Staple: 'The Specials are rehearsing'

Neville Staple has claimed that The Specials will reform as long as they "gel" in rehearsals.

The MC claimed the band had to "get it right" with their reunion otherwise people would laugh at their performances.

He told BBC 6Music: "We’re just seeing how it goes, if it gels it gels. If it doesn’t, you don’t wanna go out there as some old geriatric - not me.

"If we do a few more rehearsals and it doesn’t seem like it’s gelling, we ain’t gonna do it because it would be pointless.

"Y’know, you don’t want them going 'Oh god, seen them the other day, the old fogies’ - so we’ve gotta get it right."

Speaking about the ska band's dedicated fan base, Staple said: "It hasn’t died. People still want it, people still wanna see the proper band - The Specials.

"So a couple of months ago, we started talking and saying, 'Let’s see what we’re like in a room together rehearsing with instruments and stuff’."

Singer Terry Hall revealed last week that the group were considering a reunion. The group, who had hits with 'Ghost Town', 'Gangsters' and 'A Message To You, Rudy', split in 1981.