"Stars Who Chose Ordinary Lives: East 17 Heartthrob Trades Fame for Roofing"

FAME can be tough to handle, so it’s not surprising even some of the most seasoned stars decide to walk away from the limelight.

Plenty of famous faces have return to the nine to five lifestyle over the year after they decided the spotlight wasn’t for them.

John (second from left) shot to fame as part of East 17 Credit: Getty John gives follows a look inside his new life on TikTok Credit: Tiktok/@johnhendye17

It recently emerged that former member of 90s boyband East 17 John Hendy, 55 is now working as roofer.

The band made a name for themselves for their more edgy image compared to other bands of the time, like and .

East 17 even had huge hits like their 1994 Stay Another Day – but it turns out the members weren’t exactly raking in the cash despite their rise to stardom.

In the early days, the group’s members were only pocketing £125 a week each, proving the pop dream wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

The boys had differing fortunes after splitting in 1997 following controversial comments band member Brian Harvey made about taking ecstasy.

John did join a new iteration the group, E-17, and was part of various line-ups over the years, but it didn’t last.

Now he shares his trade on and his latest job saw him working on a tall property in Lewisham.

Here we take a look at the other stars who have ditched fame for a slice of normality.

Michael Underwood

Michael Underwood became a familiar face on CBBC Credit: BBC He is know a teacher but his wife Angellica is still in the spotlight Credit: Rex

The presenter turned his back on fame and is now loving life away from the spotlight in a totally different career.

The star rose to fame on in the late 90s as a kids TV host and was one of the most recognisable stars on the channel.

He even found love with his co-star as they turned their on-screen presenting work for the channel into a real-life off-screen love story.

But whilst his wife Angellica is still enjoying her time on TV – he has swapped the TV studio for the classroom and couldn’t be happier.

Michael has been teaching for over five years at Surbiton High Boy’s Prep School in south-west London, teaching Year 4, who are eight and nine years old.

Luckily he was already a trained teacher as he did a four-year BEd teaching degree before landing his big break on – on the advice of his mum.

“It was my mum who actually said: ‘Why don’t you think of doing drama as a teaching degree, specialise in that and you’ve got something to fall back on if the acting doesn’t work out.’”

JB shot to fame as one fourth of the boyband JLS Credit: Getty/Jim Bennett Now the singer prefers a calm life on the farm Credit: Getty/Jim Bennett

Most people will recognise JB Gill from boyband , who stormed into the spotlight on back in 2008 where they finished in second place to series winner .

The band – also made up of , and – split in 2013 and since then JB has swapped his performer boots for wellies and .

He and wife Chloe Tangney bought a turkey farm in Sevenoaks, , and JB – originally from Croydon in South London – loves rural life.

Comparing being a farmer to being famous, father-of-two JB told In The Country : “One similarity is that you are busy all of the time and everyday there is something to do.

“But whilst I had a manager in show business, when you run a farm, you need to keep on top of everything. Thankfully Chloe is a huge support.”

Bruce Dickenson

Bruce was once in Iron Maiden but now his career has taken a different turn Credit: Getty/Capital The rocker left the stage for the skies and works as a pilot Credit: Getty/Capital

Heavy metal favourite , 63, took to the skies as a pilot after leaving the world-famous band Iron Maiden.

The lead singer, from Worksop, left the group in 1993 amid growing tensions between the five members.

Dickinson had learnt to fly recreationally in Florida in the 1990s, winning his airline transport pilot’s licence.

He went on to join the now-defunct British airline Astreaus as a captain and often flew 757s, becoming the company’s Marketing Director in 2010.

Astraeus closed down the following year, and ambitious Dickinson launched the aircraft maintenance business Cardiff Aviation Ltd in 2012.

As a pilot, Dickinson took part in some high-profile flights including returning 200 British citizens from Lebanon during the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in 2006.

While Dickinson does less flying these days, he admits he still finds it exciting.

Phoebe Cates

Phoebe starred alongside Rik Mayall in Drop Dead Fred Credit: Alamy Phoebe runs a boutique in New York and raises her family Credit: Getty – Contributor

Once an 80s bombshell, Phoebe Cats shot to fame in films like Drop Dead Fred and Fast Times at Ridgemont High but ultimitley stepped away from the spotlight.

The star left the limelight to raise her family with fellow actor Kevin Kline.

However, Phoebe is now also a businesswoman and runs a clothing homeware shop called Blue Tree in City.

The actress opened up on her career change when she told NBC’s The Big Idea “acting wasn’t really an option for me”.

The, at a Gremlins reunion in 2015, the Phoebe shared her annoyance at the at ‘s shift to CGI.

“Movies aren’t really made that way anymore,” she said, referring to the classic flick.

Frankie Cocozza

The star was booted off The X Factor Credit: Rex Frankie now works on a building site Credit: Rex/Instagram

Frankie Cocozza appeared on The X Factor in 2011 and was one of the show’s most controversial contestants.

He was sensationally booted off when he admitted he broke a “golden rule” by taking drugs.

Frankie went on to launch a music career, but in 2017 he revealed he was working as a builder after blowing his fortune.

He told The Mirror that he decided to switch up his career after finding himself bored and “running out of money” and actually he enjoys being on the building site.

“I have no regrets. I performed live on TV in front of 14 million and that’s such a great thing to tell people,” he said.

“I didn’t have to have a real job for a long time after the show, and me and my mates had the best time.”

Frankie, who is now married and has a child, added: “I love being on the building site. I get so much grief, but it’s a crease up.

“I knock up pug for the plasterers. It’s fun. It gives me a reason to get up in the morning.”

Tinie Tempah

Tinie Tempah had hits like Pass Out but stepped away from the stage Credit: Andrew Barr – The Sun Glasgow/Channel 4

He may be the , but Tinie Tempah has turned his hand to property, leaving fame behind.

The London born rapper drew on his property expertise to present Channel 4’s Extraordinary Extensions.

The show will helped British homeowners transform their spaces with wacky architectural visions and colossal budgets.

The star has previously opened up about his “really cool” property portfolio across the world – a far cry from his childhood council estate upbringing.

In an interview with The Independent , Tinie revealed how his career transformation took place.

He said: “At the start of the pandemic, the music industry got hit really, really hard.

“Obviously, there were no gigs. I was in the studio at home, scratching my head.

“I got this phone call, ‘We’re doing this property show, and we would love you to do it’.

“At first, I was like, ‘I don’t know…’ But I’m at the age now where I want to communicate other sides of myself.

“I’ve been making music since I was 16-years-old. I’ve achieved a lot. But I feel like this is a new challenge.”

Freddie Prinze Jr

Freddie was once a 90s icon but now prefers working behind the screens Freddie even released his own cookbook Credit: Getty

Once a heartthrob Freddie Prinze Jr. turned his back on fame for a life behind the screen.

The Scooby Doo actor stepped into a new role thanks to his love of .

The actor was hired by as a writer and producer, and he also heped to preop wrestlers for upcoming TV apperances.

The She’s All That star also hosted a podcast based on his love of the wrestling.

Not only that, but the heartthrob’s love of writing also led to him writing his own cookbook, Back to the Kitchen.

JB Gill