MUSIC fans were left reeling today after The Fizz announced the departure of Mike Nolan after 43 years.

The group, which won Eurovision in 1981 as Bucks Fizz, shared the surprise new on social media platform X today.

5

The Fizz revealed Mike Nolan is leaving the group at the end of the yearCredit: Twitter / @TheFizzCMJ

5

Formerly known as Bucks Fizz, the group won Eurovision in 1981Credit: Rex
Alongside a smiley picture of Cheryl Baker, Mike and Jay Aston at BBC studios, they wrote: “We can confirm, following the Michael Ball show, that Mike will be leaving the group at the end of the year.

“Cheryl & Jay will be continuing as ‘The Fizz’ & a statement from Mike, will follow in the coming days. Thank you for your understanding.”

When one person commented “maybe time call it a day”, the two remaining members shot back: “Absolutely not.”

Others were more sympathetic.

One person said: “Sorry to hear this, hope he is alright and looking forward to his retirement x.”

Another wrote: “Very sad that he’s leaving but I’m sure we wish him all the best.”

A third said: “It has been a long long run. I am sad though I completely understand. Sending lots of love (since 1981).”

In 1981, Cheryl, Mike, Jay and Bobby G topped the charts with Eurovision classic Making Your Mind Up and followed it with a string of hits including The Land Of Make Believe.

They have sold more than 15 million records worldwide, and had three number one singles.

Tragedy struck in 1984 when the group were involved in a near-fatal bus crash that left all the members seriously injured.

Cheryl broke her spine in three places, Jay also had back injuries, and Mike fell into a coma and almost died while having an operation to save his life.

While technically always a functioning band, in-house disputes meant a near-constant line-up change.

Cheryl, Mike and Shelley Preston – who replaced Jay in 1985 – reformed the group under The Fizz in 2004, due to a legal dispute.

Jay replaced Shelley in 2009 and The Fizz continue to perform and release albums, with their most recent release – Smoke & Mirrors – reaching number 29 in the UK album chart.

Like many acts in the Eighties, huge hits did not necessarily mean big bucks.

5

Cheryl, Mike and Jay have been performing under The Fizz moniker since 2009Credit: Times Media Ltd

5

Cheryl, pictured with her husband Steve, said the group didn’t make millions despite their huge hitsCredit: Stewart Williams

5

Bucks Fizz sold 15million records worldwideCredit: Rex
Cheryl told us last year: “We were given five per cent of a 90 per cent of the sales, because they took off ten per cent for breakages and giveaways to radio stations and record firms.

“That five per cent was split four ways, so we got less than a penny for every record we sold.

“I had enough to buy a semi- detached in Eltham, South East ­London, but I didn’t care. I’m not into material things.

“Money gets me by, money pays for things, but that’s all.”

Cheryl did splash out on a small house for her parents, in Essex, as well as a 32ft Fairline Phantom boat, for £15,000, which she kept in ­Brighton Marina.

She said: “I loved it but that was a dripping tap as far as money was concerned so I sold it.”

In 1984, the band were involved in a terrifying crash in Newcastle, when their tour bus hit a lorry, with Mike suffering a near-fatal brain injury which left him with impaired vision and epilepsy, prompting Cheryl to set up the charity HeadFirst.

Cheryl broke three vertebrae, which hurt if she is standing up too long, but she made a speedy recovery.

She went on to present a cookery show, Eggs And Baker in 1988, and front hit kids’ show Record Breakers for 11 years, quitting Bucks Fizz in 1993, when her twins were born.

After Mike Nolan also left the band, Bobby G teamed up with David Van Day and continued to tour the band but in 2004, with an Eighties revival sweeping the nation, Cheryl reunited with former bandmates Jay and Mike to perform as The Original Bucks Fizz, sparking a legal wrangle over the name.

Bobby won the case, meaning the trio could no longer use the name — nor even say they were “formerly of Bucks Fizz” — and they adopted The Fizz instead.

Cheryl said: “It’s sad because we won Eurovision and we had that ­terrible crash which almost killed Mike so we had so much history in a short space of time.

“We should all have the right to use the name.

“Bobby doesn’t gig so it’s like he is saying, ‘I don’t want to play with this ball any more but you can’t have it’. ”

Cheryl says the loss of the name cost them a host of gigs, meaning she turned to a business owner pal for work.

She added: “Even if I’m broke I don’t worry about money.

“If I look at the bank account and there’s nothing coming in for a while, I’ll find something to do.

“I’ve worked for a neighbour who runs a gardening company, for £10 an hour, and it was lovely.

“I was out in the fresh air and we’d have a good old chinwag while we worked.

“I also recorded personal messages for fans which brought in some