With several of The Saturdays now married and mums and a greatest hits on the way, Frankie Sandford says the group weren’t surprised when rumours they were calling it a day surfaced.

“We were waiting for it to be honest,” says the singer, who was up at four this morning, getting ready for a round of press interviews; laughing she’s used to being up all night being a new mum.

“People have been saying we’re going to split up for years, especially because a few of the group have had babies, got married. Seven years down the line and we only really just got our first number one a year ago. I think when you’re that far down the line people don’t really expect that sort of thing so I feel like we’re always proving people wrong - we’re a girl band with kids and families, it hasn’t really stopped us.”

She says if seven years ago you’d told her, Mollie King, Una Healy, Vanessa White and Rochelle Humes - playing blinkbox music East Coast Live in Ipswich’s Chantry Park on June 28 - they’d have had a number one, toured all have families she’d have laughed.

“It’s really nice seeing each other grow up, watching the band evolve. I think we’ve really (not had to) choose career or family life, we’ve been able to have both and that’s been really important to us.”

Sandford says she’s like any working mum insomuch as she wants to spend as much time as possible with her son but she’s four work colleagues to think about and doesn’t want to let them down.

“There’s always a way of juggling it, but you manage it and I knew that when I thought about having a baby. You just make it work.”

She knew releasing a greatest hits would fuel the split rumours further, adding: “We understand but how many other artists bring out greatest hits and they carry on?”

The collection - which will be followed by a couple of singles and their fifth studio album - is more a celebration of the last seven years. They’re proud to have enough hit singles to put on it.

“It’s just mental. I don’t think we ever thought we’d ever be in that position, we’ve been lucky. There are going to be few new tracks on there, which is exciting. We have a lot of say (in what happens) and it’s always interesting seeing five women all with their different ideas and likes... but seven years down we’ve got it down to a fine art.”

Sitting there listening to the tracks brings the memories of what was happening in their lives when each was being recorded flooding back. She remembers being in the car that had become like their home with their manager, being filmed, when they first heard one of their tracks on the radio.

“It was when we were on the Girls Aloud tour and it and we just went mental... That was a really good moment for us.”

Not a good moment to hear one of your tracks? When you’re on the dancefloor at a party, she laughs.

“You never know whether you’re supposed to carry on dancing and look like you’re enjoying it, which could look like you’re really loving yourself or don’t and look miserable.”

Her choice?

“Dance. You’ve got to otherwise I think it’s more awkward.”

There are several up and coming bands on the blinkbox music East Coast Live line-up, part of this year’s Ip-arts festival; including all-girl group Neon Jungle. Always happy to give advice, Sandford adds the main thing they say is try to enjoy it.

“It goes so fast, we’re seven years in and so much has changed. It doesn’t really feel like it’s been that long.”

Expect all the hits and plenty of dancing when The Saturdays join Jessie J, Jason Derulo, Rizzle Kicks, The Vamps, Katy B, Union J, Neon Jungle and Rixton on June 28.