BLONDE singer Katy Malloy has quit TKO just days before the group were due to release their second single.

Katy left the band suddenly -- going home to Bournemouth and vowing never to return.

It means plans by the Leigh-based group for a follow-up to the debut Girlfriend, have been put on hold until at least January.

And thousands of posters featuring Katy have been torn up.

All existing songs need to be re-recorded with Katy's replacement, Helen Jones, a 22-year-old from Urmston.

Katy, aged 21, denied there was rift between her and 18-year-old ex-bandmates Katie White and Emma Lally.

She also denied rumours she was pregnant and told the BEN her reasons for quitting were "personal".

Katy -- aka Dizzy -- joined the group in November, 2000 -- and has since played in a string of top concerts with some of the country's biggest acts such as Steps and Five.

TKO were gearing up for a fresh assault on the pop scene this month.

Katy said: "There was no rift and we are all still very good friends. I really enjoyed my time with TKO and it was great fun but I left for personal reasons which I don't want to talk about.

"I'm not pregnant. It's nothing like that, contrary to speculation. I don't know where I'm going to go from here.

"I'm just taking some time out."

Just under a year ago, the band was rocked by the departure of Katy's predecessor, Joanne Leeton.

But at that time the group had to quickly focus their attention on playing before thousands of people at Wembley and Manchester.

This time there is more time for reflection but Helen's arrival, according to manager David White, will add "another dimension" to the three-piece group.

Although she will continue to be a solo singer in the short term, Helen said she was looking forward to playing big gigs and added: "Who wouldn't. I want to help take this group to the top." The founding bandmembers revealed they were shocked by Katy's news and cried for hours.

Emma said: "There were a lot of tears. It's been a bit mad really, especially because it was so unexpected.

"We had been given some time off, she went home and then we basically got a call from her saying she was leaving.

"We had become quite close so it's a blow but at the same time we have to carry on."

The group are now showing the new recruit their latest dance moves in preparation for a series of gigs later in the year.

Katie said: "Helen is a lovely girl, blonde and very pretty with a great voice and we are really looking forward to the future."

See tomorrow's BEN for an interview with new girl Helen. UPS AND DOWNS September 1998: TKO -- or Total Knock Out -- form with Katie White, Joanne Leeton, and Emma Lally.

February 1999: Begin to play in schools and many under-18 clubs

May 2000: The group film a Channel 4 documentary about being in a band which is shown to schools across the country.

July 2000: Band plays gigs at Olympia in London before a crowd of 10,000 before performing before 5,000 at Regents Park.

August 2000: Present a half-hour show on children's channel Trouble. Also appear before Sky Sports' cameras at JJB Stadium during a Wigan Warriors rugby match.

September 2000: TKO make history by releasing their debut single, Girlfriend, on the Internet. Two weeks later they appear on the popular Saturday morning chart show, CD:UK, hosted by former Byker Grove popsters Ant and Dec.

October 2000: Single sells a staggering 5,000 copies -- which would have put them at number 48 in the charts -- but problems as music channels The Box and MTV turn down requests to air the band's video.

November 2000: Joanne sensationally quits the group ahead of its tour with pop sensation Steps. A 21-year-old Butlins redcoat from Bournemouth called Katy Malloy is drafted in as her replacement. Concert goes ahead at Wembley Arena.

December 2000: Manager David White, who bankrolled the group to the tune of more than £130,000, starts looking for a record deal to relieve the cost burden. Band appears before 16,000 people at Manchester's Arena, again with Steps. They immediately fly to Dublin to play alongside boy band Five.

March 2001: Band's bid for pop stardom is boosted by the same talent that helped singer George Michael become a superstar as Jules De-Martino, a member of the former Wham star's song writing team, pens four songs for the Leigh-based musical trio.

April 2001: New songs played for first time at the Bolton Evening News's Pop Fever concert at the Albert Halls.

May 2001: Band locked in talks with huge record label BMG and said to be on the verge of signing a deal worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

July 2001: Deal in the balance so David White unveils plan to release a second single into the shops in October.

October 2001: Despite printing reams of new publicity material and recording the song, the group's hopes are put on hold as Katy Malloy quits.