The music video sees Girls Aloud seduce guests at a dinner party in elaborate costumes inspired by Marie Antoinette and 18th century French fashions.

"Can't Speak French" was promoted through numerous live appearances and has since been performed on all of Girls Aloud's subsequent tours.

"Can't Speak French" was one of many options for a third single; others included "Close to Love", "Girl Overboard", and "Control of the Knife".

[4] Promotion for "Can't Speak French" was initially put on hold, so that Cheryl could sort through her marital problems with Chelsea and England player Ashley Cole,[5] but later resumed.

The first disc included a previously unreleased track entitled "Hoxton Heroes", which was co-written by Girls Aloud[7] and the majority of the vocals being provided by Cheryl Cole.

The second disc included the French version of the track, "Je Ne Parle Pas Français", as well as an acoustic cover of Robyn's "With Every Heartbeat" from the BBC Radio 1 programme Live Lounge and the Tony Lamezma Passions Mix.

Fans submitted their own original verse for "Can't Speak French", with five winners being announced throughout the week of the single's release.

Miranda Cooper, a songwriter and member of the Xenomania production house, said "We've written a song called Hoxton Hero[es].

"[3] On 31 January 2008, it was confirmed on Girls Aloud's official website that "Hoxton Heroes" would appear as a B-side, alongside a French version of the single.

"[19] John Murphy of musicOMH relentlessly praised the song: "The tempo is taken down a slight notch, a swing beat kicks in backed by some squelchy synths, and there's yet another chorus that stays in your head forever, aided by the gloriously silly lyric of "I can't speak French, so I'll let the funky music do the talking".

"[21] Less impressed was Sarah Walters of the Manchester Evening News, who stated that she was "undecided whether this is a bad joke or a stroke of genius" and described the chorus as "pure idiocy.

[23][24] After the CD formats and digital bundles were released, the song peaked at number nine,[25] becoming the band's eighteenth consecutive top ten single.

The music video features Girls Aloud in elaborate costumes inspired by Marie Antoinette and 18th century French fashions.

During promotion for the single, Girls Aloud appeared on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway,[35] BBC Switch's Sound, The Paul O'Grady Show, and T4.