Rachel Stevens planning comeback

RACHEL STEVENS has confirmed that she is planning to relaunch her pop career.

The former S Club 7 star revealed her plans while wishing fans a Merry Christmas on her message board.

Stevens, 31, who has been absent from the charts for more than four years,said: "Some of you may have read in a couple of the papers that I'm getting back into music. It's very early stages at the moment but I'm going into the studio in the New Year... all very exciting! I'll keep you all posted with what's going on."

After S Club 7 split in 2203, Stevens launched a solo career and had five top ten hits in the UK, with 'Sweet Dreams My La Ex' and 'Some Girls' both peaking at number two.

But she been noticeably absent from the charts since her second album, Come And Get It, stalled at number 28 in October 2005.

Last week she took part in the final of the BBC celebrity show Strictly Come Dancing, having finished second on the TV dance contest in 2008, and performed a rumba on yesterday's Christmas edition of the show.