Watch: Steps superfan’s joy at marriage proposal as pop stars play at Birmingham Pride

Birmingham Pride 2022 was Steps’ final performance for the forseeable future - and it was a gig to treasure for ever for Ste and Adam
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A ‘Steps’ superfan has had his ‘dream come true’ after his boyfriend proposed on stage at the band’s final concert. Adam Higginson, 31, and Ste Horton, 34, started dating in May this year, after matching on Tinder.

After dating for a couple of months, Adam decided the perfect time to propose would be at the Steps concert at Birmingham Pride. It was the group’s final performance for the foreseeable future, as the band have decided to take a break to spend time with their loved ones.

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The couple have both been huge fans of the group since they released their first debut single ‘5, 6, 7, 8’ in 1997. When Adam was drunk, he decided to message all five members of the band, and member Faye Tozer, 46, replied saying she could make it happen.

Adam Higginson (L) & Ste Horton (R) get engaged during the Steps performance at Birmingham Pride 2022Adam Higginson (L) & Ste Horton (R) get engaged during the Steps performance at Birmingham Pride 2022
Adam Higginson (L) & Ste Horton (R) get engaged during the Steps performance at Birmingham Pride 2022

Adam said: “Ste always said he would love to get proposed to at a Steps concert but he thought it could never happen. We were out with friends on a night out and Ste’s best friend asked me if I was going to propose to him, but I said he wanted it at a Steps concert so it was never going to happen.

“She then said how we was both going to Birmingham Pride and Steps were going to be there, and I was like oh my god. I was drunk and started messaging every member of Steps and then I was at the bar and it said that Faye Tozer had sent me a message.

“I opened it and she had replied to my message saying send me your email address and she then put me in touch with her management team.

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“The Birmingham Pride management team were saying that it might be in the crowd and then at 8.30am on the day, that they said Steps had agreed and it was going to be on stage.”

Adam Higginson & Ste Horton - Video of the proposal, on stage at Birmingham Pride while Steps were performingAdam Higginson & Ste Horton - Video of the proposal, on stage at Birmingham Pride while Steps were performing
Adam Higginson & Ste Horton - Video of the proposal, on stage at Birmingham Pride while Steps were performing

So he didn’t ruin the surprise, Adam told Ste that he paid for a VIP meet and greet experience where he would get to meet Faye Tozer backstage.

Band member Claire Richards, 45, then announced to the audience that they had a live on stage meet and greet but Ste still didn’t realise Adam was going to propose.

Adam said: “Ste was talking to Lisa and then Claire said to me ‘I believe you’ve got something you would like to say.’ Ste was oblivious because he was too busy talking to Lisa, and then she pointed and said ‘look’ and I was there on one knee. I just started laughing because he turned around and was a blubbering mess.”

Adam Higginson (L) & Ste Horton (R) before they got engaged at the Steps performance at Birmingham PrideAdam Higginson (L) & Ste Horton (R) before they got engaged at the Steps performance at Birmingham Pride
Adam Higginson (L) & Ste Horton (R) before they got engaged at the Steps performance at Birmingham Pride
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Ste has described the proposal as ‘a dream come true’ and that ‘all the emotions overtook.’ He said: “I have met the band before but its always been in a controlled environment of an arranged meet and greet or a signing or something like that.

“It’s always been a nice experience but it’s been controlled and you’re there for like a few seconds and off you go. How it was sold to me, without the surprise, was that it was a VIP meet and greet, and that was overwhelming as it was because someone is doing such a nice thing for you.

“But obviously to turn out what it was, was even better. It was so overwhelming, I’ve liked them since I was 10 years old and it’s insane.”

Ste added: “I think all the emotions overtook, it was such a high and then to have that extra special moment was just insane, it was an outer body experience.”

Adam Higginson (R) & Ste Horton (L) at Birmingham PrideAdam Higginson (R) & Ste Horton (L) at Birmingham Pride
Adam Higginson (R) & Ste Horton (L) at Birmingham Pride
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The couple also have matching tattoos of the Steps’ song ‘One Touch’, which have they already decided they will dance to as their first dance at their wedding.

Adam said: “We have matching tattoos of One Touch, which is what they re-released, and they have an acoustic version of it. So when we’ve always spoken about getting married and stuff, that we would love that song.”

The couple, from Bebington, Wiral also want to invite all five members of Steps to their wedding. Ste said: “They will absolutely be invited, even if we can go for one member coming or if all five will absolutely be invited.”

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