The Saturdays Land U.S. Record Deal… Will Reality TV Be Their Next Conquest?

Congrats to the U.K. all-girl group the Saturdays. The lovely ladies have signed to Island Def Jam in the U.S. So they are sort of like the female version of the Wanted, the breakout British-Irish boy band that is also signed to IDJ and has set many hearts aflutter.

While the ladies are beyond excited about their brand-new label deal, they did admit that taking the big leap to seek fame and fortune in America was something that scared them.

Not because of the big, bad, scary American fans, but because British people hate to "let go" of ownership of the local acts they’ve supported. The British public has helped propel the ladies to nearly a dozen Top 10 hits, so the relationship is rock solid.

"We were so afraid. We didn't want to leave England," said Frankie Sanford. "Nowadays, luckily, [English] people are a lot more open to their favorite acts going to America. It used to be a little bit like, 'They're leaving us! They're going to the U.S. and they're never coming back!' People seem a little more accepting of that now."

Right now, the Wanted, One Direction, Rita Ora and Cher Lloyd are all part of this year’s British invasion, and they're getting lots of love from the U.S. But there hasn’t been an all-girl group from the U.K. since the Spice Girls -- it’s high time that their heir apparent asserts itself, and the Saturdays could be it.

"We feel like the time is now for pop music coming from the U.K. and Ireland," says Una Healy, who is also mom to a newborn daughter. "But there's never been a girl band coming from there since the Spice Girls. It's time for us."

As for timing, the first single is due in January. Exactly what song that will be is TBD. Their new single ‘What About Us’ is set to drop in the U.K. ASAP.

The ladies, who have been a unit for five years, are not opposed to going the reality show route in order to help America warm up to them. "We were meeting with networks and pitching ideas that this was a big journey for us, we want it to be documented," says Rochelle Humes. "We haven't agreed to anything just yet, but it's an idea that will probably happen."

"It's definitely in the cards," according to Healy.