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

“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

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

“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

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

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

They flew me over to Munich to have my new space-costume especially designed you know, and it’s really fabulous. It glitters like stars under lights.

Record Mirror 7 April 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

My manager Just walks into my room and plonks a whole bundle of them (music papers) on my bed.

Sarah’s manager, Andrew Graham Stewart is also her boyfriend.

It was a real set-up the way we came together.  I actually live five doors away from him and there was a party going on down the street He knew me, and my friend knew him and knew I that he liked me and invited us both to the party. If you can follow me. We’ve been going together since August last year.

SUPERPOP 14 APRIL 1979

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

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

Apart from music, another of Sarah’s hobbies is astrology  I’m a Leo,” she confessed, “I was born on August 14 and evidently I’ve got the traits of a lion. I would guess that you’re a Sagittarian.  After blushing, I told Ms Brightman that she had  been correct in her assumption. “I don’t take it seriously,” she giggled .

SUPERPOP 14 APRIL 1979

"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

"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

I knew as a child that I was going to end up as a singer, before anyone else did, except my mother who was always terribly encouraging, though not in a Gypsy sort of way at all. I didn’t start singing lessons until after I’d been in Cats, but I had always worked on my voice by myself, and now it is getting bigger all the time. People seem to like a pure voice, rather than one that cheats and lies or is tricky, and I’m lucky enough to have a chest voice for pop as well as a head for opera.

Playbill December 1990

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

Andrew and I are meant for each other I don t feel like a scarlet woman.  You can’t feel guilty about falling in love.

Record Mirror 30 July 1983

I always had a nice feeling inside when I was with him — and I suppose that nice feeling was something quite special. And it just happened! There’s something about him that I love. Even when he is in his worst moods, there’s no one like him. He’s a terribly intelligent man, a very serious person. In fact, a very nice person. People may not see that at first as he’s so intense it may frighten them off. But sometimes he can be very cross about something and a minute later he’s laughing about it. He never holds a grudge, never ever.

Over 21 December 1984

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

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

 ‘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

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

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

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

I had such an interesting time making it that if it only sold three copies I wouldn’t be depressed.

 Review  1989

"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.

My taste in clothes is simple. I love Ungaro’s clothes but my three favourite dresses came from Wallis and cost about £30 each.

Sunday Times magazine 17 January 1987 

I am not materialistic.  I do like the freedom of knowing that I can go out and buy an expensive dress for a concert if I want to, but otherwise I'm not bothered about buying new things.

You Magazine  5 October 1997  By Catherine O'Brien

I’m so dreadful at shopping!  I don’t have the greatest taste when it comes to buying clothes for myself. I’m not a mirror person.

The Sunday Telegraph Magazine  25 October 1998

I drive an expensive car, a blue Porsche, but there is a solid reason for this. When I was younger and driving a tin-can, I had a very nasty accident. After that I bought a Jeep and looked ridiculous, but felt that I had to have this tank round me to protect me. So now it’s a Porsche, and I must confess I like speed.

Sunday Times magazine 17 January 1987 

What's the most you've ever splashed out on yourself?

It would be 50,000 [pounds] on a Mercedes car. I just fell in love with it. I am really careful about safety, so I wanted a car I felt at ease in. I also liked the look of it. It's fast, and quite sexy looking.

Scottish Daily Record & Sunday Mail Ltd.  7 February 1999

I never used to have. to watch my weight, but suddenly I have to be careful..  It’s probably because I have such an enormous appetite. I put on weight easily now that I’ve stopped growing.

FAB 2nd June 1979 - Debbie Hawes

I’ve got a tremendous appetite as well, so sometimes I have to go on crash diets. It’s not that I put on a lot of weight, but the slightest amount shows up on my face, which is really terrible for television or photograph’s.

Jackie December 8th 1979 No 831 

I stay in shape by running. I’m not a believer in dieting as such, but I am a believer in eating smaller amounts of the things you really want — like potatoes and chips. Food should be enjoyed. I couldn’t bear to be involved with someone who only ate lettuce leaves or worried about how many calories were in a carrot.

Sunday Express 9 May 2004

One of her favorite pastimes turns out to be eating, a passion she shares with Andrew (Lloyd Webber). “We adore finding new, secret, wonderful places that serve delicious things. Andrew has this old house right on the tip of Cap Ferrat, a private place where he can work like a dream. We take the children down and holiday there when we can, and top of our list is Le Sloop, which is simple but wonderful.” After the theatre, however, she prefers “something banal like steak and chips to give me back some energy”.

Sunday Times magazine 17 January 1987

What was the best meal you've ever eaten?

It's really difficult to name just one meal, because I love food and have so many favourite eating places. But if I had to choose just one there is a restaurant in Taipei, in Taiwan, called The Dumpling House that's sheer perfection. You put these Chinese dumplings in your mouth and they just melt. It's been named as one of the six best restaurants in the world. I go along with that.

http://www.dintaifung.com.tw/en/index.asp - website for this restaurant

Scottish Daily Record & Sunday Mail Ltd.  7 February 1999