The chart-topper revealed that at one point her body was “shutting down” and she had to be rushed to hospital for an MRI scan.
Doctors suspected she was suffering a brain aneurysm, which is caused by a weakness in the blood vessel wall.
Ashley explained to The Sun: “Being in a girl band… the schedule was outrageous. I’m not going to lie, by the end I was breaking down.
“I was in the hospital. They thought I was having a brain aneurysm.
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“I think it was just from going, going, going and my body was just shutting down.
“I remember being in the hospital, I was actually here in London, and I was like, ‘I’ve got to go to Germany, I’ve got to get on a plane now. I’ve got a show to do’.”
Ashley was sent for her MRI but her knee suddenly “locked up”.
Doctors revealed that she had contracted viral arthritis and she “couldn’t bend her knee”.
When the band went their separate ways, Ashley flew to Australia to compete in I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! back in 2012.
She became a fan favourite and finished in second place behind EastEnders actress Charlie Brooks.
The same year, Ashley joined the Dancing On Ice judging panel and later became a regular on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
In 2018, Ashley was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing with professional partner Pasha Kovalev.
They finished as runners-up to winners Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton.
Ashley is now showbiz correspondent on Heart Breakfast alongside Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston.