Cheryl Baker has been a household name for years and is best known for being a member of Bucks Fizz, who won the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest. Despite the 71-year-old being in the spotlight for decades, many fans won't be aware that Cheryl Baker is not her real name. The singer was actually born Rita Maria Crudington. In 1975, when she was just 21, Cheryl was accepted into her first band, Coco, after successfully auditioning.

When she officially joined the band, Cheryl adopted her professional name. She recalled: "They asked me 'what my name was' and I said Rita Crudgington. They said, 'That will have to go!', so I changed it. I don't remember where Cheryl Baker actually came from." Coco entered the Eurovision Song Contest in 1978, but finished in eleventh place. After achieving one top 20 single, Cheryl left the band.

In November 1980, Baker met an old acquaintance called Nichola Martin at a party. "Shortly after, she rang and said she was putting this band together for a Song for Europe and asked if I wanted to join. That was Bucks Fizz," the star recalled.

Bucks Fizz shot to stardom after clinching victory at Eurovision in 1981, propelling them to international acclaim. The original line-up featured Bobby G, Jay Aston, Cheryl, and Mike Nolan.

However, the group saw changes over time, with Jay departing in 1985 and Shelley Preston stepping in. Eventually, the band rebranded from Bucks Fizz to The Fizz.

Despite the band's success, Cheryl previously opened up about being left "penniless" due to the financial strain caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which severely impacted her ability to cover her bills.

She found herself in a tight spot with a significant tax bill and no funds available to settle it, forcing her to negotiate with the tax office for delayed payment arrangements. In 2021, she revealed the extent of her financial woes as live performances ceased during the lockdowns.

In a candid interview with OK! Magazine, Cheryl disclosed: "We had one virtual gig and that was our only income. It's been ridiculously hard. I owe lots of tax... I physically haven't got the money to pay anybody because I'm broke. It's been bittersweet for me. It means that I haven't worked for a year."

She further explained her predicament, saying: "I owe lots of tax and VAT because I had a great year [in 2018]. But because I had that great year, I now can't claim anything from the government. So, I've had to ring the VAT and tax people and say, 'You're going to have to put it on hold.' That's the only thing I can do right now... But, I am well and that is far more important."