Kim Wilde

Biography

Kim Wilde (born Kim Smith, 18 November 1960) is an English pop singer. She first gained success in 1981 with her debut single "Kids in America×Kids in America26 January 1981 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAKids in America3:26BTuning in Tuning On4:30", which peaked at no. 2 in the UK. In 1983, she received the Brit Award for Best British Female solo artist. In 1986, she had a UK no. 2 hit with a reworked version of the Supremes' song "You Keep Me Hangin' On×You Keep Me Hangin' On19 September 1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAYou Keep Me Hangin' On4:15BLoving You4:57", which also topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1987. Between 1981 and 1996, she had 25 singles that charted within the Top 50 of the UK singles chart. Her other hits include "Chequered Love×Chequered Love27 April 1981 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAChequered Love3:20BShane3:39" (1981), "You Came×You Came4 July 1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAYou Came (The Shep Pettibone Mix)7:35B1You Came (Dub Version 1)4:52B2You Came (Dub Version 2)4:52" (1988) and "Never Trust a Stranger×Never Trust a Stranger1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Never Trust a Stranger (extended version)5:592You Came7:353Wotcha Gonna Do4:02" (1988). In 2003, she collaborated with Nena on the song "Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime×Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime19 May 2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime (radio version)3:452Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime (new version)4:053Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann (new version)4:054Nur geträumt (new version)2:54", which topped the Dutch and Austrian charts.
She holds the record for being the most-charted British female solo act of the 1980s, with seventeen UK Top 40 hit singles. Starting in 1998, while still active in music, she has branched into an alternative career as a landscape gardener, which has included presenting gardening shows on the BBC and Channel 4. In 2005, she won a Gold award for her courtyard garden at the Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show.

Early life

Wilde was born as Kim Smith in the West London suburb of Chiswick, the eldest child of 1950s rock and roller Marty Wilde (birth name Reginald Smith) and Joyce Baker, who had been a member of the singing and dancing group the Vernons Girls. She attended Oakfield Preparatory School, in the Southeast London area of Dulwich. When she was nine, the family moved to Hertfordshire, where she was educated at Tewin and later Presdales School. In 1980, at age 19, she completed a foundation course at St Albans College of Art & Design. As Kim Wilde, she was signed to RAK Records by Mickie Most.

Music career

Wilde's first professional singing credit was as a backing singer to her brother Ricky's 1972 song "I Am an Astronaut."

RAK years

Wilde's father Marty and brother, Ricky, were responsible for writing virtually all of her material in the early-to-mid 1980s. Marty brought a classic pop sensibility to the songwriting process; Ricky's influences included the synth-pop acts OMD, Gary Numan, Ultravox and John Foxx, as well as the punk rock bands Skids and the Stranglers. Wilde released her debut single "Kids in America×Kids in America26 January 1981 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAKids in America3:26BTuning in Tuning On4:30" in January 1981. An instant success, it reached no. 2 in the UK Singles Chart and scaled the top five in Germany, France and Australia. Although it achieved only moderate success in the US, peaking at no. 25 when released in 1982, it is often regarded today as Wilde's signature song. Her debut studio album Kim Wilde (1981) repeated the success of the single, spawning two further hits in "Chequered Love×Chequered Love27 April 1981 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAChequered Love3:20BShane3:39" (Top 5 in the UK, France, Australia and Germany) and the UK-only single "Water on Glass×Water on Glass1981 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAWater on Glass (7" Version)3:36BBoys" (UK No. 11).
Wilde's follow-up album was 1982's Select×Select10 May 1982 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Ego4:102Words Fell Down3:303Action City3:234View From a Bridge3:315Just a Feeling4:106Chaos at the Airport3:177Take Me Tonight3:558Can You Come Over3:349Wendy Sadd3:4710Cambodia3:5711Cambodia (reprise)3:16, led by the hit singles "Cambodia×Cambodia2 November 1981 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksACambodia4:00BWatching for Shapes3:40" and "View from a Bridge×View From a Bridge1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAView From a Bridge3:29BTake Me Tonight3:52". Both were no. 1 hits in France and reached the top ten in Germany and Australia. At the time, there was some controversy about Wilde's hesitation to do live concerts. Her first concerts in September 1982 took place in Denmark, before embarking on a UK-wide tour in October. Wilde's third studio album, Catch as Catch Can×Catch as Catch Can21 December 1983 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1House of SalomeA2Back Street JoeA3Stay AwhileA4Love BlondeA5Dream SequenceB1Dancing in the DarkB2Shoot to DisableB3Can You Hear ItB4SparksB5Sing It Out for Love (1983) was a relative commercial failure. The first single from the album, "Love Blonde×Love BlondeJuly 1983 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksALove BlondeBCan You Hear It", was another success in France and Scandinavia, but failed to have major success in other countries. The failure of the album led to her leaving RAK and signing with MCA Records in the summer of 1984.

MCA years

Wilde's first album for MCA Teases & Dares×Teases & Dares21 December 1984 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1The Touch4:112Is It Over3:553Suburbs of Moscow3:224Fit In4:395Rage to Love4:186The Second Time3:537Bladerunner4:268Janine3:459Shangri-La4:4810Thought It Was Goodbye4:34 (1984) was again overlooked in her home country, but fared better in Germany, France and Scandinavia as well as scoring another German Top 10 single with "The Second Time×The Second Time1984 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAThe Second Time (extended version)6:30BLovers on a Beach (extended version)7:45" (which was Top 30 in the UK). The video for this song appeared in an episode of the 1980s TV hit Knight Rider in 1985. The second single, "The Touch×The Touch1984 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAThe Touch (Extended Version)BShangri-La (Extended Version)", was not a commercial success, but the third single, the rockabilly "Rage to Love×Rage to Love1984 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksARage To LoveBPutty In Your Hands" (the video for which features a cameo appearance by Justin Hayward, guitarist and frontman of the Moody Blues) made the UK top 20 in 1985. On Teases & Dares, Wilde made her first songwriting contributions, penning two songs. Meanwhile, she had embarked on three European concert tours (1983, 1985 and 1986).
On her fifth studio album, 1986's Another Step×Another Step3 October 1986 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1You Keep Me Hangin’ On4:192Hit Him3:353Another Step (Closer to You)3:234The Thrill of It3:575I’ve Got So Much Love4:006Victim4:067Schoolgirl3:458Say You Really Want Me3:449She Hasn’t Got Time for You4:1910Brothers4:4911Missing4:2912How Do You Want My Love4:0213Don’t Say Nothing’s Changed3:54, Wilde wrote or co-wrote most of the songs. The album's lead single "Schoolgirl×Schoolgirl1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksASchoolgirl (Head-Mastermix)6:28B1Schoolgirl (7" Version)3:38B2Songs About Love4:53" flopped in Europe and Australia, but Wilde's fortunes improved in spectacular fashion with the album's second single, a Hi-NRG remake of the Supremes classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On×You Keep Me Hangin' On19 September 1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAYou Keep Me Hangin' On4:15BLoving You4:57". After topping the charts in Australia and Canada and peaking at No. 2 in the UK, it became a US No. 1 single in 1987. With that hit, she became the fifth UK female solo artist ever to top the US Hot 100, following Petula Clark, Lulu, Sheena Easton, and Bonnie Tyler. Her popularity, especially in her native UK, was revitalised and she scored further Top 10 hits in 1987 with "Another Step (Closer to You)×Another Step (Closer To You)1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAAnother Step (Closer To You) (extended mix)5:55B1Another Step (Closer To You) (7″ version)3:38B2Hold Back3:58" (recorded with Junior) and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (a Comic Relief charity single, recorded with comedian Mel Smith).
In 1988, Wilde released her biggest selling album to date, Close×Close13 May 1988 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Hey Mister Heartache4:372You Came4:343Four Letter Word4:044Love in the Natural Way4:175Love’s a No4:176Never Trust a Stranger4:067You’ll Be the One Who’ll Lose4:328European Soul5:229Stone4:4310Lucky Guy2:4011Hey Mister Heartache (12″ mix)8:07, which returned her to the UK top 10 and spent almost eight months on the UK album chart. It produced four major European hits: "Hey Mister Heartache×Hey Mister Heartache1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Hey Mr. Heartache8:082Tell Me Where You Are3:133You Keep Me Hangin' On4:164Another Step3:34", "You Came×You Came4 July 1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAYou Came (The Shep Pettibone Mix)7:35B1You Came (Dub Version 1)4:52B2You Came (Dub Version 2)4:52", "Never Trust a Stranger×Never Trust a Stranger1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Never Trust a Stranger (extended version)5:592You Came7:353Wotcha Gonna Do4:02" and "Four Letter Word×Four Letter Word1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Four Letter Word4:052She Hasn’t Got Time for You (’88)4:403Four Letter Word (extended version)5:50" (the last 3 were Top 10 hits in the UK). The release of the album coincided with a tour of Europe, where she was the opening act for Michael Jackson's Bad World Tour. Wilde released her next studio album, Love Moves×Love Moves14 May 1990 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1It’s Here3:36A2Love (Send Him Back To Me)4:32A3Storm In Our Hearts5:09A4World In Perfect Harmony3:53A5Someday4:49B1Time4:11B2Who’s To Blame3:48B3Can’t Get Enough (Of Your Love)4:00B4In Hollywood4:17B5I Can’t Say Goodbye5:01, in 1990. The album barely made the UK Top 40, and, although it was a Top 10 success in Scandinavian countries, it failed to sell as well as its predecessor and only spawned two minor hits, "It's Here×It's Here1990 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1It's Here (7" version)3:322It's Here (extended version)6:293Virtual World (extended version)5:07," a Top 20 success in Middle and Northern Europe as well as "Can't Get Enough (Of Your Love)×Can't Get Enough (of Your Love)1990 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Can't Get Enough (of Your Love) (extended version)4:392Virtual World (extended version)5:093Can't Get Enough (of Your Love) (7'' version)3:50", her last Top 20 hit in France. She toured Europe again as the opening act for David Bowie.
A collaboration with Rick Nowels, who had produced hits for Stevie Nicks and Belinda Carlisle, resulted in the guitar-driven pop of the single "Love Is Holy×Love Is Holy1992 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Love Is Holy4:062Birthday Song5:103Love Is Holy (Ambient mix)4:464You Came (Shep Pettibone mix)7:34" and the album Love Is×Love Is18 May 1992 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Love Is Holy4:032Who Do You Think You Are3:483I Believe in You4:084Touched by Your Magic4:365I Won’t Change the Way That I Feel4:086Million Miles Away4:087The Light of the Moon (Belongs to Me)4:158Heart Over Mind4:079A Miracle’s Coming4:0010Try Again4:2311Too Late3:59 (1992). The album's success was again limited to a small number of countries, though the single became another Top 20 hit in the UK, and the second single ("Heart over Mind×Heart Over Mind22 June 1992 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Heart Over Mind (7" version)3:482Love Is Holy (7" version)4:023You Keep Me Hangin' On (7" version)4:134Heart Over Mind (extended version)6:37") also made the Top 40. In 1993, she released her first official compilation album The Singles Collection 1981–1993×The Singles Collection 1981–19936 September 1993 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Kids in America3:262Chequered Love3:223Water on Glass3:364Cambodia3:565View From a Bridge3:306Child Come Away4:057Love Blonde3:338The Second Time3:539Rage to Love4:2010You Keep Me Hangin’ On4:1511Another Step (Closer to You)3:3112You Came3:3113Never Trust a Stranger4:0614Four Letter Word4:0315Love Is Holy4:0316If I Can’t Have You3:2917In My Life3:45, which was a success throughout Europe and Australia and the dancefloor-influenced single "If I Can't Have You×If I Can't Have You7 September 1993 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1If I Can't Have You (7" edit)3:302If I Can't Have You (Kelsey mix)5:333If I Can't Have You (extended version)6:314Never Felt So Alive4:34" (a cover of the Yvonne Elliman song from the film Saturday Night Fever that was penned by the Bee Gees), became her last UK Top 20 Hit as well as a No. 3 hit in Australia.
Wilde embarked on a huge "Greatest Hits" concert tour through Europe in 1994 and also toured Australia and Japan for the first time in six years. Her next studio album, Now & Forever×Now & Forever22 November 1995 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Breakin' Away3:372High on You4:323This I Swear4:244C'mon Love Me5:325True to You4:576Hypnotise4:507Heaven3:508Sweet Inspiration3:529Where Do You Go From Here4:3410Hold On4:3611You're All I Wanna Do4:0312Life & Soul4:3313Now & Forever5:1014Back to Heaven1:42 (1995), was a commercial failure worldwide. Her single "Breakin' Away×Breakin' Away1995 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Breakin' Away (radio mix)3:372Breakin' Away (original 12" mix)6:303Breakin' Away (Matt Darey vocal mix)6:184Staying With My Baby (radio mix)4:29", however, was a minor hit, and the follow-up, "This I Swear×This I Swear1995 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1This I Swear (radio mix)3:522This I Swear (Wilde remix)4:223Heaven (Matt Darey 12")7:024Heaven (Eddy Fingers vocal)6:57", was also a minor hit in Europe. She released the single "Shame×ShameSeptember 1996 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Shame (Jupiter's radio mix)3:232Shame (Matt Darey's vocal mix)7:153Shame (T-empo's club mix)9:044Hypnotise (album version)4:51" in 1996, an Evelyn "Champagne" King cover. From February 1996 to February 1997, Wilde appeared in London's West End production of the rock musical, Tommy.

Return to pop

Since November 2001, Wilde has toured the UK three times (and once in Australia during 2003) as part of the Here and Now Tour, an Eighties revival concert series, together with artists such as Paul Young, the Human League, Belinda Carlisle, Howard Jones and Five Star. New recordings also followed; in 2001, she recorded a new track, "Loved×Loved5 November 2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Loved3:322Kids In America (D-Bop's Bright Lights Mix)7:533View From A Bridge (RAW Remix)6:21", for a compilation album which became a surprise hit in Belgium. She recorded the single "Born to be Wild×Born to Be Wild14 October 2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Born to Be Wild (radio mix)3:242Born to Be Wild (Special Arabian radio mix)3:253Born to Be Wild (Chillout mix)3:524All About Me6:47" in 2002, and in summer of 2003 she had a major hit with "Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime×Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime19 May 2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime (radio version)3:452Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime (new version)4:053Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann (new version)4:054Nur geträumt (new version)2:54", a duet with German pop star Nena. The single was a Top 10 hit in Germany, Belgium, Austria, Netherlands and Switzerland.
In 2006, Wilde signed a new recording contract with EMI Germany and released the first single from her tenth studio album in many countries across Europe, Scandinavia and Asia. "You Came×You Came4 July 1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAYou Came (The Shep Pettibone Mix)7:35B1You Came (Dub Version 1)4:52B2You Came (Dub Version 2)4:52 2006" charted Top 20 in most of these countries and became her biggest solo hit in Germany since 1988. The album Never Say Never×Never Say Never31 January 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Perfect Girl3:462You Came3:103Together We Belong4:174Forgive Me3:555Four Letter Word4:356You Keep Me Hangin' On3:117Baby Obey Me3:148Kids in America3:249I Fly2:5910Game Over3:4911Lost Without You4:0612View from a Bridge3:5513Maybe I'm Crazy4:0614Cambodia - Paul Oakenfold Remix5:20 included eight new tracks plus five re-worked previous hits and has charted in Belgium, France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. The second single from the album, which was voted for by fans on her official website was "Perfect Girl×Perfect Girl2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Perfect Girl (radio edit)3:182Perfect Girl (The Perfect Chill mix)4:373Perfect Girl (Ian Finch Elektrika edit)4:354European Soul (live acoustic radio session)3:45", released in November 2006 and spent nine weeks on the German Top 100 singles chart. A third single, "Together We Belong×Together We Belong30 March 2007 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Together We Belong (Radio Edit)3:462Together We Belong (Album Version)4:173Tu Me Vas Si Bien / Because You Came (You Came 2006 French Version)3:084I Fly2:57", was released in March 2007 and a fourth single, "Baby Obey Me×Baby Obey Me2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Baby Obey Me3:252Baby Obey Me (2006)3:153Enjoy the Silence (live)4:174Kids in America (live)5:54", was released in Germany as a remix featuring German rapper Ill Inspecta.
Since 2003, Wilde has appeared on numerous festival bills and concerts all over Europe with her own band. In early September 2009, a brand new single, "Run to You", recorded as a duet with Swedish rock band Fibes, Oh Fibes!, was released in Sweden. The song reached the Swedish Top 30.
In 2010, Wilde signed a new recording contract with Sony Music Germany. The label released her eleventh studio album, Come Out and Play×Come Out and Play26 August 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1King of the World3:322Lights Down Low3:013Real Life3:564Greatest Journey (duet)3:505I Want What I Want3:096Love Conquers All3:597Hey You3:148Suicide2:429This Paranoia2:5010Loving You More4:0211Get Out3:4812My Wish Is Your Command3:3513Jessica1:21 on 17 August, with "Lights Down Low×Lights Down Low13 August 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Lights Down Low3:002Snakes & Ladders3:20" preceding that as lead single. The album peaked at No. 10 in Germany and was followed by a tour in Europe in February and March 2011.

Wilde released her next studio album, Wilde Winter Songbook×Wilde Winter Songbook22 November 2013 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Winter Wonderland2:472Hope3:563One3:304Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas3:145Winter Song4:196New Life3:477White Winter Hymnal2:268Burn Gold (Silent Night)4:229Song for Beryl3:1510Let It Snow2:4811Hey Mister Snowman2:1212Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree2:26 in November 2013. On 18 December 2017, Wilde released a Christmas single with Lawnmower Deth titled "F U Kristmas!×F U Kristmas!1 December 2017 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1F U Kristmas! (Clean Mix)2:572Fuck You Kristmas! (Sweary Mix)2:57". Wilde released her fourteenth studio album Here Come the Aliens×Here Come the Aliens16 March 2018 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Amoureux des rêves3:472Fight Temptation3:363Yours ’til the End (Infinity mix)7:144Stereo Shot / 1969 / A Different Story (Numinous mix)5:015Cyber.Nation.War (Keyboard Warrior mix)6:006You Came (live 2018)4:557Cambodia (live 2018)5:338Kids in America (live 2018)6:00 on 16 March 2018. It was inspired by an encounter with a UFO she had in 2009. While sitting in her garden with her husband and a friend, they noticed something odd about the sky and experienced an eerie silence. They observed a huge bright light behind a cloud. Being curious she walked down the grass to track the source of the light and what she noticed was that the light was swiftly moving back and forth. She thought about it every day and it gave her the idea for her new album.
In May 2021, Wilde confirmed she would celebrate 40 years of music with the release of a box set greatest hits album titled, Pop Don't Stop: Greatest Hits. The album was released in August 2021.

Impact and recognition

Wilde holds the record for being the most-charted British female solo act of the 1980s, with seventeen UK Top 40 hit singles throughout the decade (including her duets with Junior Giscombe and Mel Smith).
A number of artists have performed covers of Kim Wilde songs, ranging from pop and rock to dance and death metal versions. On 16 February 1991, then Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl recorded a version of "Kids in America×Kids in America26 January 1981 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAKids in America3:26BTuning in Tuning On4:30" in an Arlington County, Virginia basement studio. It is the third track on the rare 2015 "Songs from the Laundry Room" Foo Fighters EP, a clip of which plays during the credit roll of the Seattle, Washington episode of Grohl's Sonic Highways documentary TV series. American pop star Tiffany recorded a version of "Kids in America" in 2007 for her album I Think We're Alone Now: '80s Hits and More. German eurodance act Cascada, recorded a version of "Kids in America", on their Everytime We Touch album in 2007.
Wilde has provided inspiration for other artists, including Charlotte Hatherley, who wrote a song about her entitled "Kim Wilde", and included it on her debut album, Grey Will Fade. East German punk rock band Feeling B also recorded a song called "Kim Wilde", which featured on their debut album, Hea Hoa Hoa Hea Hea Hoa (1989). In 1985, French singer Laurent Voulzy paid tribute to Wilde in his song "Les Nuits Sans Kim Wilde" ("The Nights without Kim Wilde"). In her graphic novel Persepolis, Iranian cartoonist Marjane Satrapi has a comic strip titled Kim Wilde. In it the main character Marji, a young Iranian girl, sings "Kids in America" in the streets of the Iranian capital. Also, when her parents go on holiday in Turkey, they buy a poster of Wilde and smuggle it into Tehran for Marji. Marji pins the poster on her bedroom's wall and practises emulating Wilde.

Gardening career

During her first pregnancy, an old interest in gardening resurfaced and she attended Capel Manor College to learn about horticulture, so as to create a garden for her children. As a celebrity, she was asked by Channel 4 to act as a designer for their programme Better Gardens. A year later, she started a two-year commitment with the BBC, recording two series of Garden Invaders.
In 2001, she (along with fellow horticulturist David Fountain) created the "All About Alice" garden for the Tatton Flower Show and was awarded the 'Best Show Garden' award. In 2005, she won a Gold award for her courtyard garden at the Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show. She has designed and created numerous gardens during her involvement in the Better Gardens and Garden Invaders TV programmes and commissioned by individuals and organisations. She has also created gardens for flower shows across the UK. In 2001 she was involved in setting a world record for the largest tree transplantation, when a 18 metres (58 ft) London plane was moved from Belgium to a development site in Warrington. After standing in its new location for six years, however, the tree was toppled by Cyclone Kyrill in January 2007.

TV and radio

Wilde broadened her eco-friendly image by taking on advertising jobs for various 'green' companies. For two years, she featured on advertisements for the highstreet health food shop Holland & Barrett. She wrote infomercials for Bold and Timotei, and in 2008, she started advertising 'green kitchens' for Magnet. In 2019, Cadbury featured Wilde in one of their 30 second TV commercials for their Darkmilk chocolate bar campaign, set in a horticultural setting.

Radio

Wilde presented Secret Songs on Magic 105.4 every Sunday between 10 am and 1 pm. It later became The Request Show. In 2021, Wilde joined Ireland's Classic Hits Radio, presenting The Kim Wilde 80's Show which airs in the evenings, four days a week.

Personal life

Wilde dated Calvin Hayes, a British musician and founding member of Johnny Hates Jazz, during the 1980s. Hayes played drums for Wilde's 1981 touring band following the success of her "Kids In America×Kids in America26 January 1981 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAKids in America3:26BTuning in Tuning On4:30" single. Calvin Hayes later recruited Wilde to sing back-up vocals for Johnny Hates Jazz's 1987 single, "Turn Back the Clock".
On 1 September 1996, Wilde married her co-star in Tommy, Hal Fowler, and expressed a desire to have children as soon as possible. On 3 January 1998 she gave birth to Harry Tristan, who is now a guitarist in the alternative rock band Wunderhorse. A daughter was born in 2000. Wilde and Fowler announced their separation and subsequent divorce via a statement on Twitter on 21 December 2022.