Steps have claimed they were asked to pay £500 each for the Brit Award trophies they won in 2000.
The band – comprised of Claire Richards, Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Lisa Scott-Lee, Faye Tozer and Lee Latchford-Evans – won the one-off live award for selling the most concert tickets of any music act the previous year.
It followed them losing the breakthrough act award to Belle and Sebastian the year before.
Lisa Scott-Lee revealed all about the Brits’ alleged impudence in an interview with The Independent, with Watkins chiming in: ‘I’m not paying for an award they gave us, so I told them to stick it.’
Richards also said during the interview: ‘We should have got best breakthrough the previous year – that was the one that was stolen from us.’
The award in question was a public vote, but the Brit Awards denied foul play at the time.
Latchford-Evans added: ‘We did only get [the live act award] because of the whole Belle and Sebastian thing.’
Steps recently announced they were reuniting, with a single to be released called What the Future Holds co-written by Sia.
H recently told Metro.co.uk of the track: ‘As soon as we heard it we went, “That’s where we’re going.” So that song set the precedent,’ says H. ‘We’ve literally had to sit on our hands and seal our lips [for three years].’
‘There are a few ballads on this but there’s a real sense of Steps from back in the day,’ added Claire of the album. ‘There are big nostalgic pop songs which are actually quite fashionable at the moment – Dua Lipa’s just been doing it.’
Metro.co.uk has approached The Brit Awards for comment.
Got a Showbiz Story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE: Mel C recalls feeling ‘hopeless’ as she battled eating disorder and depression in Spice Girls
MORE: Ant McPartlin opens up on playing uncle to Declan Donnelly’s ‘beautiful’ daughter Isla
