22 December 2023 , 23:03
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Tony Mortimer made a brutal confession after sharing his thoughts on a hit East 17 tune live on air.
The 53-year-old singer appeared on Channel 4's The Last Leg on Friday following the band's unexpected reunion earlier this month. When asked by host Adam Hills when he last sang the East17 classic Stay Another Day, Tony shocking replied: "…I don’t. I do listen to Christmas songs, I don't mind a Christmas carol, a nice Christmas carol." He then named Once in Royal David's City as a carol he loves, moving the chat away from Stay Another Day.
Show panellist Alex Brooker was preparing to perform the song on the show with Tony, and admitted he was “losing it” as he fangirled. Tony told him to “just enjoy it”.
Alex said he had been preparing for the moment all his life, while Tony soon donned the famous white coat from the music video, with Alex wearing one too. Alex sang the song as Tony played the piano but did not sing, while guests including The Cheeky Girls and Alison Hammond soon sang with them too.
Tony Mortimer on The Last Leg (Channel 4)It comes as East 17 have made their Christmas comeback with a musical tour in Manchester and London. The pop group shot to fame in the 90s and their song has become an iconic hit. Their hit Stay Another Day became known for beating Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You to the top spot, the hit single sold around 410,000 copies.
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The group originally consisted of Tony Mortimer, Brian Harvey, John Hendy, and Terry Coldwell in 1991. As of 2020, the group now consists of Terry Coldwell as the remaining member and Robbie Craig and Joe Livermore.
Speaking on their tour, East 17 said: "It never gets old performing a song that means so much to us, especially around Christmas time, where Stay Another Day really took off. We're so excited to hit the road with Ring to perform to several of our fans, right on their doorstep!"
The nineties group was formed in 1991 in Walthamstow, London, and was named after the area's postcode. East 17 were one of the most popular bands of the 1990s, known for their more 'urban' style and music. To date, East 17 has sold more than 18 million albums worldwide.
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