Buchanan 'sues over Sugababes name'

Keisha Buchanan is reportedly suing the current Sugababes in an attempt to stop the band from using its name.

Buchanan was asked to leave the band last year and was replaced by Jade Ewen. The move meant that none of the original Sugababes members were still involved in the band.

According to the Sunday Mirror, Buchanan has now launched a legal bid to claim a stake in the band, which she founded in 1998.

The High Court action reportedly demands that the current Sugababes members - Ewen, Heidi Range and Amelle Berrabah - either change the group's name or pay her a one-off sum, which could amount to millions of pounds.

"This is a landmark case and will send shockwaves through the industry," a source said. "The Sugababes are one of the most successful girlbands of all time, but if they are forced to change their name it would be absolutely disastrous for them.

"It would be very hard for them to maintain any credibility if they had no original band members and were called something else.

"Keisha was an integral member from the very beginning so it is easy to understand why she is acting like this. She even came up with the band's name with fellow founder member Mutya Buena and deserves something for making the Sugababes what they are today."

Range recently claimed that being in the Sugababes was "unbearable" before the lineup change.