Mutya Buena: 'Sugababes are just a brand now'

Ex-Sugababe Mutya Buena blasted the girl group's new line-up today - and dismissed it as a "brand".

She was critical that the new group featured none of the original line-up - and said the founder members should now re-form.

Buena - who formed the group with Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy - said she was "disappointed" that Buchanan had been kicked out of the group to make way for Britain's former Eurovision hopeful Jade Ewen, 21.

Heidi Range, 26, who replaced Donaghy in 2001, is now the most established member of Sugababes.

Amelle Berrabah, 25, replaced Mutya in 2005, and Ewen's introduction into the group was announced on Monday.

Buena, who launched a solo career after leaving the band in 2005, told GMTV's Lorraine Kelly: "Personally, I just don't think the Sugababes is the Sugababes any more.

"I mean, it would be different if Keisha had stayed in it and someone else had gone - then it would be the Sugababes. But, wow, I suppose now there's no original Sugababes we should just all re-form again."

Buena, who has worked with acts such as Groove Armada and George Michael, continued: "I'm actually quite disappointed. Obviously the 'brand' name of Sugababes will always carry on. But to say like there's no original in the Sugababes, it just kind of puts it down a bit."

She said a reunion with her former bandmates would be "amazing".

Buena went on: "Well, you know, we're all grown up. I haven't been with the Sugababes for so long, and, you know, I've had my years of growing up and learning about what I want in life and getting to look after my daughter. So hooking up with the rest of the girls - I think that could be an amazing idea, definitely."

And she dismissed suggestions that Buchanan had "bullied" other members which had led to the departures over the years.

"That's all lies. I mean, the reasons why people had left is not because of bullying, to tell you the truth.

"I think everyone's got their own opinion about things, but they're all grown women - no-one's going to allow another woman to... like, I would never let another person bully me. So to the whole bullying subject - I think it's all rubbish."

Buchanan yesterday used Twitter to point out that it was not her choice to leave the group.

She wrote: "I've had a great time and have achieved more then I ever thought I would... Although it was not my choice to leave, it's time to enter a new chapter in my life."