I was a nineties pop star with a huge hit that was in a Hollywood film – now I’ve quit fame to run a charity
FROM playing packed out arenas to helping find the missing people of Britain, Jo Youle has certainly enjoyed careers at both ends of the working spectrum.
The 51 year old originally hit the big time back in the 90s where she enjoyed a thrilling brush with fame.
She was a keyboardist and vocalist with Hull-based pop duo Scarlet alongside her pal Cheryl Parker.
In 1994, Jo achieved success with Scarlet when their track Independent Love Song became a chart hit.
The track went onto peak at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart the following January which resulted in the girls being chosen to be the guest celebrity act on wildly popular BBC contest A Song for Europe.
Independent Love Song went top 10 in Ireland and went onto be selected for inclusion on the soundtrack for a huge Hollywood film.
It featured in Bed of Roses released in 1996 which starred popular actor Christian Slater.
Although it seemed that longevity was not meant to be for the band when they were dropped from their record deal at the end of 1996.
These days, Jo enjoys a completely different lifestyle as the CEO of the UK’s Missing People charity.
Jo recently opened up to the Daily Mail about her shock career change which saw her take to the Wembley Arena stage 25 years apart for very different reasons.
The former musician told the publication: “We did support tours with top bands and singers at venues like Wembley and the Birmingham NEC.
“Then a few years ago, it went full circle and I was at those venues again to tell the story of Missing People.
“It was nice to stand at the side of the stage knowing what it was going to feel like when I walked on.”
As a result of her work in the charity sector and bringing Missing People to the forefront of Britain, Jo was awarded with an OBE from the Queen in her 2022 Birthday Honours.
As part of Jo’s work, she has helped to oversee 865 reunions in the past year between missing people and their relatives.
Recalling a particularly emotional case, Jo said: “I’ll never forget visiting one family whose adult son had been missing for over six years.
“It was the most emotional afternoon with them sharing his story with me and looking through their photo albums, and his mother wrapped up two custard cream biscuits for my journey home.
“Then, not so many months later, there was good news – he was alive. He’d struggled with his mental health but they were brought back together and rebuilt their relationship.
“You don’t forget those moments.”
