Ewen: 'Heidi is an original Sugababe'

Sugababes newcomer Jade Ewen has claimed that Heidi Range deserves to be regarded as an original member of the group.

The girlband faced calls to use a new name following the ousting of their last founding member Keisha Buchanan in September.

However, speaking to The Times, Ewen insisted: "As a consumer, Heidi to me is one of the original members. She's been in the band eight years, was there for their first number one - from the point they had success, she was involved."

She added: "It's a business, at the end of the day. We're just ending one business and starting a new one."

Range joined Sugababes in 2001 after Siobhan Donaghy quit the first lineup. The band later released breakthrough single 'Freak Like Me' and successful second album Angels With Dirty Faces.

> Heidi Range: 'We are Sugababes'