On being famous

I’m not trying to be conceited or big-headed but I always knew I’d become famous In the end, At school I told my friends that I’d sing and dance on ‘IV. They must have reckoned I was a right nut case then, but now they have faith In me and take my TV appearances with a pinch of salt.

SUPERPOP 14 APRIL 1979

My brothers and sisters all take the mickey out of me as far as my career is concerned. I have five of ‘em, Amelia, Nicola, Claudia, Jay and Joel and they’re all great kids, I’m the eldest and I’m the only one with a normal name!  I think my Mum liked the name Sarah and then decided to name the rest of her children after famous film and TV personalities and people out of books. “We all live in Hertfordshire and the people there are amazing. I have little toddlers following me in the Street and singing ‘I Lost My Heart To A Draught Excluder — It’s all great stuff!"

SUPERPOP 14 APRIL 1979

You see, I live with my parents in this large and very beautiful cottage in a Hertfordshire Village, but it’s been declared a National Heritage and that means we have to allow members of the public to tour the place.   It’s not too difficult at the moment as the majority of people haven’t yet tumbled where I live and so a handful of Americans and Swedes are the bulk of our tourist business. And it’s also fortunate that I’m away from home a bit at this time because of the television and recording work.” Even so, there’s a slender chance that you’d find Sarah taking a bath or tucked up in bed with one of her favourite books. “There are enough rooms in the cottage for me to lose myself in the event of a tourist invasion,” she laughs.   As a matter of fact, I do like sleeping till late, so I’d probably think the whole thing was a bad dream.

Disco Fan 4 September 1979 No. 4

On Pans People

“I replaced Cherry Gilespie and the ironic thing was that I only went along to the audition in order to provide some morel support for my friend. I had no idea that I would walk out a Pan’s Person."

 from SUPERPOP 14 APRIL 1979

I was asked by a friend to go along to an audition for Pan’s People.   Not for me, you understand... but for her, because she was a bit nervous of arriving there alone. Well, they found out I was a dancer too and roped me in for an audition with the embarrassing result that I was offered the job.”

Disco Fan 4 September 1979 No. 4

On Hot Gossip

The training was much more severe in Hot Gossip. Everything had to be so exact because the choreographer* was such a perfectionist. It’s awful, I think if you do something and it doesn’t look quite right.” (*Arlene Phillips)                     

from FAB 2nd June 1979 - Debbie Hawes

Well, Hot Gossip are a group of thoroughly outrageous dancers. They’re all very controversial sexy, people. I’m not. I mean, I was the only one who never really fitted into that concept. It took a while for them to get used to that and they had to understand me too.”

Record Mirror 7 April 1979

The others used to call me Lady Sarah they were kind and looked after me, but they were very geary and way out. As soon as I left Hot Gossip I wanted to get away from that image. It was never really me.

Tune Into Summer 1979

On leaving Hot Gossip

“It was basically because I found myself working for 25 hours a day,” she smiled.  “I was in cabaret, then recording shows and videos and realised I didn’t have any spare-time at all. “In the mornings I was late for rehearsals and recording and it soon began to get on top of me."

SUPERPOP 14 APRIL 1979

On Kenny Everett

Oh, he was mad ... mad as a hatter.  He’s a sweet guy, but he really is - well, zany! He doesn’t really use a script. He just comes out and they film it all the,. I time while he’s walking around and saying silly things. Then they just take bits out of it. It’s all natural, you know, when he bursts into laughter and can’t go on.”                                       FAB 2nd June 1979 - Debbie Hawes

On Love Crusader

The new single Adventures Of A Love Crusader is ‘a song I really like performing, as it gives me a chance to play lots of parts and change personas during the song from sexy to sort of cartoon like characters.’

PopStar Weekly 24 March 1979

1. "The biggest asset any girl can have is her figure.  lf you stay slim you're half-way to looking glamorous no matter what the rest of you is like. With the kind of costumes I wear, I can't gain a few ounces let alone pounds!"

2. "No matter how tired you are, you've got to cleanse your skin at the end of the day. When I was with Hot Gossip we always stuck to our beauty routines. Those bright TV lights show every flaw!"

3. "Always keep your hair clean. If it needs washing every day that's bad luck, but you should do it."

4. "Without a doubt the best way to keep a body beautiful is to dance. I've danced all my life, it's fantastic exercise and it's fun. Don't wait for someone to ask you to dance, just do it!"

From:- Mates June 16th 1979

On Singing & Dancing

I started at the age of three at proper dancing school and had up to about six lessons a  week. I went on to go to three stage schools, a which is where I did my training. After I started dancing I decided that was what I wanted to do.’ Then at the age of nine l realised I could sing. I always knew inside me: that I could sing, but no  one took much notice at home. They thought I had a nice voice and that. was that. But at stage:  school there was a singing master who saw my potential and brought it out through singing lessons.”

FAB 2nd June 1979 - Debbie Hawes

At the present time I am totally satisfied In what I am doing, but there is always another rung of the ladder to climb and I eventually want to establish myself as a top singer and experiment in heavier production.

SUPERPOP 14 APRIL 1979

On Flying

I love aeroplanes. I’m crazy about them and grab every chance I get to go up in one. Just as soon as I can find the time I intend to take flying lessons with the hopes that I’ll ultimately be able to get a private pilot’s license.”

Disco Fan 4 September 1979 No. 4

On being an entertainer

"I’m in the business of entertaining and that’s what I intend to do."

Disco Fan 4 September 1979 No. 4

A dancer's life is a short one, but I hope to be around for a long time as a singer.  

Titbits No. 4837 Dec 14-20 1979

On Being a Singer

"When I was very young I wanted to be a ballet dancer, then I bought a Joan Sutherland record and enjoyed singing along with it. Yes, I’ve always been ambitious and knew then that singing would be my life."

You Mail on Sunday Magazine 23 March 1986

On her music being categorised

I hate to categorise myself, I love pop and love having a pop record in the charts although my pop records are of a rather serious nature. When Andrew said he wanted to release “Pie Jesu” as a single, it didn’t surprise me. Music is music and if people like the sound of it, they’ll go out and buy it. With The Phantom of the Opera will probably sign a short-term contract initially and then we’ll have to see. I want to continue training, but doing six shows a week will inhibit that. One can go on getting experience by working but I am very young at the moment and I want go on learning and learning.’

You Mail on Sunday Magazine 23 March 1986

On Money and Earnings

I may be married to a rich man (ALW) and I may earn good money, but it is not vast - just something that keeps you going. I never think about money and never did. I did The Merry Widow for the £80-a-week Equity rate.’

You Mail on Sunday Magazine 23 March 1986

On having children

I would love to have children, but I feel too much of a child myself right now, I am not ready to have a child — I have so much more to learn. My thinking is that when I am in my 30s will be the right time to have children.’

You Mail on Sunday Magazine 23 March 1986=

On Playing Christine in Phantom of the Opera

I identify totally with Christine, and that’s why it’s been so wonderful to play the part. She is myself and I am in her.

European Travel & Life January / February 1988

On living and working with Andrew Lloyd Webber

I think it is just because we’re both total perfectionists and therefore very understanding of each others needs to concentrate, to get on, use our talents. Maybe that’s we’re good for each other because we both have that urge to succeed and do as much in our lives possible with the gifts we’ve given. I’m not saying it’s always because I do have a habit of locking myself away for days before a performance.  I can’t be distracted. It’s as though I’m in another world and everyone says I’m quite trance like.

Hello! 13 May 1989

Music is one of the most important factors in both our lives. It’s what makes us both tick. Apart from love in a relationship I think there has to be another interest — be it family life, or a business, that makes it work. And music is ours. 

Hello! 13 May 1989

On the album The Songs That Got Away

The idea — which involved lots of research and help from composers on both sides of the Atlantic — grew out of an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical evening at the Barbican in which I included a song — Half A Moment — from his flop musical Jeeves. The audience — who’d never heard it — just went mad and I thought, well there must be many other great composers whose songs from failed musicals have been forgotten. We found about 100 songs, and it’s been great for me and a nice challenge for The Voice to work in varied styles.

Hello! 13 May 1989

On Clothes

"When I go out for a meal or dancing at a disco, I like to feel elegant. Even in the day, when I'm shopping or relaxing at home, I hate feeling scruffy. I'm not saying everyone should be like me, but I do like to see other people in lovely clothes.  And I hate jeans. . „I don't even own one pair!

Blue Jeans No. 129 July 7 1979

Hummm - seems you do have a pair of jean now Sarah! :-)  Sorry I could not resist.