Fuller Force of Law

Money is a definite no-go area with S Club svengali Simon Fuller. The entertainment mogul is threatening to sue TV presenter Claudia Winkleman after she asked the now-defunct poppets live on air how much they earned during four arduous years while Simon made a rumoured £50 million.

Simon – who was famously fired by the Spice Girls – didn’t like the 31-year-old quizzing the band over the controversial issue of cash and has accused her of being over-aggressive in the interview.

The band announced they were splitting last month and were rumoured to have made only £500,000 each while Simon raked it in.

The interview for BBC’s Liquid News show was going smoothly last month when Claudia asked four members of the band – Jo, Bradley, Hannah and Jon – about how they felt. “Let’s talk cash and Mr Simon Fuller. Don’t look at me like you are angry. He’s got £90 million in the bank,” Claudia said to the band.

Jo replied: “How much? £90 million now? It was 50 last week.”

Bradley then chipped in: “I thought 130.” Claudia then replied: “It is 90. There are rumours that you are grumpy because you have not made a mint.”

Jon then said: “No. That’s not true.” Then Jo chimed in: “I think we are all really lucky to be where we are at our age with the bank balances that we have.”

A PR then burst in shouting: “I am not having that question answered. We’re going.” The former chart toppers then followed their fuming promotions girl while poor Claudia was left looking aghast.

“It’s such an unbelievable situation. Claudia was doing what any good journalist would do and ask them about the main issue surrounding the band which was the controversy over the money they had earned,” says a source.

“She is really stunned to have received a four-page letter from Simon’s lawyers. She had every right to ask the band about them being angry over not making more money. They were pathetic over the way they walked off set over it. And now Claudia faces being sued.”

The 43-year-old Pop Idol creator is said to be fuming over the incident, but Claudia is taking it all on the chin.

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Credit: The Mirror

Posted: June 24th, 2003