Steps’ Ian ‘H’ Watkins says Britney Spears caused tension in 90s band

Steps singer Ian ‘H’ Watkins has revealed how his close relationship with pop star Britney Spears caused tension in the band before they split in 2001.

Speaking on Hit Network’s Cliffo and Gabi on Monday, Ian revealed how he used to fly on Britney’s private jet while his bandmates were forced to take a tour bus.

Hinting at a feud, Ian said: ‘I guess if you were travelling on Britney’s private jet and the others were asleep on a bus overnight, would you be a little pee’d off?’

The band supported Britney on their first tour of America and Canada in 1999. 

Ian explained that he suffered from insomnia due to the gruelling tour schedule.

‘I slept really, really badly. I had bad insomnia. We were travelling a state a day in America with Britney,’ he said. 

Ian revealed he became good friends with the Crazy hitmaker, who was only 19 years old at the time, and she invited him to use her jet. 

‘She said, “You know what? If you can’t sleep on the bus then why don’t you just come and travel with me?”‘ he said of the invitation.

Ian accepted the offer, recalling: ‘She was so lovely, so kind, so carefree.’ 

Referring to the #FreeBritney campaign and reports surrounding her conservatorship, he added that he would like to see her back in control of her life. 

Elsewhere, Ian revealed how the nickname ‘H’ came about, telling the radio show: ‘I’ve been called H since I was nine years old. It stood for hyperactive.’ 

Steps split on Boxing Day in 2001, but reformed a decade later in 2011. 

They were due to tour their new album What the Future Holds but were forced to postpone it because of the coronavirus pandemic.

‘Performing live has always been our favourite part of being in Steps. We had the most fun of our career on tour,’ the band told Daily Mail Australia in September. 

The group – comprising Claire Richards, Faye Tozer, Lisa Scott-Lee, Lee Latchford-Evans and Ian – were scheduled to play at the So Pop festival in Australia.