Myleene Klass Her Age Children Partner Music and TV Career
Myleene Klass is a British musician, singer, television and radio presenter, and campaigner who first became famous with the pop group Hear’Say. She later built a career in classical music and broadcasting, appearing on programmes including The One Show and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Alongside entertainment, she has become a prominent voice for miscarriage awareness and women’s health.
Her story stretches well beyond the reality television programme that introduced her to millions. Musical training came before pop success, while radio, education and campaigning have helped shape her subsequent career. For readers discovering her through a television appearance, a piano performance or her charity work, here is a closer look at her background and achievements.
How Old Is Myleene Klass?
Myleene Klass was born on 6 April 1978, making her 48 years old as of September 2026. She comes from Norfolk, England, and grew up in the Gorleston area.
Her mother is Filipina, and her father has English and Austrian heritage. Music was an important part of her childhood, with family influences helping introduce her to instruments at an early age.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Myleene Angela Klass |
| Date of birth | 6 April 1978 |
| Age | 48, as of September 2026 |
| Nationality | British |
| Main occupations | Musician, singer, broadcaster and author |
| First major breakthrough | Hear’Say and Popstars |
| Musical background | Classical training |
| Children | Ava, Hero and Apollo |
| Partner | Simon Motson |
| Major reality TV achievement | Winner of I’m a Celebrity… South Africa in 2023 |
| Honour | MBE in the 2025 New Year Honours |
| Educational role | Visiting Lecturer in Musical Theatre at the Royal Academy of Music |
Her Early Life and Musical Training
Myleene Klass’s musical education began long before television fame. English National Opera’s biography records that she first picked up her grandfather’s violin at four and began playing the piano shortly afterwards.
As a teenager, she studied voice at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and added the harp to her musical skills. She then won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music.
Before joining Hear’Say, she worked as a session musician and singer and appeared in the West End production of Miss Saigon. These early experiences gave her a foundation in both instrumental performance and musical theatre.
That background helps explain the variety of her later work. Moving between a pop performance, a piano recording and a programme about classical music was supported by training that already crossed different musical settings.
What Instruments Does She Play?
Myleene Klass is particularly associated with the piano, but she also plays the harp and learned the violin as a child. She is a trained singer, too.
Her harp playing has featured in public performances, including a recital at Dumfries House for Classic FM’s 25th anniversary in 2017.
How Myleene Klass Became Famous With Hear’Say
Myleene Klass reached a national audience through Popstars, the television talent series that produced Hear’Say. The group became one of the defining British pop acts of 2001, when viewers could follow performers from auditions to the release of their first records.
Their debut single, Pure and Simple, was an immediate commercial success. Official Charts records approximately 550,000 sales in its opening week, making it one of the biggest debut singles of its era.
Hear’Say achieved two UK number-one singles, while their album Popstars also reached number one.
For Myleene, the group provided an unusually visible introduction to the entertainment industry. Audiences already knew her face and personality before her independent career began.
However, Hear’Say represents only the opening chapter of her public life. Her subsequent work developed across several areas, allowing her to remain active after the group’s initial success.
Her Solo Music and Broadcasting Career
Returning to Classical Music
Myleene Klass released her debut solo album, Moving On, in 2003 after signing with Universal Classics. The project placed her classical background at the centre of her recording career.
She has continued releasing classical and crossover recordings. More recent projects include My Taylor Lullabies, released in 2025, which brings her instrumental work into conversation with contemporary pop repertoire.
The connection between pop and classical music is a recurring feature of her career. It gives listeners who recognise familiar songs a route into piano-led recordings, while allowing her to draw on her formal training.
Television Presenting
Her presenting credits include:
- The One Show
- Popstar to Operastar
- The Classic BRIT Awards
- CNN’s The Screening Room
- Sky Arts’ Musical Masterpieces
These roles range from general entertainment to programmes that introduce audiences to music and performance. Her Royal Academy of Music biography also identifies broadcasting, performing and writing as central parts of her career.
Classic FM and Smooth Radio
Radio has provided a particularly long-running part of her working life. Myleene joined Classic FM in 2006 and has presented on Smooth Radio since 2014.
In February 2026, Classic FM marked her 20th anniversary with the station. Its celebration highlighted her presenting, live performances and involvement in music education.
That longevity is significant: radio has allowed her to build a relationship with listeners over many years, alongside the shorter projects and individual appearances associated with television.
Did Myleene Klass Win I’m a Celebrity?
Myleene Klass has taken part in two different versions of the franchise, with different results.
She was runner-up in the 2006 series of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! She then returned for I’m a Celebrity… South Africa in 2023, winning the returning-contestant competition and receiving the programme’s first “I’m a Celebrity Legend” title.
The distinction answers a common question about her television record: she did win the South Africa edition, although she had finished second during her original appearance.
Her 2023 victory also brought her back to a format that had played a major role in her public profile, this time many years into an established broadcasting career.
Myleene Klass’s Partner and Children
Myleene’s partner is Simon Motson, a public relations executive. They announced their engagement in 2020, and reporting in February 2026 continued to describe him as her fiancé while discussing their wedding plans.
She has three children:
- Ava
- Hero
- Apollo
Her daughters are from her previous relationship with Graham Quinn, whom she married in 2011 and divorced in 2013. She and Simon welcomed their son, Apollo, in August 2019.
Music is also part of the family’s public story. Classic FM’s 2026 profile describes all three children as having grown up learning piano with their mother. Ava has studied piano and cello, while Hero also plays trumpet.
Why Was Myleene Klass Awarded an MBE?
Myleene received an MBE in the 2025 New Year Honours for services to women’s health, miscarriage awareness and charity. The honour recognised a substantial part of her work beyond entertainment.
She has spoken publicly about pregnancy loss and worked with Tommy’s, the pregnancy and baby charity. Tommy’s celebrated her honour alongside that of miscarriage researcher Professor Siobhan Quenby.
Her campaigning has continued. In 2026, Tommy’s highlighted her support for its proposed improvements to miscarriage care, drawing on her experience of recurrent pregnancy loss. Her involvement brings public attention to the experiences of families and the work of researchers and healthcare campaigners.
First Aid and Children’s Charities
Myleene became St John Ambulance’s first official celebrity ambassador in 2024. Her work with the organisation promotes awareness of first aid and encourages people to gain the confidence to help during emergencies.
She has also been a long-standing Save the Children ambassador. The charity has documented her visits to its work in countries including the Philippines, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Music Education and Her Recent Work
Education has become another important strand of Myleene’s career. During lockdown, she launched Myleene’s Music Klass, bringing music activities and teaching to families online.
In 2025, the Royal Academy of Music announced her appointment as a Visiting Lecturer in Musical Theatre. The role connects her professional experience with the institution where she trained.
Together with her two-decade Classic FM milestone in 2026, the appointment shows how central music remains to her work. Television may introduce her to new audiences, but performing, discussing and teaching music continue to connect the different stages of her career.
Conclusion
Myleene Klass has built a career that connects pop success, classical training, broadcasting and public campaigning. Her journey from Hear’Say to established radio presenter and music educator helps explain why audiences know her for so many different things.
To explore her work further, start with her recordings, listen to her radio presenting or discover the charities she supports. Each offers a different perspective on a career that has continued to develop well beyond its television beginnings.
