When Mutya Buena announced she was leaving the Sugababes last year, the news came as something of a shock to fans of the band. But it wasn't such a

shock to fellow band members.

Given the speed with which Mutya - who said in her statement she was leaving for "personal reasons" - was replaced with new 'babe Amelle Berrabah, it had obviously been on the cards for some time.

"We knew it might happen," admits 22-year-old Heidi, as the new line-up take a break from rehearsals for their forthcoming tour. "But when she actually said she wanted to leave, it was a shock to hear it."

It was assumed that Mutya's "personal reasons" were to do with her becoming a mum for the first time, to daughter Tahlia, in March last year.

So the news Mutya had already started recording solo material, even before she officially left the band, was a little unexpected and fuelled rumours that Mutya and Heidi had fallen out.

"She just wanted to leave something that she'd been doing for most of her life," Heidi says. "We're cool with that because we have Amelle now and we're in a better position than we've ever been.

"It's nice because it feels like a kick up the butt."

The Sugababes management team had known of Amelle for two years, after seeing her perform at a talent showcase in America as part of the duo Boo 2 with her sister.

Despite her experience, Amelle was thrown in at the deep end.

"When they called me, they just said, We've got something big for you'," she says. "The manager told me what it was in the car on the way to the studio. As soon as I got out the car I was recording a song. It was literally that quick."

Since then the Aldershot-born singer has had to re-record the entire Taller In More Ways album, take part in new video shoots and prepare for two massive tours - the band's own and one with Take That - this spring.

On top of that she's had her life put under scrutiny by the Press, but she's taking it all in her stride. "Keisha and Heidi told me what to expect and you've just got to go with it," says Amelle.

She has a boyfriend, former tree surgeon Freddie, 23, who she's been going out with for two-and-a-half years. She says he's coping well with the overnight fame of his girlfriend.

All the Sugababes' boyfriends may feel a little threatened when the girls go on the road with Take That, however.

"I was a huge Take That fan," says Keisha, before breaking into a rendition of their hit Pray.

"I used to love that video - Robbie Williams with his hair slicked back. Wow."

"I really liked Gary Barlow," grins Amelle. "This is when I was very young though. I'd gone off him by the time I was 11 or 12."

Support act is Shawn Emanuel.

Doors 6.30pm, tickets £21.50. Call 0870 9009100.