Siobhan Donaghy has praised Sugababes for their output after she quit the band in 2001. 

The singer started out as one-third of the girl group alongside Keisha Buchanan and Mutya Buena, but departed the trio following the release of their debut album ‘One Touch’. 

Subsequently, Heidi Range was brought in as a replacement and Sugababes continued with a further six albums, scoring two UK No. 1 hits – Freak Like Me  and Round Round – from follow-up ‘Angels with Dirty Faces’.

Speaking to NME, Siobhan – who herself released two fan-favourite solo albums – admitted she’s a fan of what her bandmates did after she left. 

“(I always) felt like the direction you went in after I left was beautiful,” she explained. “It felt like a natural progression.”

However, for Keisha it was important that the group maintained its authenticity amid several line-up changes, which she admits “became harder to maintain”. 

“For me, the Sugababes was about our harmonies and three voices put together,” she said. “After Siobhan left, Mutya and I tried to continue our signature sound.

“When Mutya left, it became harder to maintain that. Every time someone leaves, it changes the dynamic.”

And while she acknowledges that “there might be some people who liked” the final line-up of Heidi, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen, for her “it changed and lost its essence.”

The reunited Sugababes are set to revisit their classic debut with an expanded 20th anniversary edition, featuring the original 12 song album, plus eight B-sides and previously-unreleased demo recordings from the era. 

Also included are remixed from MNEK, Majestic, Blood Orange and more.

‘One Touch’ was released in 2000 and included the hit singles Overload, New Year, Run For Cover and Soul Sound.

The 20th anniversary expanded edition is out October 1 and available on 2CD, limited Tri-Colour Vinyl and Gold Vinyl