Ian ‘H’ Watkins

Ian ‘H’ Watkins was born on May 8, 1976, in Llwynypia, Mid Glamorgan, Wales. Prior to his pop career, Watkins worked as a Bluecoat at Pontins and subsequently as a Redcoat at Butlin’s. In May 1997, he joined the British pop group Steps, where he gained widespread recognition. The group achieved significant commercial success from 1997 to 2001, including two number-one singles and two number-one albums in the UK. They secured 14 consecutive top 5 singles in the UK and sold over 20 million records worldwide, earning a BRIT Award nomination in 1999.

After Steps initially disbanded in 2001, Watkins formed a duo named H & Claire with fellow ex-Steps member Claire Richards, releasing three singles and an album. He then pursued musical theatre, studying at the Royal Academy of Music, a journey documented in the Channel 4 series ‘H-side Story.’ His theatre roles included Joseph in ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ Nick Piazza in ‘Fame the Musical,’ and the Child Catcher in ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.’ Watkins has also appeared in various television programs such as ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ (2007), ‘Skins,’ and ‘Dancing on Ice’ (2020), where he was part of the show’s first same-sex couple. In 2023, he was elected as an independent town councillor in Cowbridge with Llanblethian.

Steps reunited in 2011 for a documentary series on Sky Living, releasing a new album, ‘The Ultimate Collection,’ which reached number one. The group continued to release new music, including ‘Tears on the Dancefloor’ (2017) and the ‘What the Future Holds’ albums (2020-2021). Throughout his career, Watkins has effectively transitioned between music, stage, and screen, establishing a diverse professional portfolio.