Pete Waterman is set to leave Girlband Forever viewers doing a double take as he shows off a dramatic new look.
The record producer appears in the upcoming BBC Two mini-series and is barely recognisable from the guy we all know and love.
Pete, 78, is in the show to talk about his memories of some of the UK’s biggest girl groups.
Sitting behind a large desk, Girlbands Forever viewers will definitely recognise his voice first before anything else.
Pete is usually known for his wild, wispy white hair on the sides of his balding head. But he has cropped his hair really short for the new show.
In a preview picture, the music mogul is also sporting a trendy new goaty beard. We must admit it, we also didn’t recognise him here at TVGuide!
What is Girlbands Forever?
Girlbands Forever is a brand new mini-series for BBC Two and it features some of the most iconic female popstars from the 90s and noughties.
It is a spin-off to the previous BBC Two series, Boybands Forever. Following the format, the singers and industry experts from the era will recount their experiences of fame, fortune and the music business.
Pete appears in episode 1 and talks about the birth of the Spice Girls. He recalls: “When I first heard Wannabe, I wasn’t convinced. But my daughter then was four or five and it took about two minutes before it became the anthem of the house.
“It was like, ‘Okay, fine. I’ve got it. Okay, fine!’”
What is Pete Waterman most famous for?
Pete has worked in the music industry for four decades. His big break into the industry came when her teamed up with songwriters and producers, Mike Stock and Matt Aitken.
During the 80s, the trio became responsible for some of the decade’s biggest pop hits. They were behind huge chart toppers including Rick Astley, Samantha Fox, Mel & Kim and Sinitta.
They were also credited for launching Kylie Minogue’s pop career after producing her debut song, I Should Be So Lucky. Later on, Pete was also the producer for Steps.
In 2001, Pete became a household name when he was cast as a judge for ITV’s Pop Idol. He judged on the show’s two series’ and for its spin-off, Popstars: The Rivals.
In 2004, Pete received an OBE for his services to music in the New Year’s Honours list.
Which groups feature in Girlbands Forever?
Prepare for a trip down memory lane with this new show. Girlbands Forever covers the stories of the Spice Girls, All Saints, Eternal and Atomic Kitten. Mis-Teeq also features in the show, along with the Sugababes.
Melanie Blatt will be representing All Saints, while Kelle Bryan recalls her experiences in Eternal. Heidi Range, who was one of many members of Sugababes, will also appear, along with Mis-Teeq’s Su-Elise Nash and Atomic Kitten’s Natasha Hamilton and Kerry Katona.
Albeit from a different era, Little Mix’s Perrie Edwards is also in Girlbands Forever. She will speak about her experience in the band after it was formed on The X Factor in 2011.
Expect lots of industry insiders along with Pete, including band managers and music journalists from the time.
When is Girlbands Forever on?
Girlbands Forever premieres this weekend. The first two episodes will air back-to-back on Saturday November 1, 2025.
Episode one starts at 9.20pm on BBC Two. Episode two will follow straight after on the same channel at 10.20pm. Both episodes are an hour long and will be available on iPlayer.
Fans will have to wait for the show’s third instalment. Episode 3 of Girlbands Forever will air on Saturday November 8. The exact time is yet to be confirmed.
Girlbands Forever starts at 9.20pm on BBC Two on Saturday November 1, 2025.
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