I’ve been going to Melanie C solo gigs since day one. You know, the days when she would pack out Shepherd’s Bush Empire and the other Spice Girls would pitch up to watch and create a huge stir.
In those days there’s no doubt she was riding the crest of a wave off the back of the band. But Northern Star was a strong debut from ‘the voice’ of the Spice World.
Still, cynics doubted her. She was a ‘fad’, a ‘flash in the pan’ and would leave within a few years to relative retirement or end up on some reality show.
People underestimated the fact Melanie’s a grafter. She wasn’t going anywhere.
She wasn’t in this music malarkey for a quick fix. Melanie was always about the long term goal at the end.
With her eagerly awaited fifth solo album The Sea we’ve seen her go back to basics. And it’s the nearest thing to Northern Star she’s released. It’s personal, well thought out and lyrically far superior to anything she’s done for years.
But most of all for me, having gotten to know her a little bit over the years, she’s full of integrity and that’s what I find so endearing about her.
Melanie left Virgin and set up Red Girl Records when they tried to shove her down a different route (making her release tracks like On The Horizon).
This is a woman who stuck to her guns, invested a load of her own money and wouldn’t be a part of a world that said they wanted one particular sound or voice.
This industry has obviously changed hugely since her debut.
Albums are failing to sell. You only have to look at the recent flops of Pixie Lott and The Saturdays to see that supposed mass popularity doesn’t always equal success with album sales.
To be a success now you need to be a live act. You need to write your own music and you need to be able to take music on the road and create a fanbase. And it’s a bloody hard slog, as Melanie has found out. But she’s still here – and more fulfilled in her life than she’s ever been both professionally and personally.
I stood on the balcony at Scala this week next to her man Tom Starr and we sang along to everything. He’s phenomenally proud of her and watching her on stage you could see why.
She’s not your typical popstar and she’s not the spring chicken she once was. But she’s evolved into a live performer with credibility.
If you go to a Melanie C concert you will have hits – but you also have an old school live act. A vast amount of work, sung completely live with no gimmicks. It’s about the music.
There’s no flashing a breast, grinding to a Calvin Harris backing track or singing some old toot a label forces you to do.
I feel a bit like I’m writing a manifesto for why Melanie C is relevant in today’s music scene – and I kind of am.
While many stars of the moment will slip away over the years, Melanie will still be here. The Sea has opened up a whole new chapter for her in my opinion. And if she carries on performing concerts like she has this week then she will guarantee her future in the music scene.
You can say what you like about the Spice Girls but when it comes to Melanie C you ought to get used to having around. Because she isn’t going anywhere.
Log onto www.melaniec.net for details of future live dates.

Spice Girl Melanie C is finally back with the first single from her eagerly awaited album The Sea. Think About It is a great return to form and is being hailed a victory by all including Popjustice – that made it one of it’s single’s of the week this week. As you can see Mel is looking hot as hell in new shots to promote the album. And it’s no surprise she’s in great shape – Mel will be alongside me as we compete in the Virgin Active London Triathlon next Saturday! The training has been exhausting – but worth it to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support….

Sponsor me here!

Sometimes you just need to blow your own trumpet – so I’m going to start by saying my party ROCKED!
Celebs were rammed into London’s swanky Cuckoo Club to celebrate two years of my showbiz column at the Sunday Mirror. And what a night full of surprises it was.
Not only did we all raise £1800 for my chosen charity Macmillan Cancer Support we also partied the night away to performances by Spice Girl Melanie C and my new favourite singer Clare Maguire. Not only that I performed with Melanie on the encore and we belted out When You’re Gone – I was her Bryan Adams for the performance!

Above: Melanie C rocks out…..

Jordan turned up with boyfriend Leandro Penna (above). They both drank water and didn’t touch a drop of alcohol before heading off for a late night bite at The Ivy. Katie told me: “I’m sorry I’m being so well behaved tonight but I’m trying to be good. I don’t want to come tumbling out of here! I’ll leave that to you tonight.”

Matt and Emma Willis (above) popped by to raise a glass of bubbles, Arlene Phillips swung by with her daughter Alana and fellow So You Think You Can dance judge Sisqo, Capital FM DJ Lisa Snowdon took me for a cocktail ahead of the bash, Donna Air and Caroline Flack were nattering away in a corner, despite being ill Beverley Knight came by to give me a squeeze, the Blue boys were raring to go when they pitched up, top chef Gizzi Erskine was busting out the moves and top model Poppy Delevingne raved at the front during my stage debut with Melanie.
Tunes were span by drag queen extraordinaire DJ Lady Lloyd and my old mucker Lisa Moorish and the 250 strong crowd were treated to amazing Ciroc vodka and Hoxton gin cocktails.
One celeb managed to go to extraordinary lengths to make it to my bash. Comedian James Corden came stage from the stage at the National Theatre to be there and was mortified to find out his car had been towed during the party! The next morning he told me: “That was such a nightmare. Never good leaving a party late at night and having to go to the pound to collect your car.” That’s what you call proper party dedication!
But it wasn’t just the stars that turned out that impressed me – Spice Girls Geri Halliwell and Mel B both sent me messages of support. Geri posted a card of a cricket pitch streaker leaping above a wicket and Mel wrote: “I’m so sorry I can’t be there tonight – I’m in Australia for X Factor and that’s just as well because you wouldn’t be able to fit my pregnant ass on any seat or couch right now.”
Overall the night was a huge success and we raised a lot of money for charity – thanks to everyone that came to help me celebrate and I had better start planning the 3rd anniversary….it’s going to take some real beating to out do this amazing night!

The good news is my two year column anniversary bash at raised £1800 for Macmillan Cancer Support – a charity close to my heart. The likes of Caroline Flack, Donna Air (both above with me), Arlene Phillips, Blue and Lisa Snowdon all donated on the door. Special thanks go out to DJ Lady Lloyd and the wonderful Lisa Moorish for spinning the tunes. And biggup to the wonderful team at Cuckoo Club – special thanks to Pearl!

Above: The wonderful Clare Maguire belts out Shield and the Sword.

Above: New X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos is one of the most grounded stars I’ve met of late. And she’ll be big news when she officially signs for X Factor as the new judge.  And it sounds like she’s preparing for her super stardom too – she’s put herself on a party ban (except mine). She told me: “I’m not going out anymore as I don’t want to be pictured falling out of clubs drunk. It’s not nice. So if I’m going to get drunk I’ll do it in the comfort of my own home.”
Tulisa was keeping her lips tightly sealed about bagging the X Factor judging role but she did say: “Of
course I’m thrilled. It will be amazing to do it, it really would, so fingers crossed.”

Above: Arlene Phillips and Sisqo were on form. Poor So You Think You Can Dance judge Arlene didn’t realise the cocktails were alcoholic! Whoopsy!

Above: My girls Lizzie Cundy and Alex Best strike a pose….

Two of my favourite new girlbands Wonderland (above) and Parade met up at the bash and got chin wagging at the bar. Not long later, all ten girls were in the ladies, doing their make up and chatting together. Parade’s Bianca said: “Wonderland are great girls, we were chatting away to them. We got on so well that we’ve invited them over for a girlie night at our house. We’ll get some cheesy flicks, some cocktails and have a great night in.” Sounds like a fun night!

Pics with thanks to: Steve Bainbridge

New girlband Parade have a new celebrity fan in Spice Girl Melanie C. Emily, Bianca, Jessica, Sian and Lauren, who are set for a Top Five hit with their debut single Louder today have been backed by Sporty Spice herself.
“Mel C has really been supportive and has been tweeting us,” says Sian. “She has been a massive inspiration and told us that we’re the closest thing she’s seen to what the Spice Girls were. They had so much energy and were so individual and we’d love to capture that. Mel’s our ultimate girl crush and had come down to watch us rehearsing a couple of time and gave us some really good advice.”

I’m sure the rest of the girls will be joining the Parade soon – especially if Geri Halliwell learns one of the Parade members also has a fetish for inappropriately squeezing bums! “I accidentally grabbed Shakira’s bum,” laughs Jessica. “We supported her on tour which was amazing and we got to have our picture with her backstage. I put my hand around her waist and ended up grabbing her bum. I was so embarrassed that I didn’t move my hand and just left it there! It was a perfect bum and luckily Shakira didn’t say anything. We do love a bit of tush!”

But luckily Parade are not hitting a bum-note in the charts and after clocking up support slots with Alexandra Burke and Shayne Ward the girls are ready to launch themselves to chart success.
“Essentially we’re pop but also have a dance-urban twist,” says Lauren. “We’re really fun, colourful and energetic and we just want everyone else to enjoy in with us.”

Hello Melanie – not spoken to you for a while! How goes it?
I feel like I’m in your life a lot. Because I follow you on twitter. I was so reluctant to tweet but then when I started doing it I got into it and thought it was fun and now I’m bored of it!
I think I’ll get into it when I’ve got something to say. At the moment I’m really getting my head down and I’m working on writing and recording. When I’m travelling and doing my promo I’ll have more to talk about. When I’m in promo I’ll have far more time. Sitting in the back of cars and all that shit.

Who do you love following most?
I’m enjoying following Mel B – she’s mad and bonkers and what’s really nice about twitter is it’s bringing us Spice Girls together more. Not as often as we like. Twitter is essentially keeping us in touch. Victoria doesn’t tweet that much, Emma goes through her phases and Melanie is always tweeting. It’s kinda like you’re still in each other’s lives.

Mel B has turned into Sporty Spice these days with all her exercising! It’s like a role reversal!
Are you saying I’m Scary Spice now? She’s pretty hardcore. The thing is with Mel is she’s always had a great physique but she’s never been into the gym. Since she’s been in LA the lifestyle and the health aspect seems to have gotten her into her exercise. All the lovely weather works wonders for you.

You’re appearing at Body and Soul’s Voicestorm Concert – tell me about it. It’s been a while since you performed solo stuff!
I did a brief appearance at the Jazz Festival up north recently but it was low key. But for me I’m so excited to be doing this gig for such a fantastic charity. In memory of Anita Roddick – it’s something amazing to be able to celebrate her life and raise money for the charity too. It’s also going to be amazing to play the Roundhouse – I’ve never played there before. It’s an incredible venue and Annie Lennox is headlining. Such a lovely lady. I’ve loved her music for a long time. She’s eloquent and lovely and one of those legends that in her presence you feel very comfortable.

And what will we be performing?
I’m going to sing some Melanie C songs and some covers. I’m working on a new pop record, as you all know. And I’ve also been recording some musical theatre songs too. I’m not sure whether they’;ll end up being released yet. I went to performing art college and after appearing in Blood Brothers it seemed like a very good opportunity to get some of my favourite songs together.
For the show I’m going to do I Ain’t Got No from Hair and I’m also covering Dusty Springfield’s I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself. I’m quite nervous about it all because it’s not my usual stuff. I’ll also do some of my hits. I’m going to bring on a guest to do When You’re Gone – James Walsh from Starsailor. He’s a really really lovely guy with a fantastic voice.

And how is the work on the fifth Melanie Chisholm solo record going so far?
I’m just being really adventurous. There’s ideas for rocky stuff, dance stuff, more acoustic stuff and at the moment I’m working with loads of new people and writing loads of songs. I need to see how it all goes and find out what kind of album I want to make. I think eclectic is the style right now. A bit of everything. That’s actually how Northern Star began so it would be nice to recapture that feeling of lots of styles but coming together. There are no collaborations so far but it’s very early days. I’m in the writing stages now. I’m hoping for a single around summer time and an album around Autumn. I want it to be the best album of my career and it’ll be on Red Girl again.

How’s motherhood now – Scarlet’s 19-months old and it has gone so quick!
Scarlet’s incredible. It’s gone very quick. She’s walking, she’s saying a lot and she’s a proper little character. She’s started singing too – so that is very good fun.

Are you watching this years X Factor?
I am indeed. Saturday night was the first night I saw everyone perform. I always liked Katie – I think she’s really interesting. I wasn’t sure how she actually ended up in the bottom two. She seems to have taken a lot of stick.
The good thing about music right now with artists like Lady Gaga is that the pop world is being more creative visually. I think if things look genuine and sincere with Katie then it will work.
I love Cher Lloyd too. To me I think she has the X Factor. Her vocals were a little bit shaky but hey she’s so young.  The nerves must be so intense and to get up on the hugest platform on British TV to perform is a big deal. So much of it is charisma. For me Cher Lloyd has that charisma and I think she’ll go far. My favourite performance of the night was Aiden performing Mad World last week. It was so believable and genuine.

Would you have gone on a show like that?
I’m sure I would have gone on a show like that. I auditioned for a girl band at 13 first of all. I would have gone on the X Factor. I think it’s good that people have a good idea of what these shows are nowadays. I used to be quite negative about these shows but I’ve changed my mind. Now people know what they are in for. There are no shocks.

Do you think the Spice Girls could ever be emulated successfully nowadays?
I’m not sure – we were of a moment. There are so many girl bands in development right now. I went along to see one recently. They’re called Parade. There manager is John Giddings. They are cute, there’s five of them and they have a great energy. They are based on the Spice Girls and Gwen Stefani. They’ve got more attitude and they’re not all glamour. They can sing and dance. But they’ve got a personality.

How is everything coming along for the Spice Girls musical too?
It’s all in development right now. We’ve seen the storylines, the characters, the songs that are going to be used. We know where it’s at at the moment and we’re so excited to have Jennifer Saunders on board. She’s an incredible writer and we have history with her from Spiceworld so we trust her ideas.
In the new year we’ll be looking at work shopping and casting. I think at this stage Jennifer and Judy are working hard on the storylines and we feel those ladies are well within their rights to get on with that.
When it comes to the music we’ll be a lot more involved. A lot of the people that we worked with originally – like Richard Stannard – will be involved creatively. And Judy wants to keep us involved all along the way. We’re not going to be there as creative directors but we’re definitely going to be there in the auditioning process in the different roles. We just can’t wait for our songs to be performed on stage every night of the week. All five of us want it to be fantastic and for those songs to live on.

And what about the idea of one final ‘hurrah’ of the Spice Girls – performing at the Olympics ceremony in 2012?
We don’t know anything about it as yet but I’m up for it. It’s a wonderful idea and I think all five of us would be very proud indeed. Let’s petition for it and make it happen.

Tickets are currently on sale at www.voicestorm.org and www.roundhouse.org priced at £40 for standing and £100 for VIP seating. Money raised from the event will go to the help and support of children, young people and families living with or closely affected by HIV. For more information on the concert please see www.voicestorm.org and for a further insight into Body & Soul please see www.bodyandsoulcharity.org

Congrats to Emma Bunton who’s thrilled to have bagged a radio show on Heart 106.2 FM. I hooked up with her for a natter at the studio this week.

As Baby Spice, Emma Bunton was the youngest member of the hottest girl band of the day – but now she admits she can’t stand the sight of sexy girl bands – because their super skinny figures make her green with envy.

She says: “There’s this huge poster of The Saturdays outside my window in the Heart FM studio and they look so young and slim and gorgeous and I had to move it the other day! It made me jealous!”

But in actual fact. Emma  33, doesnt really have much to worry about. The mum-of-one is a toned size 10, but she admits she has to work hard to keep in shape with diets and work outs.

She says she’s self-conscious of her weight and hated looking fat on stage, during the  Spice Girls reunion tour just after having son Beau.

Emma bravely took to the stage two years ago just months after giving birth in front of thousands of screaming fans.

But it was a decision she immediately regretted.

She said: “I was insane to go on the Spice tour three months after having Beau. I wouldn’t put myself through it again.

“At the time I was very self conscious about it all. It was awful. I remember being on stage and going numb and thinking everyone was looking at my body and that it wasn’t perfect and I was next to the other girls.

“My mum pulled me aside after two nights and said: “We can see you are not being yourself.” I was just so self conscious and scared of what people were saying.

“From that moment on I had to enjoy it – everyone knew I had just had a baby and as it turned out the tour was the best way to work off my baby weight.”

But the mum-of-one admits a recent Spice Girls outing to see Girls Aloud also brought on a bit of envy.

She said: “Girls Aloud were great. We went back and saw them before the show.

“They are always so made up and gorgeous. I’ve always loved their music.

“They were in their little robes and it made me think how much I love our Spice Girls robes and the thrill of touring. I was jealous!”

But Emma is keen to play down any comparision with Girls Aloud.

She said: “I’m not sure we can be compared. It must be hard for any girl band because people do automatically compare them with us.

“I love Girls Aloud but with our show it was all about fun and we enjoyed every minute. It was more raw and fun. That’s the difference with the girl bands nowadays.”

Emma still has fond memories of her days in the famous Girl Band.

“I bloody loved the Spice Girls,” she says. “We had such a laugh and I guess at the end we all wanted to try different things and sometimes you just can’t go back and try and repeat something.

“Saying that I do put me pig tails in sometimes and walk around being Baby Spice. I loved being with the girls but everyone does have to move on in some way – even me.” she laughs

The Spice Girls have no plans to reform but should Emma need to get back into her Spice outfits, she’d be ready.

She has a furious fitness regime, employs a personal trainer and – in time of need -  cheats with Spanx pants.

Emma laughs: “Spanx pants got me through the time after having Beau. They still come out to play now too. They really are good for any occasion!

“Especially if you are like me and get a little bloated on pasta. They’ll hold everything in!”

Not that Emma has that much to hold in – although she’s got a way to go before her abs measure up to her Spice colleague Mel B who recently admitted she does 600 sit-ups to achieve her ripped abs.

“Can you believe she does 600? That’s nuts,” she exclaims. “Twenty sit ups and I’m done but I honestly don’t know how Mel finds the time to work out like she does as a mum of two. I guess she’s always had such a great figure though.

“Sometimes I wish I could be a fitness freak – but it’s not me. I guess as I’m getting older I need to look after myself better.

“I work out with a trainer three times a week and we’ll do a run on a treadmill, a bit of cycling and some weights.

“I don’t follow a particular diet – I’m fairly careful with food and if I want to slim down I’ll stick to fresh fish and salads.

“In the Spice days it was a case of if we had a video coming up I’d be great and diet and work out the week before to trim down.

“Nowadays I feel like I need five months to get prepared for slimming down.” she laughs

Baby Beau, her son with long term boyfriend ex Damage star Jade Jones is 22 months old now, but Emma has no immediate plans to add to her brood.

“I’m not planning another but I definitely want more children. I just want one more but Jade wants a few more.

“I was like: “Hold on, wait a minute.” I’m only just getting my body back and being able to get my mum over to baby-sit so I can go out and have fun so the last thing I want to think about is another baby right now.”

Last year Emma made her mark on television by appearing as Dannii Minogue’s guest mentoring her contestants in the bootcamp stage of X Factor. And like every one else, she was glued to Britains Got Talent – and has a lot of sympathy for Susan Boyle.

“It must be so hard for Susan Boyle being alone and going through all this. I don’t think the show’s to blame at all – it’s down to the person. Some people can deal with the fame aspect and some can’t.

“And she clearly is having trouble. It’s must be a bizarre situation for her because she didn’t realise that first performance was literally going to change her life forever.”

“I think it was easier for us when we found fame. To start with we had a few months of being together before being launched, there were five of us and we could rely on each other.”

Emma is fiercely protective of her private life and would hate to live like her mega star ex-bandmate Victoria Beckham.

She said: “I wouldn’t want to have to deal with having no anonymity like Victoria has to. It’s never been me. I’ve always kept my privacy. Especially with Beau I feel it’s his choice if he wants to be an actor or a star and be in the limelight – not my right to decide. So I have to respect and look after him and keep his privacy.

“Victoria and David don’t have any choice about it now. They are pictured whatever they do and it must be hard.”

Emma and Jade are blissfully happy togetehr but have  no plans to dash up the aisle.

“I don’t know if there’ll ever be a wedding. It would be fun I guess but because we’ve been together for this long we feel like we’re already married.

“Jade even calls me the old dear sometimes. It’s like we’re married anyway. Some girls grow up wanting a wedding but I never did. I wasn’t worried. I know if I did then it wouldn’t be a big dress – it would be very slinky and cool”

And in her current shape  she wouldn’t even be needing those Spanx…. .

Emma Bunton Presents Friday drivetime on London’s Heart 106.2 and Saturday afternoons from 4pm on the Heart network, starting on Friday 12th June.

Watch me nattering with Emma by clicking here and scrolling down!

Congratulations Melanie!

There is no name yet! Both Mel and her man Thomas Starr were waiting until the birth to find out the sex – and then to decide the name!

Big shame – but time to move on! Until the next pay cheque for a reunion comes-a-knocking!