STEPS star Lee Latchford-Evans has revealed he’s been quietly battling a health condition that has affected his singing voice.
The 51-year-old pop singer told fans he was diagnosed last year with Muscle Tension Dysphonia, a voice disorder that can cause strain and fatigue while speaking or singing.
According to The Sun, Lee opened up about the diagnosis while sharing a photo from a recording studio as he begins working on rebuilding his voice.
“It’s been a long time coming but feels great to be back in the studio… working on my voice rehabilitation and vocal technique,” he wrote in a post to fans.
The singer revealed the condition led to extensive medical tests and treatment.
“Last year I was diagnosed with Muscle Tension Dysphonia and had numerous scans, tubes down throat and hospital rehab,” he said.
While he has continued performing, Lee admitted the experience has changed his voice.
“I managed to work through it but my voice has never quite been the same.”
But the pop favourite is determined to get back to full strength.
“We now have a plan and today was the first step — pardon the pun — on this singing journey,” he added.
“Like the song, I’m a man on a mission.”
According to the NHS, Muscle Tension Dysphonia is a condition where the voice becomes strained and effortful due to excessive tension in the muscles around the voice box. Treatment typically involves vocal therapy and rehabilitation.
Fans quickly flooded Lee’s post with support, with many singers sharing their own experiences of the condition.
“MTD is a nightmare for us singers,” one follower wrote. “Hope your voice comes back stronger than ever.”
The update has also sparked excitement among Steps fans, who are hoping the band may be gearing up for new music.
Steps — made up of Lee, Claire Richards, Faye Tozer, Ian “H” Watkins and Lisa Scott-Lee — first formed in 1997 and went on to become one of the UK’s biggest pop groups.
The band scored multiple number-one albums and a string of huge hits including “Tragedy/Heartbeat,” “Stomp,” and the iconic dancefloor favourite “5,6,7,8.”
With the band’s 30th anniversary approaching next year, fans are now wondering whether Lee’s studio comeback could signal the next chapter for the beloved pop group.
