What's next after Atomic bombshell?

THE band may have split up, but don't think you've heard the last of Atomic Kitten.

Jenny Frost and Liz McClarnon are launching themselves as solo pop stars and they could be going head-to-head in the charts.

We scooped everyone yesterday when we revealed that Britain's biggest girl band had decided to call it quits after four years in pop.

GOING SOLO: Natasha, Liz and Jenny tell all to Eva

But in a tearful interview with their favourite column, 3am, the girls insisted the world of pop has not seen the last of them.

And they joked that they were going out on a high because they wanted to give their chart rivals Girls Aloud and Sugababes a chance at the top.

Blonde Jenny told us yesterday: "Obviously this isn't the way we wanted to launch our solo careers, but it's happened and we just have to get on with it.

	Amanda Redman, James Bolam and Dennis Waterman enjoying lunch with a group of friends at RIBA in Portland Place... Jon Carter on a plane from London to Belfast... Elvis Costello at St Paul's Cathedral... Jade Jagger at Giraffe cafe on Kensington High Street

"There are lots of offers on the table and Liz and I have both been offered solo contracts. It's something we seriously want to do.

"The one thing we won't be doing though is posing nude for Playboy."

Jenny, who turns 26 next month, continued: "Anyway we wanted to give the other bands out there a chance. I think we've been hogging the limelight for far too long."

Although Jenny said she couldn't wait for the "challenge" of being a solo star she also revealed she was considering offers of TV work.

But for singer Natasha Hamilton, 21, the break can't come quickly enough.

When the band, who had three number one hits, finally go their separate ways in March at the end of their first UK tour, she is looking forward to devoting all her time to her son, Josh.

The singer, who recently bought a £500,000 home with dancer boyfriend Gavin Hatcher, said: "I've spent the past four years travelling the world and it's time to have a break and get some of my life back.

"And babies don't get air miles, which I think is really unfair.

"The girls are going to do their thing and I wish them all the best. Suffering from post-natal depression put things into perspective for me. I didn't know I had it until 10 months after Josh was born and I didn't know how to handle it.

"Now I just want to spend time with Josh, away from the stress. Gavin and I have just moved in together and it's going really well."

	Wicked Whispers
	Which camp young actor is becoming ever more unpopular with his fellow soap stars? The Stropy so-and-so howled like a kid whose lollipop has been stolen when someone had the nerve to move his script a few inches across a table. Calm down dear!

The band, who will be releasing a greatest hits album, also denied criticism that they had timed their split ahead of the tour to sell more tickets.

"We would have sold out regardless," laughed Jenny. "It's going to be the best show ever."

Officially the group say they are just taking a year out. And although music industry insiders tell us the split is permanent, Natasha is hopeful of a reunion after their break.

She said: "Bands always break up and get back together. Look at the Rolling Stones, they're always taking breaks and getting back together, so why can't we?

"Destiny's Child took a break - they're a good example for us to aspire to. They've had successful solo careers but they're still going to get back together."

But Jenny added: "Many bands have ended in bad ways or they've said they're taking a break and in their hearts they know they're not going to get back together - that's not us. But, if in a year's time one of us decides they don't want to get back together, then we won't and it really will be over.

"There's no hard feelings, we're still the best of friends and we always will be."

Ahhhh.

TODAY'S OTHER 3AM STORIES... STRAY KITS! Jenny Frost and Liz McClarnon to go solo - and they could be going head-to-head in the charts... WIN TICKETS TO EXCLUSIVE GIGS See your favourite bands up close and help charity in an exclusive offer to Daily Mirror readers... BUTT OF A JOKE Janet Jackson shows off her assets before she performs at American Football Superbowl show...

Top