The Steps split has had an effect on their positions in the new UK charts announced today. Words Are Not Enough / I Know Him So Well climbs two places to number 13. Gold Greatest Hits also climbs up the chart five places to number eight. The Gold Greatest Hits video is a non-mover at number three.

Here are Dotmusic’s comments:

13 WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH/I KNOW HIM SO WELL (Steps)

Whether it is coincidence or as a direct result of the Boxing Day news we shall never know but Steps turn around and step two places back up the chart, giving what will quite probably turn out to be their final single one last bid for glory. In truth they probably split up at just the right time, even those close to them admitting that the act was in danger of becoming stale. Rather than risk fading away with a series of progressively smaller hits, the cheesy but never less than entertaining pop act have bowed out on their terms and with an impressive string of chart singles intact. The first Steps single was the line dance single 5,6,7,8 which only made Number 14 but those with long memories will recall that it was released in November 1997 and was still floating around the Top 20 in February 1998. It may have been their smallest hit ever but it remains one of the biggest selling singles never to reach the Top 10. After that there was no stopping them and every single one of the 14 that followed charged into the Top 10, even if only two of them topped the chart. 14 Top 10 hits is more than the Spice Girls, more than Five, more even than Take That. Indeed the only pop act of the last decade to have a more impressive run of hits is Boyzone who managed 16 Top 10 hits before they too finally bit the dust. Something tells me their planned solo careers aren’t going to be quite as successful (lets face it most of the group are a little too old to be genuine pop idols) but for the moment it is appropriate to toast the career of Steps. It’s been quite a fun ride.

Thanks to Charlie for pointing this out, a very popular Britney Spears website – World of Britney http://www.worldofbritney.com – has got an article up about the Steps split. The webmaster Ruben has got a nice commentary up about the split – I’m sure they have probably gained more fans now that Britney sites are picking up on this… oh well

Got this e-mail in also: the Steps Fun Day 2002 is still going ahead as planned, full details on their site http://www.geocities.com/rndsstepsclub/.