Why Liz McClarnon pulled out of Atomic Kitten's 2017 tour

Liz McClarnon has opened up about her crushing fear of traveling thousands of feet in the air that caused her to pull out of the Atomic Kitten's 2017 tour. Photo / Getty Images

Liz McClarnon "hated" flying around the world with Atomic Kitten.

The 35-year-old singer has opened up about her crushing fear of traveling thousands of feet in the air that caused her to pull out of the band's 2017 tour to Australia and New Zealand and be replaced by Liberty X's Michelle Heaton.

Speaking about jetting across the globe in Atomic Kitten's heyday, when all she wanted was for her feet to be firmly on home ground, she said: "It's never been a favourite thing of mine, even all the way through the band, I think I've been around the world four or five times, but it's just never been a big thing for me, I've always gone, 'Oh I hate this I hate this I hate this.'

Atomic Kitten performing at a concert in 2003.

"And sort of when we wound up with the band and things ended, I was like, 'I'm not gonna do it anymore, do you know what? I just don't like it.' "

The Tide Is High hitmakers will share the stage with B*witched, S Club 3 and East 17 next year and although Liz is still a member of Atomic Kitten and sings in their UK appearances, she has no regrets about turning her back on the overseas tour.

And the pretty blonde doesn't mind being replaced by 37-year-old Michelle because the women are best friends and she'll get all the gossip from their travels from the comfort of he own home.

She added on 'Lorraine' today: "No regrets, no not at all."

Liz added: "Michelle is one of my best friends, so as well, I can still get all the gossip from everyone. Ringing everyone up and going 'Is everything all right?? What's going on?' "

- Bang! Showbiz