‘We’ve fallen through the cracks’: Bucks Fizz’s Cheryl Baker, 66, reveals lockdown has ‘hugely’ impacted her finances and she has been recording videos for fans for extra income
Cheryl Baker has discussed her financial struggles during lockdown, explaining she has not been able to perform for several months.
The Bucks Fizz star, 66, told how she has been making personalised videos for fans to ‘keep the wolves from the door’, having not performed since September.
The singer appeared on Wednesday’s episode of Good Morning Britain and said she and her friends in the entertainment industry have ‘fallen through the cracks’ of the government’s furlough scheme.
Hardship: Cheryl Baker has discussed her financial struggles during lockdown , explaining she has not been able to perform for several months
She said: ‘It [lockdown] has impacted hugely. I’m part of the entertainment industry and probably 90 per cent of people in this industry are effected the same.
‘We’ve fallen through the cracks where the government is giving out furloughs and things. We did one gig in September when we were allowed to.’
Cheryl did not qualify for furlough and told how many of her friends in showbusiness are struggling to earn a living.
She said: ‘I think of myself as a spokesperson, it’s not just me, it’s most of this industry. We’re all trying to make a living.
Lockdown: The Bucks Fizz star, 66, has been making personalised videos for fans to ‘keep the wolves from the door’, having not performed since September (pictured with bandmates Jay Aston and Mike Nolan)
‘A friend of mine is a great actor and she’s been delivering for one of the supermarkets. I’ve been recording messages for people. It keeps the wolves from the door.’
Asked how bad have things got by host Ben Shephard, Cheryl responded: ‘Have a look on those websites where you can get those messages.
‘You’ll see Shakespearean actors, performers. We’re all doing it because it’s one way we can earn a few bob. And it is a few bob, I get two or three a week.’
The former Eurovision star records videos for fans on website celebvm where she charges between £30 to £50 per message, depending on how quickly the person wants it.
Honest: Cheryl appeared on Wednesday’s episode of Good Morning Britain and said she and her friends in the entertainment industry have ‘fallen through the cracks’ of the government’s furlough scheme
Cheryl currently performs with former Bucks Fizz members Mike Nolan and Jay Aston as The Fizz.
The group had one gig in September and have another booked for next month, but Cheryl is expecting it to be cancelled.
She said: ‘We have a gig in at the moment for March 6 which hasn’t been cancelled, I’m sure it’ll go any day now. The next one after that is May 14.
‘We are hoping to get into studio and do our 40th anniversary album which we should have done in August of last year. I’m a very positive, forward thinking person but we all have to take our time.’
She said: ‘I think of myself as a spokesperson, it’s not just me, It’s most of this industry. We’re all trying to make a living’
It comes after Cheryl described herself as ‘broke’ during a recent interview and has been struggling to pay her taxes.
She told OK! magazine: ‘We had one virtual gig and that was our only income. It’s been ridiculously hard. I owe lots of tax… I physically haven’t got the money to pay anybody because I’m broke.
‘It’s been bittersweet for me. It means that I haven’t worked for a year. We had one virtual gig and that was our only income. It’s been ridiculously hard.
‘I owe lots of tax and VAT because I had a great year three years ago. But because I had that great year, I now can’t claim anything from the government. So, I’ve had to ring the VAT and tax people and say, “You’re going to have to put it on hold.”‘
Career: Cheryl currently performs with former Bucks Fizz members Mike Nolan and Jay Aston as The Fizz (pictured with Bucks Fizz)