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S Club 7's Tina Barrett on that infamous red dress: 'I can't believe people are still talking about it'

Tina Barrett caused quite the stir when she attended the S Club: Seeing Double premiere In April 2003. (Getty Images)
Tina Barrett caused quite the stir when she attended the S Club: Seeing Double premiere In April 2003. (Getty Images)

Tina Barrett has opened up on the iconic red dress that caused such a buzz in the noughties.

The S Club 7 singer, now 45, was just 26 when she wore the famous cutaway gown on the Seeing Double red carpet in April 2003 and the barely-there ensemble quickly stole the show.

The eye-catching dress featured an asymmetrical shoulder design, with ab-baring, cut out detailing, and revealing leg slits.

Almost twenty years on, the star has revealed she had no idea the outfit would cause such a stir, particularly as she didn't realise her bandmates, including Rachel Stevens, Hannah Spearitt and Jo O'Meara would be wearing more demure outfits to attend the event.

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Barrett's dress courted plenty of attention in the noughties. (Getty Images)
Barrett's dress courted plenty of attention in the noughties. (Getty Images)

"To be honest it was like one of those moments that sort of happened so fast because I was thinking 'What should I wear? What should I wear?'" she told The Hundamental Guide To Life podcast, hosted by Gareth Howells.

"I wanted to go big, I wasn’t planning on going as big as I sort of ended up. I can’t believe people are still talking about it – it’s crazy!'"

While the outfit was always going to court attention, the mum-of-one didn't anticipate quite how much of a stir it would cause, mainly because she believed her bandmates would be rocking similarly eye-catching ensembles.

Watch: 6 iconic dresses that sparked crazy memes

Instead, they all opted for more pared-back looks, with Jo O'Meara, Jon Lee and Bradley McIntosh all wearing black suits and Hannah Spearitt wearing a pink halter neck number, while Rachel Stevens wore a simple, black, strapless dress.

Barrett continued: "To be honest, I thought the others were going to go dressy but they weren’t at all! They were literally covered from head to toe so it looked even more crazy."

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Barrett's bandmates were all a little more conservatively dressed. (L-R) S Club 7 members, Jon Lee, Tina Barrett, Jo O'meara, Hannah Spearritt, Rachel Stevens and Bradley Mcintosh. (Getty Images)
Barrett's bandmates were all a little more conservatively dressed. (L-R) S Club 7 members, Jon Lee, Tina Barrett, Jo O'Meara, Hannah Spearritt, Rachel Stevens and Bradley Mcintosh. (Getty Images)

As well as discussing the lasting impact of her iconic fashion choice, the singer, who now performs with Jo O'Meara and original band member Paul Cattermole as S Club 3, went on to discuss how she believes people are missing the "uplifting" pop music synonymous with that era.

"That period of time, the music was so uplifting and so positive – I think people are missing that because you don’t have those fun bands where the music is a little bit tongue in cheek and lots of fun," she said.

"At the minute we’re doing Freshers which has really been really interesting because they’re 18 years old and know all the words. I don’t know how that happened but it’s amazing."

Read more: Rachel Stevens still has therapy to cope with S Club 7 fame

Barrett now performs as S Club 3 with bandmates  Bradley Mcintosh and Lee Cattermole, pictured with Mcintosh in July 2021. (Getty Images)
Barrett now performs as S Club 3 with bandmates Bradley Mcintosh and Lee Cattermole, pictured with Mcintosh in July 2021. (Getty Images)

Barrett also revealed that the group have a WhatsApp group, and haven't totally ruled out a reunion.

"I have to say, some of the members are up for it! Like, I can actually say who; I know Rachel wants to do it, Hannah wants to do it, I’d definitely love to do it And Brad but obviously we need all seven. More than half are up for it. You never know."

Watch: Rachel Stevens answers tricky S Club 7 trivia