Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Cheryl Baker, an original member of the group Bucks Fizz, will miss a gig with her band this weekend as she can’t get back to the UK in timeThe Fizz – an offshoot of the band Bucks Fizz – are missing a member this weekend(Image: Instagram)A member of a huge 80s pop group has been forced to pull out of a gig after her bandmates revealed she is “stranded off the coast of Africa”. Cheryl Baker – who won the Eurovision Song Contest for the UK in 1981 with Bucks Fizz and the song Making Your Mind Up – won’t be able to play the band’s upcoming concert this weekend.Now known as ‘The Fizz’, the band – famous for their skirt ripping stunt at Eurovision – are due to play at Tonbridge Old Fire Station in Kent on Sunday.But taking to Instagram, Matthew James Pateman – now in the band alongside Nikk Mager after original male members Mike Nolan and Bobby G left – said they would perform as a trio with fourth female member Jay Aston. But he added there would be a ‘special guest’ making an appearance.Sharing a photo of himself with Nikk and Jay, Matthew wrote: “Tonight’s @thefizzcmjn line up as @thecherylbaker is stranded off the coast of Africa! Oh it’s been a week. Looking forward to seeing you all for double the fun and Sunday’s surprise guest! #thefizz.”Meanwhile, a fan pleaded on X: “Has anyone got any ideas how we can get Cheryl Baker off a ship in the middle of the ocean, that’s not working? @Cherylbaker”. To which Cheryl replied: “Nothing can be done about, Martin. It’s a poorly ship. We just need to limp into port on Monday”.READ MORE: Bucks Fizz fans left baffled after discovering Cheryl Baker’s real nameBand member Cheryl Baker is apparently ‘stranded off the coast of Africa’ (Image: Supplied)Though the band are touring again 44 years after finding fame – with former bandmate Bobby G, 71, still performing as Bucks Fizz with his wife and two other singers as he won the rights to the name – there have been many ups and downs for the group over the years.Towards the end of 1984, the band were on a tour bus when it crashed into a lorry, injuring all four members. Mike Nolan was so badly hurt he fell into a coma and was even read the last rites as they didn’t think he would make it.He told the Mirror: “I remember seeing Cheryl lying in hospital with all this oil and glass in her hair, and having the worst headache imaginable. Then I slipped into a coma for six weeks. I don’t remember anything about it, but I died and they revived me. It means I’m not scared of dying now, I’ve seen there is nothing to fear.”As a result of the accident, Mike is on epilepsy pills for the rest of his life. These days he’s retired after quitting the band at the end of last year. This is why new members Matthew and Nikki were drafted in, so Jay and Cheryl could continue playing together.It’s also been a tough few years for Cheryl, who admitted she’d had to resort to selling her belongings – including an old mattress – when coronavirus hit, as lockdown put a stop to all The Fizz’s gigs.Broke Cheryl took to Facebook to advertise the mattress, which she described as “slightly stained but nothing nasty.” She said at the time she was selling “clothes and all sorts,” but added: “Though I haven’t got any proper jewellery, it’s all fake, along with my furniture and the paintings on the wall!” Prior to that she’s reportedly worked as a cold caller to make ends meet.While youngest band member Jay, 63, has been on a road to recovery after being diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2018. She has since got the all clear, but doctors had to perform a seven-hour operation to remove 40% of her tongue.They then made a new tongue using tissue from her thigh and removed her top teeth as a precaution in case she needed chemotherapy. Medics later informed her the operation had been a success and the cancer was gone just 10 days after the operation.READ MORE: Meghan Markle’s go-to £20 supersize anti-ageing face cream is now on sale at BootsFollow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads
