2020 she had been diagnosed with breast cancer while going on to share the devastating news it had advanced to other parts of her body.

Heartbreakingly, just 53 weeks after Sharing her diagnosis, and two months before her 40th birthday, the singer died aged 39, surrounded by her family at home in Manchester. Her mum, Marie, took to social media to share that Sarah had "slipped away peacefully" on September 5, 2021.

Since her death, Sarah's former bandmates have raised over £1million in aid of The Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal, in partnership with The Christie Charity. Earlier this year, the Mirror revealed that Sarah's death could save thousands of lives. If a study launched in Sarah's memory is successful, says her oncologist Dr Sacha Howell, it could be rolled out nationwide. Pop-up clinics in handy spots such as supermarket car parks would offer women DNA testing and low-dose mammograms.

Full tour dates: