Made-for-TV band search for new face

Hear'Say (from left): Myleene, Kym, Noel, Suzanne, Danny

LONDON, England -- The British manufactured pop group Hear'Say are hunting for a new face after Kym Marsh quit blaming rows with other group members.

The band, formed last January after an exhaustive search filmed for the TV show "Popstars," became the first British group to top the single and album charts simultaneously with debut releases.

They have since sold 1.2 million albums and 1.5 million singles.

Now, after Marsh's abrupt departure for pastures new, Danny Foster, Myleene Klass, Suzanne Shaw and Noel Sullivan hope they can re-create the right mix.

Hear'Say manager Chris Herbert, giving details of the February 3 auditions in Brixton, South London, said: "We will be doing a visual selection as there's already an existing band and the new member will need to fit in with the style and image.

"Vocal ability is very important as the band have always prided themselves on that. People will be asked to sing a capella and will also be judged on their dance ability."

The audition process normally takes months -- but he plans to announce the winner within two days.

Fitting in could be a tall order. Klass said: "Bringing in a new member will bring with it new challenges. We have been through a lot over the past year so it's going to be tough for a new member to get up to speed with the pace of Hear'Say."

At the weekend Marsh blamed arguments for leaving the group, telling a newspaper: "There were so many rows I needed counselling. Yes, Myleene and I did fight.

"The arguments started even before we released a single and carried on while we were in the band."

Some of the rows centred on Marsh's boyfriend Jack Ryder, 20-year-old star of the British soap "EastEnders." Marsh, a mother of two, has sold the rights of her forthcoming wedding to Ryder to a glossy magazine for $425,000.

Marsh and Klass were said to have had to be held apart during one of their worst fights before a recording of "The Jerry Springer Show."

This brought a memorable exchange much quoted in the British tabloid press with Klass shouting "You cow. You think you are so good because you've got it all with Jack."

Kym was alleged to have replied "You bitch!" before a derogatory reference to Myleene's predeliction for wearing low-cut tops.