Jacqui Abbott

With Abbott, the band released several Top 10 singles. Amongst their most successful hits during her stint were: "Rotterdam (or Anywhere)", "Perfect 10", "Don't Marry Her" and "Dream a Little Dream of Me". Abbott was discovered by Beautiful South co-founder Paul Heaton after she and a friend met him outside a night club. Heaton invited them to a party, where Abbott's friend encouraged her to sing. Heaton was impressed with her singing, and later invited her to audition to replace Corrigan.[1]

She left the band in 2000,[2][3] because of the pressure of touring. A busy tour schedule would have conflicted with Abbott's wish to concentrate on looking after her son, who had just been diagnosed with autism.[1]

Abbott reunited with Paul Heaton in June 2011 to perform in his musical The 8th, while in 2013 they recorded a new album What Have We Become?[4] released on 19 May 2014. This was followed by a second album in 2015 entitled Wisdom, Laughter and Lines. They embarked on a tour in 2016.[5] Their third album, Crooked Calypso, was released in July 2017, with a tour beginning later that year.[6] In 2020, Heaton and Abbott again collaborated on Manchester Calling, their first UK Number 1 album.