Mel C: The Harsh Reality Of Being In The World’s Biggest Girl Band | E179

before we start I've got to be honest. with you about something. um when we recorded this episode with. Mel c. um it was honestly one of the most. moving heartbreaking inspiring revealing. conversations I've ever had on this. podcast and I've been looking forward to. sharing this conversation with you for. some time now. um and then we had an incident where one. of our hard drives was stolen and we. lost the audio for Mel's mic which is. really really heartbreaking because of.

all the episodes to lose the audio for. for it to be this one is has been very. hard to deal with and I think I want to. start by apologizing to Mel because she. came here she shared her story in such a. profound vulnerable way and I've carried. the sense of guilt because. um because when people come here not. only are they giving us their time but. they're giving us their story and for. some people. as is the case in this conversation it's. the first time that that story has been. shared in this way so I've been really. struggling with that but because it was.

such a profound story and to to make. sure we honor all of that which Mel gave. us by coming here. um we spent a lot of time fixing the the. audio we do have which actually comes. from one of the cameras that's rolling. not from the microphone in front of her. we've worked with a specialist to try. and repair the audio as much as we. possibly can and this is one of the. episodes where I'm asking you for a. favor which is to stay with us I know. it's not always easy to listen to audio. when it's not as crisp as this audio. sounds right now but there's a story. underneath the um lack of clarity in the.

audio the lack of Christmas crispness in. the audio that needs to be heard it's. one of the most amazing Stories we've. ever shared. um and so I hope you enjoyed this. episode and we've put many many many. many many many many many many many. measures in place to make sure that we. never lose any audio or any footage ever. again. in this case it was out of our control. but um. this episode is worth it so we're. putting it out anyway. you're gonna enjoy it there's an element. of guilt attached to my success it was.

join us do you know because I had a. secret and it was killing me. [Music]. early days of the Spice Girls were the. best and I feel blessed but with it has. been some really tough times it was. [ __ ] dramatic how it went out. the tablet media were burrito we all got. called a terrible horrible things.

did you notice a change in yourself at. all after that definitely that was the. Catalyst why I became very very ill I. couldn't control my eating I was. struggling to get out of bed it's. killing me. [Music]. I think. did becoming famous ruin my life does it. ruin me. sometimes I question. um. yeah.

without further Ado I'm Stephen Bartlett. and this is the Diary of a CEO I hope. nobody's listening but if you are then. please keep this to yourself. [Music]. when I when I sit here with people I'm I. I always try and figure out the best. starting point I always know I'm going. to start at the very beginning but with.

you when I was reading through your. story it was quite clear to me that. the things that shaped you started at a. very very young age I'm talking when you. were two three and four years old so can. you take me right back to the very start. I'm guessing that's like sort of. 1976-ish it is and you're right you know. things that happen to me when I was a. toddler really defined a lot of who I. became I grew up just outside Liverpool. and I was born in Western Hospital my.

parents and I lived in a place called. Vine Hill and they divorced when I was I. think I was about three years old. and my life kind of quite quickly. changed you know as lots of young people. would be affected like that and yeah. that was where the story began I think. me developing this need to succeed. when you say your life changed give me a. color to what that means for you so I. was living quite comfortably with mum.

and dad you know the kind of happy. archetypal family life and my mum and we. left me and my mum left and we went to. live with my grandparents and then we we. went to live. um in quite a different area we were. still only about 30 minutes away but it. was quite different we went into. um Council accommodation and. my um quite quickly my mum was in a new. relationship so there was this new guy. around and it was just kind of it just.

you know looking back it was just very. different it's to the world I'd entered. into when I first turned upon this. planet. what was your um your family's sort of. economic situation throughout this. journey was it were you a working class. family or absolutely yeah I mean my. family still are you know very working. class you know through the generations. and my mum and dad were doing you know. they were doing good we had a lovely. semi-attached house in a in a nice. suburb of you know Liverpool and.

obviously with my mum leaving dad as. today you know lots of couples find that. it is very difficult to to start again. um so we were yeah going into a. situation where it was hard for mum to. make ends meet so it was yeah it was it. was quite a tough area to be um to be. growned up in where was your dad. so dad was still in the house in the. house you'd been raised in for those. first few years and then after I think a.

couple of years he went traveling and. um yeah and then he went to work abroad. actually so I've always seen a lot of my. dad but there were periods of times when. he was away so. um yeah so it was a bit of a shake-up. quite early because the formative years. aren't they when you're that little you. don't think about it because as a child. your life is your life but I think when. you start to think about who you are and. how you became that person you start to. you just kind of pinpoint maybe little.

moments that put you on that track. so when you look back to that that. experience of your parents separating at. a very young age and then you're life. shifting and. um in hindsight what impact did that. have on you like when you look back and. connect those dots and go oh that that's. the reason for that. I think it kind of confused me I think. as a young person to have my location. change you know to be taken from the. family home and obviously all the time. so I didn't understand you know I didn't.

understand adult relationships I didn't. understand why it was happening. so this little series of events and then. that you know I have a new I've got a. stepdad and then I had a new sibling and. then I had Step Brothers and so there. was just there was just quite a lot of. big things happening in my little world. and it made me just kind of confused to. like. where I belonged who I was how I fitted. in to that new Dynamic and you know as I.

got older and my dad remarried and I. have this incredible family it's very. complicated and it's huge and I have. half siblings and step siblings and step. parents and and it's lovely but I think. for me being the only child of my mum. and dad sometimes made me feel a little. bit of a spare part. and I think that's what made me feel. like I had to make myself a place in the. world my own place in the world and I. think also it was about kind of earning.

the love of these people I kind of felt. like I had to prove that I was worthy of. existence it sounds melodramatic but I. think as a as a young person you I mean. especially going through my teenage. years you question everything don't you. you know why I'm here and a lot of that. for me was like do I deserve to be here. and so I had to make myself worthy of. being here and you think that started. because of the your parents separation. and in this new context of these other.

siblings that were felt maybe belonged. more than yeah I I think I think. especially when you know both my parents. remarried and they're both really. happily remarried and have gone on to. have more children. and I love my parents and I love my. stepparents and all of my siblings. but for me I sometimes feel quite alone. and I think that it is what propelled me. and some of the issues I went on to have. in later life you know for good and for.

bad you know I think there's been real. benefits to those feelings and to make. me very determined. um very conscientious but also it's. going to be very hard on myself and a. little bit of a perfectionist. one of the things that I was quite. surprised to read was this almost. contradiction between you you really. looked up to your dad. you I think you wrote your book that you. almost worshiped him but then when he. left it was almost like there wasn't. there wasn't a reaction from you yeah. I know it's so strange to me. it's hard when you're that young isn't.

it because your own memories are such. little tiny Snippets and you remember. and we all remember things but for my. dad you know I did I put him on a. pedestal and I still do you know he's my. hero and he always will be oh yeah he. ran away and he went away for his own. reasons and as an adult completely. understand that you know and he needed. to do that. but yeah I kind of shut down I think and. I think I kind of I have learned in my. life which has been really useful in my. career that I can have these incredibly.

intense emotional feelings. but they have to be. buried. not help me. but helpful sometimes. in the short term yeah yeah but I think. if you if your knowledge you know you. have the knowledge that you do that I. think that can help. and just maybe not doing it or or trying. to. not do it. is that the first time you you kind of.

recall that those early years where you. think you might have just buried a set. of emotions and not addressed them that. that blocking out of it just to keep on. keeping on yeah I think I I think some. of it is my personality but I think some. of it was circumstance. kind of I. I don't I don't want to cause people. problems I want to always make sure. everybody's okay. um and I think that's a lot to do with. worthiness. you know feeling unworthy potentially. um just just so I'm completely clear in.

my own mind because I I don't want to. make any assumptions that feeling of. like not feeling worthiness came from. that dysfunctional family Dynamic that's. the first sort of hint you have of it I. I think so I think looking back you know. I grew up in the 70s and 80s and. for me in environment I was in I was at. time it was. it was about parents separated all of my. friendship group they had to me what I. saw as their happy family you know the. family unit and I longed for that and I.

didn't have that and it made me. different and obviously you know if I. forwarded today and I think it's. probably rarer to have the family humid. you know life has changed so much so. that's how it affected me at the time it. made me feel like yeah an outsider and a. bit strange. you moved to um runcorn with your mother. which is um where the council estate is. where you lived. what that area isn't a good area back.

then yeah you know I mean runcorn is. it's like a satellite town of Liverpool. and lots of people you know it's kind of. like over spill and lots of people were. out there in this this particular estate. that we we got housed in was it was. built and it was obviously there were so. many families I needed to be housed very. much like today. and it was this oh like a bizarre. architecture and we had these huge round. windows in these little houses about I.

used to call them the Lego houses. because they were like blue and yellow. it was you know I suppose at the time it. seemed very forward thinking but I think. unfortunately you know it was it was one. of those environments of which there. were still many. um were you know problems can occur. because it's it's kind of set up there. are. you know there are just opportunities I. suppose for people to be quite discreet. and there was you know lots of people. there who were struggling and it was I.

think it was knocked down I think they. started knocking it down in about 1980. because it just kind of got yeah. to run down I think when you um when you. look back on your father's decision to. leave is there any feelings of like. I don't know. animosity towards that decision to for. him to leave your life I understand the. separation but for him to then be absent. seems like it was from reading your book. The Catalyst moment for other things to. then happen has there ever been any.

animosity towards when you reflected on. it as you grew up no really no that. really hasn't because I think you know. just that thing of being a kid and your. life is your life you know so it's just. that you get killed something like oh. okay then and I think when I became a. parent and I think about my daughter and. obviously I work away a lot you know. um but I just. yeah it's it's weird I don't think you. really fully I didn't you ever fully.

understand your parents but I think you. get a much better understanding of them. when you become a parent you know but at. the end of the day I think as a child. you look up to these adults thinking you. know they know how everything should be. and how everything should be done and. then when you become an adult you're. like you know I'm 50 in a year and a. half and I still haven't got a clue so. and I still feel like a child you know. and my mum says I feel like a teenager. um can I get that now we're all just. trying to figure it out throughout our.

lives you know I don't think we ever get. to that age where we go yeah I've got it. now. dancing. seemed to be your first love as I was. reading through your story where did. that show up where did Dancing come from. you know I think like so many young kids. you have this moment where you may go to. ballet or disco or whatever the local. you know is in the the local club or. whatever and I went on to ballet and tap. when I was so little I can't even. remember but it must have shook a chord. with me because when we moved to runcorn.

it was there was no way one could afford. for me to do dance classes so I had this. period of time without it. we moved to witness when I was I think I. was eight years old and that's when I. picked up dancing again and I think I'd. really like bugged my mum for years I. want to go I think I didn't want to go. back I want to go back and I did Sports. at school you know I've always I'm just. very active I'm I think was probably one. of those kids who never sat still you. know I was always outside I was always. upside down or kicking a ball or. something and dancing for me it was just.

a way of expressing myself and a freedom. and it was almost like a safe place. safe place like many performers and I'm. sure you've spoken to people who are. like this but that I'm quite shy in. certain aspects of my life maybe like in. a social aspect and you know being at. school like getting my head down I. wasn't very academic I did okay but when. I was dancing when I was doing something. creative and being able to express.

myself I felt very confident and free. and alive so yeah dancing school was. where I really felt in my element so so. you became. a very obsessive. dancer practicer very meticulous yeah I. think. the ballet and the training of that. and it just really works for me and and. even now you know I have to have an. awareness of this that it's to have. those parameters and to have that.

discipline makes me feel safe. I don't really know where that comes. from. but I am I'm very hard on myself and I. kind of I think I'm a little bit of a. workaholic because I feel like when I'm. in a workspace and I'm being very. disciplined that I'm safe. one might guess that um if parameters. and discipline and that structure makes. you feel safe then there might have been. a time where a lack of parameters made.

you feel unsafe. or a lack of a foundation made you feel. unsafe absolutely I'm sure I'm sure I. think there was a lot of you know my. mum's a performer and you know it's it's. so it's so weird now because obviously I. find myself in in a similar position but. she'd be away an awful lot but there'd. be times when I'd be staying with other. people or you know having babysitters. and you know maybe there was a little. bit of instability felt there and that. would definitely make sense a bit of.

instability is this are you talking to. talking about your nanny. yeah yeah there was a little. um. you know she felt was was a great person. for well but unfortunately you know the. girl she was maybe a little bit too. young to take on that responsibility and. had kind of moved me out of our home and. I've moved in with with her mum and uh. yeah it was all a little bit Shady but.

yeah as soon as mum found out she put an. end to it but I think I was very quiet. about it because I was so little I think. I was only about five. so um I chose not to tell her probably. didn't want to rock the boat what were. you telling her. um that I wasn't at home and that I. wasn't being taken care of by the girl. she'd employed to take care of me. that feels like uh. a light way of saying something that is. a little less light in reality well you.

know again I was so young it was I don't. think it was until I got older that I. thought that's. that was probably something that would. affect you in a big way but at the time. it was just my life you recite this. moment of just waiting for this per this. person that was meant to be taking care. of you. um just not showing up on many occasions. and you having to wait outside and. weighing your pants at one point because. you were waiting outside so long yeah I. remember getting back from school and we.

had these new horrible damn concrete. steps up to their flat door and no one. was home and yeah just busting for the. toilet and yeah I wet myself and luckily. the neighbor came home and she took me. in and kind of cleaned me up and. yeah so that's I mean again I was so. young there's there's just these little. flushes of memories of those things I. think I think when you're when you're. young you maybe don't it's not that. those I think about my own life like. it's not that those things don't aren't.

impacting you it's you don't you're not. really aware of the impact they're. having or the stories that they're. they're making you write about yourself. and about your situation. um and then obviously often times it. seems that we including myself then see. the consequences of it and in hindsight. have to sort of piece together where. that came from but that's I mean when I. when I read that. um in your book I was. I mean that's that's almost like. criminal negligence to treat a child in. such a way and I think about the your. the departure of your father your mum.

then departing to go and pursue her. career and then you you're ultimately. ending up on these steps you know. urinating your underwear because. of this negligent uh nanny. and that's you know that that's where I. think oh that is you know that must have. been formative in to some to some degree. yeah I mean you know I'm a good believer. in therapy and I've been having it for. many years. um probably I only started to do that. because of. my time with the Spice Girls and how.

much of a head [ __ ] that was but it's. really interesting because. you do look at your habits and the. things that you do and why you do them. and so much of it comes back to your. childhood. dancing was your first love. um you you become very disciplined at. that and eventually. off you go to. um study in London and that's where you. find singing yeah. which you hadn't had you been doing it. before you know because my mum was a. singer. and she had deals in the 70s she had a.

couple of record deals with different. bands but you know it hadn't worked out. the way she would have liked it to. um you know she did great but didn't get. to those Heights that all of us. performed together. so I just knew growing up it's really. really hard working in the music. industry is really difficult. so you know my young brain goes okay I. want to be a pop star. but. it's really hard so I love dancing and I. love singing so theater because I loved.

musical theater as well. I went to perform regards college and I. was pursuing that and I'd sung a little. bit but I just I never really had. confidence in my voice but there was. this like weird thing of. it just gave me so much joy. actually more joy than dancing. I was in college I was in my second year. and we had these competitions that would. happen every year and I was singing a. song and it was the first time I just. had a moment with an audience where they.

I just really felt this energy this. transaction between myself and them and. it was when I was singing and it that. was it for me that was the moment it was. like it is singing that is it that is. what I have to do. So eventually you um un 400 other. young women. respond to a advert in a magazine what. was that advert okay so what I so the. stage newspaper was when you leave. perform regards College you're an actor.

a dancer singer whatever you're going. for your auditions the stage is where. you find your auditions find myself an. audition I didn't want to be out handed. a flyer for a girl band. and I'm like that's it and that's what. I'm gonna do. you get handed a flyer a lot of people. are being handed that flyer. did you know then that you would you. said that's it that's what I want to do. did you know then that you wanted to be. in a girl band or did you mean that's it. I'm gonna apply and I think that's more. befitting of what I where I want to go.

it's hard. no exactly. yeah of course but my telling of the. story is I mean I just had a really. strong feeling at that time that I was. gonna whatever this thing was I was. going to be a part of it and it was. going to be something incredible what. did that fly say. I think it said something like are you. 18 to 24 I think it was like the wording.

of it Street wise can dancing fun-loving. I don't know but it was yeah it was just. basically an audition an open audition. anyone come along we're putting a girl. band together okay music management and. yeah I went along to that audition. and how did that go it went well I was. recalled we had to dance and then we we. called to sing and then we were all sent. away and then we were we were called. back. but when we were called back I was ill.

and I couldn't speak let alone sing so. um yeah I I missed my first opportunity. of being in this band. you missed your first opportunity yeah. so I was really sick I kept getting. tonsillitis and I yeah I was really. poorly when the recall happened and so I. begged my mum to call him and just say. good Melanie week like I bet he should. come and sing for you but they were like. no we've already chosen the girls it's. I'm afraid you know it's to know this.

town and there was lots of auditions. that were now so it was like oh well it. wasn't meant to be but then a couple of. weeks after that I got called to say. somebody hasn't worked out we'd like to. see Melanie again. and then that was my chance to get in. the band. Christ. that is a pivotal phone call. you know I think I. actually because that still wasn't the.

five that everybody got to know you know. there was I think there were three girls. from the the beginning of the band being. put together who didn't end up being. part of the final lineup of the Spice. Girls. it's funny that when you think back even. being handed that flyer you think. what path would I have walked. potentially. if that person that day hadn't given me. that flyer it's a really strange thought. isn't it I guess the sliding doors. moment isn't it but it's like yeah I.

really because often in interviews. you'll be asked oh if you didn't do this. if you do and I'm like I have no clue. it's funny I think about it because I. there was an early early point of my. career where I got a phone call saying. um a day before saying the 16 year old. kid that was meant to be speaking at. this event had dropped out last minute. and could I get to London I had no money. I end up um bunking on the Mega Bus this. 16 year old kid had just sold his. business for 30 million so they needed. like a young entrepreneur last minute.

found me because I was on some website. 3am asked me to come and that sent me. off in my career it was where I got my. investors from that one talk I think if. they hadn't asked me to be there how. would my life have been different. um and the weird thought which we never. consider is that. maybe I would have been happier. have you ever have you ever thought that. often often yeah you know I I wouldn't. change my life obviously I'm so proud of.

the things that I've achieved and I have. an incredible life and I absolutely do. my passion you know that's my I've just. had a weekend of it you know three shows. over the weekend and I feel blessed but. with it has been some really tough times. and sometimes I do I do think wow. I think. did becoming famous ruin my life. did it ruin me. sometimes I question that.

it's a hard one to answer isn't it. because you don't know the Alternatives. so you can't yeah but I think the thing. is it's like you know it's always so. important isn't it. we're on a journey. what's the destination the destination. is death. you know we've just got to enjoy this. journey and I remember the early days of. the Spice Girls were the best before we. released anything we had the most fun. because it was this excitement what's.

going to happen you know what could it. be and then when it happened it was. incredible but there's a lot of brushes. that come along with it so everything. starts to change. in those early years then so before. you've released any music you stumbled. around trying to find management for a. while right. and then you recount stories in your. book about some like [ __ ] that's. made some just like awful comments to. you can you tell me about that that. comment I was his name chick oh chick. yeah so he was a financial backer so.

when we we were first put together by a. management team and we were with them. maybe for about a year and chick was. um yeah the financial backer of these. original managers and he'd commented on. the size of my thighs and which was. something that really shook me because. you know I went to a performing arts. college which was predominantly a. dancing in college and you know the body. image was an issue there there was there. were girls with eating disorders I'd.

been. you know I'd been witness to that in my. life but yeah it never affected me. personally. um you know and I'm a teenager put on a. little bit away moving away from home. not really eating as well going down the. pub and you know so my weight fluctuated. a little bit but it was never something. that really bothered me it was just yeah. I'll cut back a little bit lose a few. pounds but somebody actually commenting. on the way I looked when I was going.

into a career where so much of it is. about how you look really affected me. did he make that comment in front of. people he made that comment in front of. the other girls. there's something about there's. something about. um when you're trying to fit in when. someone points at something which makes. you different or that might make you. feel like you don't fit in and from just. listening to your early years where. fitting in and feeling worthy was so. important to you for someone to then in.

a group of people where you where you. belong those that that band to say this. is why you don't fit essentially with. that comment. I can't think of anything more more. hurtful for one's self-esteem especially. as a young person because you know think. I think like I was probably 19 at that. point. which at the time you feel like you are. grown up in that college going out into. the Big Wide World. you're a child you know you're still so. young and so vulnerable well Victoria. said to you that he had said comments to.

her about her weight as well or her. appearance yeah I think you know it was. it was very much at that time I mean I. you know I went to dance college so. teachers would say you need to lose. weight you know what's that stomach. there I mean I've spoken to dancers. recently about the culture of that. because you know um recently there was a. lot there's been a lot talked about in. the gymnastics world oh yeah and. there was definitely a culture within. dance which was very cruel and heartless. and shaming body shaming.

um which is changing but you know dance. teachers there are some really lovely. nurturing ones out there but some of the. best dance teachers are horrible you. know we I mean. carrot in the stick it's quite an. old-fashioned way but. it worked in some ways but it's very. damaging did it change your behavior. that that comment from him did you. notice a change in yourself at all after. that definitely that was the Catalyst.

there was a catalyst for me to it was. like a wake-up call it was like. if I want to do this if I'm going to be. a pop star and you have to remember this. was like the 90s as well so it was you. know body image was a very different. thing there you know thank God there's. so much more body positivity now you. know but back then it was all about. being stick then. and I thought well if I'm gonna do this. I have to fit the mold and so then that. was it was just it was it was a gradual. thing but it was like the eating and the. exercising and that's when that's when.

it began yeah from a comment like that. which he probably. didn't give a second thought to you know. isn't that crazy it's crazy. we never really appreciate that one. comment can have such a profound impact. and change someone's. um the trajectory of their health or. their well-being in such a significant. way just one comment yeah just a few. words yeah you know I think it's a bit. of a trigger isn't it you know so that. happened. and I think obviously I was feeling.

vulnerable in. it knocks your confidence but then it's. kind of I think it's like a little chain. of events that leads you down that road. right you know. so that maybe was the little start of it. it ignited about the first Domino before. yeah yeah on that Journey trying to find. New Management you you stumbled across. Simon Cowell as well and he. he must hate when you recount this story. because oh it's so funny because he this. is the thing right everybody remembers. things differently because he remembers.

he said yes to us but we said no to him. so basically we got to the point where. we were going to record companies we. were looking for a record deal so we. left the original management. and we had some demos demo tapes and we. were going around meeting managers. meeting record labels and most people. were very positive we got very positive. reactions but we remember Simon saying. he wasn't interested in us. um yeah but he recounts it differently. so that's funny isn't it because.

obviously then it was the 90s he was a. record company exactly he wasn't known. to the to the wider public at this point. when you're going around trying to find. management how are you like providing. for yourselves how where's the money. coming from to sustain the band and was. there ever a moment where you thought. [ __ ] this I'm gonna no no no so when we. were with our original management they. they did give us like a little bit of. pocket money they put us up in a house I. think they gave us about 60 pounds a. week which because we weren't paying for. our accommodation at the time you know.

we could make ends meet. um but when we left them I think I went. to stay with a friend back in sukup. where I've been to college so I was like. staying in her spare room and then there. was a period of time where Melanie and. Jerry were homeless they were doing a. little bit sofa surfing yeah and Emma. went home to her mum's place in Finchley. and Victoria was back at air mum's place. up. um in Hertfordshire so yeah we were and. it was think this I remember we go to. Emma's mum's place.

and she'd do loads of toast for us and. wrapping tin foil and that would be. breakfast and yeah we were just we never. thought it was never an option to give. up we were on this journey and we were. going to make it happen. how long was that period when between. you leaving your initial management to. ultimately when you found Simon Fuller. and you know that kind of it began with. Virgin how long was that how big was. that Gap it wasn't as long as a year. okay with an Elio maybe about eight. months or so but we we had um somebody.

who was you know very kindly looking. after us so what we've done before we. left our original management we talked. our original management into putting on. a showcase okay so we did that and then. we met some writers and producers and. Publishers and we made some contacts and. we kind of knew already we were going to. leave but we just thought let's get this. out of them and we did that and so we. pursued that and we were with Mark Fox. who was head of publishing at BMG at the. time and he kind of took us under his.

wing and would take us out for dinners. and he'd got us to meet people and that. kind of got us on our road. success and then you met Simon Fuller. talk to me about that and how'd that. change things yeah it was really. interesting because we'd been it's so. funny isn't it we really did take. matters into our own hands and we talk. about auditioning managers you know we. were this unknown girl band everyone was. telling us governments don't work but we. were out there going right is this. manager good enough for us. um so we just we just had this attitude. that we've got something very special.

and we're not going to undersell it or. ourselves and which is wonderful you. know even if any of us have any doubts. about it we were like no this is the way. it is and I think that real. determination single-mindedness is a. really important part of succeeding it's. like no there's no doubt this will not. fail so we went out there and met these. people and Mark Fox was introducing us. to songwriters we've met Martin Biff who. he wrote wannabe and Two Become One it'd. be forever and we also met absolute who.

we wrote who do you think you are too. much with those guys. and they were managed by a guy called. Pete and he was in Simon's offices. and Simon heard the music and wanted to. meet us so he was the first person who. approached us. and eventually you sign with virgin. virgin virgin virgin records yeah we. gave everyone the run around and we got. the money up and up and up and up as you. could in those days and we just loved. virgin it was an incredible team and we.

just had so much fun with them they. really shared our vision great a r. Ashley Newton you know obviously spice. was such a great album as his Spice. World. um so yeah it was like a match made in. heaven you you recount that moment that. Simon Fuller gave you your first. um 10K check I believe and this is. before you've released any music right. so this is like is this a signing bonus. so we got like um you get a advance when.

you you know when you examsia not so. much these days it's changed so much but. yeah you get in advance and we hadn't. seen like what we would deem as properly. and that was proper money I've got all. those zeros what did you do with it. um I think you know what I did with my. first one no I don't you're not okay I. just think I did I do know you went. awesome. I mean I saw that check right yeah.

I can I remember like being like on this. kind of stairwell in this party give me. a check ten thousand pounds. I went down to Oxford Street Jetty. Sports and I bought the Nike Air Max. that I've been like get I've had my eye. on for weeks I've made it and what did. you do with the rest Stephen the bank. what did I do with the rest I think I. paid for some driving lessons. um yeah I paid for my event and I mean.

pretty much when you you get in advance. whether it's with the Rebecca company or. publishing it's your living expenses you. know and you're a young artist and. you've not released anything that's kind. of what it goes on how quickly did. things move from the point of getting. that check on that stairwell to. um wannabe the first single. taking off how how quickly was that. gosh are you you're really. testing my memory now I think.

I want to say it was around Christmas. time when we when we got the check. and then wannabe was released in July of. 96. so maybe about six months six months. it's not it's not very long time is it. it's not and it's from what I read the. wannabe didn't take a long time to. record either. is definitely under half an hour this is. we kind of disagree with it 15 minutes. was it 20 minutes I mean it was kind of.

thrown together it was was it ever going. to be a song we weren't sure we were. just kind of being silly and Matt and. both who are incredible just obviously. made it into something which it went to. number one in 37 countries I mean I. don't think I even knew there was 37. countries. that's crazy yeah what what does that. feel like so you release that single. then you start getting the the murmurs. the noise the the world starts vibrating.

a little bit what is that what is that. like. well we had big Ideas we probably had. big Ideas above our station before we. should have done but it helped us our. original manager were always like don't. get too big for your boots you know you. haven't done anything yet you need. you've got work to do we know we've got. work to do but we've got something. special and we are going to make this. happen. so we were always like we felt we were. very important and very special.

and when other people started to think. that too wannabe was released it was. still early days but we released our. album in Japan because at the time there. was no internet so artists would release. music in different territories at. different times so you could kind of. catch up with yourself with your promo. you were able to do it I'd like to say. you had time to do it but hey there's. only seven days in a week our schedule. was insane. but we started in Japan and one of you. went to number one why we were in Japan.

so we didn't really get a sense of what. was happening at home and I think when. we flew back to the UK we were in Japan. for about two weeks. when we when we flew back everything had. changed. and that was it when it was when people. really did start recognizing Us in the. Stream. yeah it all started to. yeah increase at that point and how did. that feel at first it was so exciting it. was kind of like it's almost like you. put in a like in a catapult you know. we've been we'd be doing all this about.

doing all this way you know and then. you're gone and you're just on this act. oh and it really was. I I was trying to make sure I had the. dates right before because when I was. looking at the the amount of time from. that first single to the number one. albums and the meteoric global super. stardom it feels like this much time I. was like I'm sure I've got the dates. wrong there must be like a decade like. typo somewhere because it was just a.

couple of years. it's not even a full two years right one. of these released in July 1997. Jeremy left the band in the spring of 98. when we were two shows short of our. European leg of the tour. so it wasn't a full two years that the. five. were together doing the thing you know. it's that's mad I don't understand that. right we got together in 94 that's when. we all first met so together a couple of.

years beforehand but yeah by 98 Springer. 98 Jerry had gone we went on to do our. U.S leg of the tours of four piece we. come back Melanie and Victoria had their. babies so obviously everything started. to change by that point it was a very. different chapter in the lives of this. horoscope at that moment in my head the. Spice Girls. weren't like two decades. yeah maybe that's why maybe the music. lasted obviously but uh but when I was.

reading that was like two years I was. like what how is that possible how is. two two um two albums. and a movie. and I will tell and yeah and all those. MTV music videos that were playing in my. house constantly because of my sister. um. but I had to listen to a cup the odd CD. when no one was in the house but. that's why podcast we can edit that out. um but but when you think about why you. were success because there were a lot of. other girl bands at that time and there. were even other girl bands that had a.

similar fundamental messages of. empowerment and as you you call it girl. power I think you can't say that anymore. I think that's a bit of a people don't. like using me using the word girl but um. girl power and feminism and female. empowerment why in hindsight do you. think that you broke through. um and and these others who were there. before you and in some situations were. much better placed. why did you win. I think the stars were in alignment. whatever the magic was with that Dynamic.

that we are so different that we are. quite strong in our individuality. that we made the decision to address how. we each felt comfortable you know girl. bands before us had coordinated their. look or had a certain look and we. realized that didn't work for us. we wanted to make pop music we loved pop. music we love so many genres but we felt. like there was a space for a female band.

you know we kind of looked at bands like. take that and New Kids on the Block and. there was no girl bands doing that and. that's what we wanted to do and I just. think just all those little elements a. lot of them accidental you know are. nicknames which we never came up with it. wasn't a marketing idea it was top of. the pops magazine Peter Levine who was. edited there at the time just thought. it'd be really fun to give us some. nicknames and they stuck and they became. part of the brand you know and they.

still live on to this day I mean in the. US we're known mainly by our nicknames. so. yeah like the stars like I say it feels. like they were just in alignment it was. meant to be we had this idea that. something was going to happen but I. think it was raining Stars. timing seems to be quite um important in. hindsight as well when you think about. where the world was was it ready for. this message was it ready for a band. like this.

um because you know if you'd been maybe. 10 years earlier maybe it wouldn't have. worked out or 10 years later. but there's it's funny the the case of. timing and then even when you think back. to being handed that flyer the timing of. that and it's quite. serendipitous and you know the butterfly. effect of just these. these things linking up and. can be quite spooky yeah it really is. you know you're right at the time it's. over the 90s it was a period of growth. in the UK you know it was quite a. positive time for the country we just. kind of come out of the grungies.

musically. um Indy was big here and you know we. can't. you know say oh you know oh you're. welcome female empowerment yes we. brought that this was something that was. bubbling and moving and changing and we. were just really fortunate that we hit. it at a time when more and more people. were getting on it you know. um and I think because you know people. often talk about feminism with the Spice. Girls and it's like we feel like you. know we were young.

we had a point to prove we wanted to be. a girl band for girls and we wanted to. talk about female empowerment and how. girls could do whatever they wanted to. do no one was telling us we couldn't do. something and it enabled us to take. feminism and make it more you know. palatable to a younger audience you know. we had fans of three years of age a pop. band or a music act had never had that. before you know and even now you know. it's amazing I do these shows and I go.

out and I do solo stuff and I do a. couple of Spice Girl songs and there's. so many young kids in the audience. loving and real discovering the Spice. Girls and it's it's incredible it still. captures their imagination. that um that pressure though people. often talk about the pressure of being. in a band but the pressure of being in a. girl band at that time especially when. even you know the media were very. vicious and there wasn't an awareness. around the impact of words on mental.

well-being and how that can impact. people. um strikes me as being an even more. difficult time than today of being in. well we have social media now which is. also an exacerbating Factor but talk to. me about the the pressure of public. scrutiny back then on young women. you're right you know the Tabloid media. were brutal I think things have improved. not that much I mean it is quite. shocking now when I look back over. articles from the 90s and naughties just.

like the wording that was used I think. they're just a bit more sneaky with it. now you know they're still saying the. same things but in a slightly different. way but back then it was just brutal I. mean I got called we all got called. like terrible horrible things. and as a young person. I think for anyone and you're right you. know the generation now have social. media to deal with it which I think is. equally as damaging if not more so in. many ways because you can't escape it. can you you know your phone is there I.

wake up first thing I do look at my. phone. um luckily now I have the skin of a. rhino so if anyone's saying anything. negative about me. um you know I can I can usually push out. but yeah back then it was I was trying. to figure out because I was you know who. am I these people are telling me I'm. this thing you know they're criticizing. me um I'm not talented enough I'm not. pretty enough I'm stupid I'm a loud. mouth and this and it's like who am I am.

I who I want to be Am I who they tell me. I am should I be who they want me to be. and it's so confusing and that was I. think another you know we were talking. about these different elements that got. me because I became very very ill. um around 2000 and you know the the. eating and the exercising and from. chicks words and certain things that had. happened being photographed constantly. but being commented on constantly was a.

big factor in that Journey. you didn't mean to change when I took. when I mentioned that. it looked like it genuinely I could I. could see how that that phase of your. life had impacted you just from the the. change in your. um. yeah it's. [Music]. I don't think anyone can ever you know. it's really hard you know because. I'm always in this place where. visit. I'm always in this place where.

there's an element of guilt attached to. my success and I think that's. exacerbated by people going were you. famous. you know you put yourself in that. position. and something I explore in the book is. you know people who want to be famous. probably other people at least one quick. to do with it because you know we're. we're looking for accepting and love.

an adoration and to be that vulnerable. and to put yourself in that position. only to be criticized is it's a bad. combination and I think you know with. the table of media as it was back then. I mean it's terrific I mean I've looked. again recently because you know that. there's been certain reasons why I've. been having to read old articles on. myself and I'm shocked. I am I mean I don't want to jump forward.

too far with the story but I I did. suffer with. a couple of Eating Disorders one of them. being binge eating disorder I was very. depressed and I gained some weight. because I've been underweight for a long. long time. and my body was just like it was just a. reaction it was like I am starved of any. nourishments yeah but heal me feed me. and you know obviously the big change in. that make me gain weight and it wasn't. an enormous amount of weight I think I.

went from the size probably about a size. I suppose it just sounds like a lot if. you sell like a size six to a size 14. but then a size 14 I don't think it's. even the average size of women in the UK. and they called me Sumo space. I mean how disgusting is that. so whoever this person is I'm not going. to say it's a guy maybe it was maybe it. wasn't the editor probably was but they. thought it was appropriate to call a.

young woman who actually had been open. because she kind of thought she had to. be. about her issues and it was okay to call. her Sumo space. how sick is that it's really [ __ ] up. isn't it. I mean worst thing will happen to people. and you know where things happen in the. world but in this in my world at that. time when that happened it was. devastating. gosh it's disgusting isn't it they.

couldn't do it now. they couldn't do that now but like I say. they it's all a little bit reading. between the lines now isn't it. you were so young then as well you were. you know you're in your teen years but. you're still a child at that age and as. you say learning who you are and what. you mean was there a moment where you. realized that so that first comment from. chick sends you changes your behavior. was there a moment where you look back. on and go. that was maybe this not the second. Catalyst moment but my behavior took a.

really sharp turn there in terms of like. exercise and obsessing over food and. fitting in yeah I think it was it was. more when we were in the public eye. being a photograph doing lots of photo. shoots. um yeah you know some of it is linked to. a need of control isn't it because. things at that point felt very much out. of our control even though we you know. we wanted to take. this thing you know in our own hands and.

we wanted to make it happen. um I think because when things with the. Spice Girls became Uber successful which. was very quick after the release of. wannabe were flying all over the world. you're in a bubble you know this crazy. bubble and it's great you're having an. amazing time but you can't you can't do. things on your own terms anymore. but you can control what you put in your. mouth or you can be in the gym where. people will leave you alone because I. don't don't bother if she's in the gym. you write about how you turn into a.

robot. what do you mean by robot. Okay so. I think. I found it the only way I could survive. D the experience was by switching off my. feelings. um. I had to eat a certain way I had to. exercise a certain amount and I couldn't. not do it so I had to switch off any of. those like human emotions or any of. those just even listening to my own body. this there was a task that had to be.

done and I had to complete it. and the robot and let's do it and that. was kind of my inner dialogue. and you recount this um this day of risk. reciting some reciting that well-being. on a running machine which I found very. almost quite unnerving and quite strange. looking in the mirror and telling. yourself that you're a robot yeah. yeah that actually happened you were. looking. I can. remember kind of in the middle of a Road. Travelers and yeah that was that was my.

way of coping because like shut down. shut off just like just this body is. just a piece of Machinery that will do. what it has to do. and there was no there was no choice. that was the thing there was no choice. that was the way it had to be and it. wasn't until I had which by you know I I. imagine was a break in 2000 when I just. you know I hit that bottom and and. that's. when I kind of fell apart because the.

robot wasn't working anymore. have you when you think back of that. young girl. have you got how do you feel about her. as an as an as an you know much more. mature person now how did you feel about. that young girl that was going through. that. family stops before. I feel like you know it was. the most incredible time of my life. and the hardest. and as much as I enjoyed it it was.

jobless you know because I had a secret. and I was dealing with what I had to. deal with. I'm living my dream at the same time it. was it's a it's a head [ __ ] is what it. is because I wouldn't change anything. I changed that I changed that I became. the victim of an eating disorder in. exercising obsessively I wish that. hadn't happened to me so I could have. fully enjoyed the wonderful things that. happened to me 100.

you know life isn't perfect there's. always issues there's always things we. have to overcome but it was. [ __ ] dramatic in. how it went down. what would you say to her if you could. speak to her I say sorry. I do I feel so sorry but I did that to. him. yeah I think I've been angry as well I. think I've ain't anger at other people. but I think as an adult you have to take. responsibility for your actions.

um. you know I don't understand bitterly. Twisted but don't you know there were. people. oh you know. the Tabloid media I don't want a victim. learn about the tablet media but you. know they probably need to be bitched. and learned about because they've been. disgraced. um. but yeah I just I I feel sorry. I feel regretful. well what would you say sorry to her for. if I pointed through that I think her.

through that for and it feels like. I kind of I have a lot of guilt attached. to. what I was representing but what was. really going on behind closed doors and. you know what I'm such an honest person. I can't I can't lie I'm so bad at lying. and I I feel so dishonest if I'm not. burying myself to people but I was. living life. and that's probably the hardest part of. it. that um.

that secret the secret you're referring. to is the eating disorder and the. obsessive exercising right the secret. you were keeping when you say um eating. disorder are you referring to the binge. eating disorder that was did that come. after that was later yeah okay so. you know the weird thing is actually as. you as you put it like that it's like I. was in denial. you know because there is a little voice. that goes. you can't carry around like this but. then the other voice the bigger voice. goes you haven't got a choice.

and the first season of disorder I I. started to. um just to eat less small potions and. then I started to eliminate food groups. um to a point because I was terrified of. that and then I was terrified of cops. and then I wouldn't eat a banana because. it's got too much sugar in it I mean I. do not even know how I survived and I. think often now I get so exhausted I. think it's probably through years of. being malnourished.

um I lived on fruit and vegetables for. about two years. and I was underweight my period stopped. you know I kind of I've always wanted to. be a mum. but I had no choice but to live this. life I was living and I was jeopardizing. the chance of being a mum I mean how. crazy is that. just this compulsion. and then it all comes to a head in 2000. when um.

you hate their bodies you know we oh I. hate this oh you should get asked in. interviews but you know what what's your. favorite what would you call them like. your favorite attribute or whatever you. know what what do you what do you like. least about yourself you know what. [Music]. [ __ ] questions why would you why. would you ever say never be negative in. an interview right right never pull. people towards your vulnerability I mean.

I hate my my short stubby legs you know. what I mean just really focus on them. um. but yeah I I hated myself I was never. good enough nothing's good enough women. do this all the time we pull ourselves. apart you know I'm not funny enough I'm. not clever enough I'm not pretty and if. I'm not sexy enough all these things. this body is amazing and I spent all of. those years just hating it because it. wasn't what I wanted it to be but you. are not your body.

you know I was talking to my family this. weekend I I lost an older sibling a few. years ago. and we were talking about when people. pass. and you know and suddenly he died of. cancer and we know in the last ages. people with cancer it's it's awful to. see them in that way but I don't. remember him in that way I remember the. essence of him I remember how funny he. was and how naughty he was and and it's. not I don't I don't remember anything. physical you know and it's just we just. need to get away from this physical.

being. what defines us [ __ ] off it's not what. it defines us we're so much more than. that and um I've completely forgotten. what the question was but I just got. caught up no no so it's so powerful and. um it was linked to it all all of that. sort of suppression and a. self-abandonment coming to a head in. 2020 2000 yeah yeah so exactly and I I'd. spent is like trying to make myself. smaller you know fit into the form that.

I should be to be doing the thing that. I'm doing and it was killing me and I. know this is why I started talking about. my body because I'm so grateful to my. body. because it took over and it's and it. said to me we can't do this anymore. you're not doing this anymore we are. taking the control away from you and it. was hard because. from being very restrictive with my. eating and being anorexic I started. binge eating.

because my body it couldn't help anymore. it wasn't getting enough fuel and I was. depressed I didn't know I was depressed. I had no I'd never even crossed my mind. that I had depression I just knew I'd. lost control over my eating and freaked. me out because it was all about the way. I looked you know it was it was vanity I. was like [ __ ] I'm eating I'm eating. loads and you know I feel very grateful. I was never bulimic I tried I couldn't. make myself sick and I'm so grateful for.

that because I know it's a really. difficult illness to recover from. so I was getting bigger and bigger and. bigger because I was eating more and. more and more. um and then that was it was the vanity. that took me to the doctors as well as. being really [ __ ] scared because I. didn't know what was going on and I was. struggling to get out of bed and that. was when I was diagnosed with depression. and that was my first step on the road. to recovery you go to that doctor. who ultimately diagnoses you with. depression.

can you remember that day vividly I do I. really do I remember sitting up to him. his desk. and I think I said everything out loud. for the first time but my eating about. crying and not being able to do that I. mean I didn't have the words I didn't. know what anxiety was I didn't know what. Depression was so what did you say to. him just because I want to get a color. of what the symptoms were that you. hadn't yourself pinpointed as well I was. I was tired all the time I couldn't. control my eating I mean I was I I.

terrified myself because sometimes I'd. catch myself in mid-bench it was so it. was such a compulsive thing I'd like. yeah I'll just be in the middle of just. eating and I'd be like. you know and anyone and then suddenly I. know lots of people have these issues. it's like a cycle because you do it and. then you hate yourself. so you do it again and then you just it. just keeps uh you know getting worse and. worse and to the point where I had to go. to the doctor but I felt like I was. losing my mind I felt like I was.

actually going mad and yeah and I didn't. have the right words and I know they are. not the right words that we use today. but those were the words I had. um yeah and he said. but first of all we have to. to do with your depression. I was like this weight was just lifted. from my shoulders because I was like oh. my God it's got a name it's something. that can be treated it's something you. can recover from and that was the. beginning of a very very long journey.

very very long joke. I think I'm still on that Journey To be. honest I don't think. I think depression is always there it's. always waiting in the wings to looming. and well it is for me anyway. um but I'm quite good at just keeping. her Bay you learn the tricks and the. tools. for keeping it back. [Music]. you describe them I believe the. um the fear of that looming.

um depression or you know I guess the. fear of going back to formal ways or. finding yourself in that situation has. has been quite a scary thing is it a. scary thing something you're you're. scared of. I don't want to Mis characterize your. words there but. um is it something that sits at the back. of your mind in terms of you know that. you fear there might be there it's like. a catalyst there could be one thing that. could yeah the thing I fear the most is. depression.

because. you know I've I've always felt like. there's a fire in my belly and even you. know. mostly at my lowest of points. I can go this will pass. we can do this. but there are times within my depression. where I have doubted that. and. yeah.

my biggest fear is it's that. you know really overwhelming depression. where you doubt if you can make it. through. Beyond it. you had you had those moments post. mainly where you didn't think you'd be. there was doubt whether you'd be able to. make it through a moment is this post. leaving the Spice Girls predominantly or. was their moments throughout the. experience where it's never we've never.

officially split up is this bicycle oh. really yeah we took that decision. because. there was so much. press you know interest in us at the. time so you know I was really really. struggling we were working on forever. which is the third album as a full piece. without Jerry and I'd worked on my solo. records and I was having a really really. hard time and it was too much I found. the environment too much and I think the.

girls knew me too well you know I was I. was dealing with these demons these. inner demons and they they could just. read me like a book and I just didn't. want to be in their company because I. had to do with it myself you know so I I. did want to leave the band. but we we took the decision to never. officially split up because we because. we didn't want the Press intrusion we. were terrified of because we know I mean. I slept at once on a TV show I did a. show with Frank Skinner and I used past. tense I said when I was a Spice Girl or.

whatever the wording I used was. and the Press jumped on it and there was. camera Crews outside my house creating. and they chased me down the road and. yeah and it was just like. we couldn't none of us could face. and the you know the beauty of that is. now. we kind of feel like at the time we. needed separation you know we'd be in. like this our lives have been so. intertwined that we needed that space. but now we've had time to do that and. grow and become individual individuals.

and mums and and have these Separate. Lives we can come back together and we. we really enjoy each other and respect. each other. so it'd be quite like that we've never. split up you know what I mean we've. always we'll always be faster when. people say formers but I'm not a former. Spice Girl I am a Spice Girl and we will. always always. even Victoria when she didn't go. downstairs to turn 19 she's still a very. very important part of that show. 2019. you're you're you know.

your account in your book about how. coming back together was actually a. really pleasant experience and it taught. you a lot about your previous time. together in the Spice Girls but let's. start with the point about Victoria then. a lot of lot was written about that. obviously when press do interviews. they're trying to twist your words and. find something wow how can we turn them. against each other like that's what. that's the game right. um so how did you all feel when you know. you knew that Victory wasn't coming back. to the group and you were going to be. doing it as a full yeah there was a few. feelings about that because obviously we.

were gutted but you would be yeah. totally one of their and we were scared. because we'd go [ __ ] are people going to. want us it's a full piece. um you know in a different configuration. and the thing is you know. let's not you know well let's be honest. here Victoria is a huge International. icon you know she has gone on to be. something in her own right you know in. the Fashion World in the world of. celebrity she's much bigger than the.

others of us individually. um I don't think anything's as big as. the Spice Girls you know we all feel. that but without her it's like people. gonna take us seriously. um so yeah so there was there was. different feelings around it the the. wonderful thing about it when she was. very supportive and it was really. important for us to make sure she was. happy so she was involved creatively you. know we wanted us to sign everything off. we wanted her to know exactly what we. were going to do. and it was such an incredible experience. I it felt like she was part of it anyway.

why didn't you I didn't I missed the. story at that time but why didn't she. want to be what was her public statement. what was the reason public statement is. because of family and commitment okay. which is completely you know. understandable. um but I think you know on a more. personal level and I think this has been. said I don't think she'd mind me saying. when we did the Olympics in 2012 yeah. she had a really hard time it was she. was petrified I mean we were all bloody. petrified but to the point where it's.

worth it yeah yeah yeah but I think it. was it so you know it was you had a lot. of anxiety and on that performance that. she was like you know what girls I'm. putting my dancing shoes up. um away so yeah so we totally got you. know we respected her decision. um but yeah but we were still sad about. it but you know what we went on to have. the most successful tour we've ever done. and you know with her blessing sadly. without her but we did it and it was.

incredible and it really is truly some. of my happiest Spice Girls memories one. of the things that I wish I'd asked Liam. Payne when I spoke to him about One. Direction and The the group dynamic and. then what happens when the group. are no longer making music at the time I. don't want to say split up because that. is a bit loaded but when they're no. longer together is. um. what happens in the outside world in the. media is people then start comparing the. like the post band successes and I think. this can be very very toxic because.

you're then being compared against in. the case of like One Direction these. four five other four other individuals. you'll then sort of measured your life. then becomes measured against who did. the best after it was measured during as. you talk about in magazines where they. said who is the hottest and who is this. yeah exactly um but then post you've got. you know as it relates to One Direction. you've got Harry Styles who is just you. know Untouchable. and I and I wonder like no matter how.

how amazing the objective success is of. like another member are they they're. always compared to this person how true. is that in your case. um yeah it's true it's so hard it's so. hard to go on and become a solo artist. because you like this is what like. really drives me around about the media. right they tell you things you already. know. it's like you know interested in you. they just want the Spice Girls I know.

um but no I mean that isn't totally true. but yeah yeah you're right it's really. really hard because you get compared so. much within the band and then post the. band but it's like you know you have you. have to have this logical brain don't. you where you go. how do we measure success you know for. me the hours of my life I am so happy. I'm so successful and there are all this. they need a bit of work but I think as a. fully grown adult you have to go stop. comparing yourself you know other people.

might want to do it but you can't do it. we all do it we all look on Instagram. we've got our life's amazing [ __ ] no. one's life is amazing. you know there's a thing going on so I I. think yeah it's just we go off don't be. a little tangent sometimes but it's just. to just come back home and yeah. concentrate on the important things when. you when you went on the reunion tour. what did you learn about your former. experience from that tour. Ireland it was a shame that we couldn't.

fully appreciate it at the time because. and you're never going to change history. and you're never going to change things. moving forward because. it's so chaotic I knew at the time that. you'll just be a little bit survival. mode you know you just kind of equates. going through the motions you know I. meet younger artists now like I've been. lucky enough to meet Billy Alice a few. times. I. relate to her so much I think I saw her. perform at Shepherd's Bush Empire and.

she was already way too big to be. playing that incredible venue and all. these predominantly teenage girls were. screaming for her screaming at hair and. singing her songs and it just made me go. back to the Spice Girls shows I know. she's very different as an artist but I. just kind of felt this kinship with her. and so at times I just look at her and I. kind of feel like I I know what she's. feeling. and what she's going through so whenever. I have the opportunity to see her I just. kind of have this little connect with.

him she was like. why does that make you emotional. because this incredible thing that. happens to you and it's so hard to. appreciate it because it's it's so. intense you know. because that experience was so. tumultuous for you because there were so. many difficulties as you approached the. reunion was their fear of you know the. former issues as well as the good times. but also the bad times coming with that. always whenever us girls get together.

there's little triggers you know and I'm. scared but I have to face them because. you know I've learned to experience if. the other things I've gone on to do with. the girls we reunited in 2007 Olympics. 2019. face the fear and actually beautiful. things happen so yeah and you know we're. much more mindful of each other now as. well because you know everyone had their. [ __ ] to deal with you know it wasn't. pain selling for anyone. was that too much of the reason you were. inspired to write your book.

yeah it totally was I mean you know. sometimes I still question it I'm still. questioning it as this week. I I just felt I started to feel like. my soul is incredible you know I I'm. just I'm just a girl I'm a noble girl. from the north west working-class. background and I have a my dreams and I. go on to work in this industry work as. an international artist I mean it blows. my mind when I think about what I've.

achieved what I've continued to go on to. do and and I want to inspire people and. I've gosh I've had hard times you know. I've had times when I thought I don't. know if I can carry on I don't know if I. can carry on in this industry I don't. know if I can carry on in this life. good afternoon and and I just really. hope that people can read this book and. have a laugh you know there's been some. funny bits there's some great memories. but be inspired and also find some hope. within it because you know I have.

I I personally for me feel like I've. been at Buck bottom. at a time but I've worked my way up back. up to like feeling okay. I'm feeling great sometimes. so yeah I know I know people lots of. people struggle with some of their. issues that I've had to deal with. what stops you from writing this book. sooner. a bit scared a bit scared to go back to. those times I knew it was going to be.

hard it was actually harder than. um really yeah and recording the audio. book which is something I definitely. wanted to do. that's a lot it's a lot because I think. to write those words is one thing but. then to speak them is something else. um you can be interviewed and talk about. these situations but kind of go through. it chronologically is is really really. draining yeah you've just been right um.

reading the audiobook out in the studio. you sit there alone in these um. audiobook recordings in a small room is. that as a same experience and you read. through this this book that you've just. written. um what was the hardest part for you to. read. I'm only halfway through okay I haven't. even got to the really tough but yeah. um but you know what's weird I wonder if. you would find this too sometimes it's. the things you don't expect to get yeah. get yeah I got really upset the other.

day when I started reading apart I I. can't even remember which bit it was but. it really surprised me because I know. there's like chapter 14 is it like. ingrained in my brain chapter 14 is when. I talk about my eating disorders and and. depression and and the Really lowest. point. um of my life. I know that's going to be hard to read. I've not got there yet. um but. yeah some of the other points have been. quite emotional and is that is that part.

hard to read and recount now because. because of those feelings you described. earlier where you have the sadness for. that young version of yourself and you. you also said anger is that why it's. hard to even read it out now. I'm curious to see how I'm gonna do. because. I think I've built up like this. resilience to it as well because I I've. spoken quite openly in the media about. depression and eating disorders and I. actually started talking about it.

probably before I was ready. because at the time I I felt like you. know being the Spice Girl it felt like. it was your duty that our lives were in. the public domain. and you know it was such a weird time. because there were so many things going. on you know there was so much exposed. about myself and other people in in the. entertainment industry. um because of phone hacking you know. there were so many secrets and things. that probably would never have made the. papers but you know they were listening.

to people's messages we know that this. is a fact. so yeah there was this I felt like I had. to spill my guts and I was still very. vulnerable and I feel very ill you know. I wasn't anywhere near. on the road to recovery you know it was. just the very beginning for me. so I've had to build up the Earth this. wall around me so I I wonder whether I. can speak about that now and it not. affect me emotionally I'm curious.

is that all a good thing. I think it's a necessary thing you know. yeah I think some of the other points in. the book you know are talking about my. childhood and my parents and. and they're quite new things I'm not. really discussed them openly before. um so they're quite hard and also going. to affect other people that's what's. been hard about this book it's not just. about me that's like Fame right Fame. just doesn't happen to you does it it. comes to everybody around you and they.

do masquer it so and then the girl kicks. in again there's a lot of guilt attached. to fame I think. I had a few words to say about one of my. sponsors on this podcast for many years. people have been asking for a coffee. flavored Hill and quite recently he'll. release the iced coffee caramel flavor. of their. um ready to drink Hills and I've just. become hooked on it over the last couple. of weeks I've been on a really. interesting Journey with huel which I've. described and talked about a little bit. on this podcast I started with the berry.

ready to drinks then I moved over to the. protein salted caramel because it's 100. calories and it gives you all of your. essential vitamins and minerals but also. gives you the 20 odd grams of protein. you need and now I'm balanced between. them both I drink mostly the banana. flavor ready to drink I've got really. into the iced coffee caramel flavor of. heels ready to drink and now I'm. drinking that as well as the protein. make sure you try the new ready to drink. flavors that the caramel flavor is. amazing the new banana flavor as well is. amazing and obviously as I said the iced.

coffee caramel flavor has been a real. Smash Hit so check it out let me know. what you think on social media I see all. of your tags and Instagram posts and. tweets about Hill where is your line in. terms of sharing stuff this is something. that I always think about. um obviously I have a podcast so I talk. a lot about my childhood and all the. things that happened and I've always. wondered you know there's being. transparent and honest because it will. help others that have gone through that. experience and that's really important. that's how we all learn you saying one. thing can quite literally save lives but.

where is your personal line in terms of. because you kind of alluded to it there. where there's things where you just. can't maybe it's not the right time or I. think you know what's really important. with this book is it's my story and it's. in my words and it's my perspective and. I think the line for me is you know it's. not my place to tell other people's. stories. and you know to the point of hurting. other people. that that's I can't I I couldn't live.

with myself. um but I know sometimes we hurt people. unintentionally you know so that's. probably my fear around the book coming. out now. um it's not my intention to hurt anybody. I've tried to be very careful. um but obviously like your parents. reading how you feel about things you. know that's that's gonna hurt. one of the things as well that. fascinated me was um your relationship. with with money you know um and. this.

this suggestion that you had almost. guilt for your success. a few times on this on this um podcast. and it always seems to come from people. that have a working class background. can you tell me about that in your from. your perspective I think for me it's. it's I. oh you know really hard whatever you. know world's day working it can be. manual labor it can be you know I mean.

my dad God bless him he's in his 70s. he's still traveling around the world. like a young man and doing this crazy. job and doing super long hours. and you know that my dad loves his job. but it's you know it's a necessity to. work that hard to put food on the table. to pay the bills right I. my my work can be hard it can be. grueling but I go on stage and I sing. and it's my passion and I'm very lucky. to do it and sometimes I could maybe.

earn in a day what people in my family. might earn in a year you know and and so. there's guilt attached to that when I'm. when you think about the the thing that. made you successful the first time. around you you talk about it a lot that. and I talk about it as well that. insecurities were one of my biggest. drivers they were this you know you're. trying to fill some kind of void and you. end up it ends up resulting in. perfectionism and overworking and all. those things how do you control that. sort of those inner insecurities that.

I could probably ask this question in a. different way those things that drove. you then yeah which ultimately are quite. unhealthy and toxic and and creating a. lack of balance in one's life how do you. stop those things driving you now how do. you stop being toxic driven. you know what I think partly age does. that for you because you're so exhausted. right yeah we've got the energy you're. right it could be that you know I I. think the thing is you know we live and. learn don't we and I'm a mum now so I.

have a different set of priorities I. love my work sometimes I get the balance. completely wrong you know I'm with the. book and everything my workload is huge. right now this is school holidays you. know I'm not around enough for my. daughter so eating me up inside but you. know I I will find the time and we've. got holiday funding and I I think it's. just kind of learning from past mistakes. that you know be driven but not to the. point where it's detrimental the biggest. mistake I made is a real person person.

whereas I believed other people knew. better than I did. no one knows better than you about you. just listen. like I spent so much time this weekend. with like really young people in front. of me and and I just look at them and I. just think just don't lose the essence. of you. you know because it because I think when. you're a kid I mean obviously people. have different circumstances but this. essence of you has all the answers it's. all you need you know and then life. comes in and just like.

makes it all a bit out of balance so I. just like really encourage young people. to just really you know trust their. instincts I'm really I've been really. I've been thinking a lot about that. lately I've been thinking because when I. go up on stage and I try and give people. advice you know sometimes people will. often sometimes over complicate the. answer but as I've like looked back at. my own life and what I'm hearing from. you as well is that I I knew the answer. the whole time but there was a narrative. that persuaded me to ignore it so. sometimes that can be your your. immigrant parents telling you to go and.

become a doctor or a lawyer when you. really want to just dance and so you you. kind of place their narrative over the. top of your own feeling and so and then. the other one can sometimes be social. media which tells you that you should be. an ex or a y or a z but inside of you I. think it's really liberating to consider. that you might already have all the. answers if you just listened. and tuned out these other voices. super easier said than done almost. impossible yeah and I think the fingers. as well it's like because you think it.

can't be that yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah. yeah. maybe maybe especially if the answer is. happiness if it is material success then. maybe you should go and be a doctor but. if it is happiness which I think is the. answer in in the long term if you don't. want to avoid a midlife crisis when. you're in your doctor's suit at 14 you. go what the [ __ ] am I doing here. whatever maybe that is the approach to. take but yeah that's what I'm saying. life is a series of chapters right.

so what's right at one point. might change. so I think that's you know that is the. thing as well it's like okay a decision. might be made and you're following a. path and then at some point you're like. you know what this isn't working for me. anymore so you can change. I think that's I think that's really. powerful to know I mean it's [ __ ]. scary and not everybody has the luxury. of just going okay I want to change. right okay I'm gonna move back because. I'm going to gym no move country. whatever but I think what's powerful is. actually you have the power you just got.

to find the way to do it yeah yeah the. practical way to. I think that's the most important thing. um one of the other things I wanted to. ask you about is when I reflect on my. own early upbringing with my parents and. and the model of love that they taught. me. not all great what impact did the model. of relationships and separation of your. parents have on your own model of of a. relationship and love if any I think the. biggest impact that. moment relationship and breakdown of.

their relationship and my childhood is. telling me is that I yearn for a family. I yearn for that security. um and I I have a little girl I'm not. with her dad and that was really. difficult because I didn't want for my. little girl what I've done to me. um so yeah I I think I'm always I'm. always looking for that that environment. that I don't feel like I've ever really.

had. we have got one last question for you so. the last guest asks a question for the. next guest but they don't know who. they're asking the question to. so they write a question in the book I. don't see it on my mother's life I don't. see it until I open the book. um. that was the last question okay here we. go. interesting. hmm. [Laughter].

this is interesting because it's a. question we've we've been asked once. um. before so it's interesting that it's. come up twice. um what is a pain. that you enjoy having ah. ah okay this. this. um I've had a little emotional turmoil. recently. and I was in the gym and I was.

stretching to the point where it hurts. but it felt good. and I think sometimes and this is a. little bit self-harming I think like. physical pain sometimes will alleviate. like you know when I'm exercising to the. point of it hurting can help with my. emotional pain. you know exercise is a really. interesting thing because. you know obviously I have a. difficult relationship with it in a. sense because I did used to exercise. obsessively which I don't anymore but I.

do exercise a lot and I do it. for my head more so than my body at. times you know it's really really. important to me but I can feel so low. and so tired and so lethargic and I can. go to the gym and I'm a changed person. you know you know it's it's like a it's. a miracle drug right whether it's the. endorphins the serotonin that's produced. whatever happens it's like when people. say to me oh you know how do you. encourage people to do exercise and it's. like.

listen just go no pressure say I'll do. 10 15 minutes and a better you there for. an hour. agree. that is when I was first when that first. ques when that question first came into. this book my immediate response was. exercise and I've never really thought I. I was always curious as to whether there. was an element of like escapism there as. well and I I'm always conscious about. escaping issues or. um and then when you refrained it when. you described it then as you're going. through an emotional pain and the pain.

of the exercise almost helps to relieve. that. quite a curious thing because I. understand the endorphins and all the. chemicals and stuff but the pain itself. being a medicine is an interesting. concept. yeah it's like that thing is running. away you know if you're running no one. can catch you you're running you're. running right but it also makes you. great present you know when you are. running you are present and I've. actually done a lot of problem solving.

when I've been running. had some little epiphanies as well so. it's I think exercises you know we were. built to move let's do it. Melanie thank you so much thank you so. much thank you so much and your book is. um truly important I think that's the. best the best way to describe it because. because the depth of your honesty and. the uniqueness of your experience offers. means that it offers so much to so many. people and even someone that obviously I. mean there's probably not there's.

probably almost no one on planet Earth. that can relate to the experience itself. but the lessons that are within your. book and the lessons that you've managed. to pull out of those experiences are. lessons that we can all use to change. our life and I said to you before we. started recording that I usually don't. make that many notes and I just I made. way too many and it's really because I. had so I gained so much from reading it. about you know even my own life having. not walked in your shoes that um really. helped me in so many ways and I know. that everyone listening to it is going.

to gain so much from it but I also. really have to specifically thank you. for your honesty around the eating. disorders and your depression because. that will quite literally save people's. lives and you may never see yeah you may. never you know get to hear directly from. those people but I assure you of that. it's it definitely definitely will so. well I thank you so much for saying that. because I've been honest in the. interview to say that I still fear. releasing this book but you know what if. it if that is the case and to hear that. from you then I feel good I feel good.

about it I'm getting it out there. thank you. I had a few words to say about one of my. sponsors on this podcast crafted are a. brand that sell really meaningful. affordable men's jewelry and I've been a. crafted customer I think for about three. years now and all of the pieces that. crafted have created have deeper meaning. the piece of jewelry I wear the most I. want to introduce you to the pieces and. why I wear them is this sand timer. unsurprisingly and the thing for me.

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