Ian "H" Watkins

Ian Watkins (born 8 May 1976), known by his stage name H (which stands for "hyperactive"), is a Welsh singer and actor.

He is a member of the British pop group Steps.

In May 1997, Watkins became a member of the British pop group Steps.

Steps achieved a series of charting singles between 1997 and 2001 including two number-one singles in the UK, two number-one albums in the UK, 14 consecutive top 5 singles in the UK, and a string of hits throughout Europe.

The group has sold over 20 million records worldwide, in addition to acquiring a BRIT Award nomination in 1999.

After Steps split in 2001, Watkins formed a duo, H & Claire, with fellow ex-Steps member Claire Richards.

They released three singles and an album.

After departing from H & Claire, he then decided to take a musical theatre course at the Royal Academy of Music.

While taking the course he also appeared in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and was filmed for a reality TV series, H-side Story, which followed him as he tried to make a new career as an actor.

Watkins performed at Preston's Charter Theatre in the pantomime Cinderella in the role of Buttons.

In June 2006, Watkins appeared in a special week of episodes of the BBC Radio Drama Silver Street on the BBC Asian Network.

He played the character of former soldier Dave in episodes set in the Welsh countryside.

In November 2006, Watkins featured on the BBC Children in Need Celebrity Scissorhands show, where Michelle cut his hair.

In summer 2007, he performed in the West End version of Fame.

During Christmas 2007, he reprised his role as Buttons in the pantomime Cinderella at the Grimsby Auditorium.

Watkins was the ninth housemate to enter the Celebrity Big Brother house on 3 January 2007.

He also played the role of 'Silly Billy' in pantomime Jack & The Beanstalk at the Southport Theatre from 10 December 2009 to 3 January 2010.

Christmas 2010 saw his return to Grimsby as he performed in the pantomime Beauty and the Beast, playing the part of Muddles.

Steps reformed in May 2011 for a four-part documentary series on Sky Living titled Steps: Reunion.

The series started airing on 28 September, following an announcement of a second greatest hits album, The Ultimate Collection, that was released on 10 October 2011.

The album entered the charts at number one, becoming the band's third album to achieve this feat.

The second series of Steps: Reunion titled "Steps: On the Road Again" aired on Sky Living in April 2012; the series followed the band as they embarked on their sellout 22-date UK tour.

On 24 September 2012, the group confirmed they would release their fourth studio album Light Up The World on 12 November 2012, alongside a six-date Christmas tour, starting from 30 November and ending on 5 December.

In 2013, Watkins announced that he was returning to his role as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in June on the UK National Tour.

The following year he played Prince Charming in the panto Snow White and the Seven Dwarves at the Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone.

The group reformed for a second time on 1 January 2017 in celebration of their 20th anniversary, and later announced their fifth studio album Tears on the Dancefloor, which was released in April 2017 and entered the charts at number 2.

On 5 March 2017, the group confirmed the release of the new album, alongside its lead single, "Scared of the Dark", and a 22-date tour, Party on the Dancefloor.

A deluxe edition of the album, titled Tears on the Dancefloor: Crying at the Disco, was released on 27 October.

In November 2017, Faye Tozer announced that the reunion was no longer just a 20th-anniversary celebration and that the group intended to continue after their 2018 Summer of Steps tour.

In April 2018, Claire Richards announced that following their summer tour, they would begin work on their sixth studio album.

In February 2019, Richards announced the group would begin recording their next album during the summer months.

In 2020, he competed in the twelfth series of Dancing on Ice.

Before he joined Steps, Watkins worked as a blue coat at Pontins, then later as a redcoat at Butlin's.

On 7 September 2020, via their social media accounts, Steps announced the release date of their album entitled What the Future Holds.

The album was released on 27 November of the same year, with pre-orders available from 8 September.

The next day, they confirmed a new 14-date UK tour (with special guest Sophie Ellis-Bextor) starting in November 2021.

The first single from the album was "What the Future Holds", written by Greg Kurstin and Sia and released on 9 September 2020.

It was followed by "Something in Your Eyes" on 27 October 2020.

"To the Beat of My Heart" was released as the album's third single in January 2021.

The first single of What the Future Holds Pt. 2 was confirmed as a reworked version of "Heartbreak in This City" featuring Michelle Visage.