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STRESSED SPICE
Geri Horner admits she is anxious about the Spice Girls reunion tour not happening after years of failed attempts
AS one of the reuniting Spice Girls, Geri Horner has plenty to keep herself busy this year.
But with just months to go before the group’s sold-out tour, the singer admits she still can’t fully relax about the comeback actually happening after a string of failed attempts.
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Although one thing she can absolutely guarantee is that Victoria Beckham has no intention of making a cameo appearance.
Speaking ahead of her return to BBC1 singing contest, All Together Now, on Saturday night, alongside co-star Rob Beckett, Geri tells me: “I still won’t quite believe it’s going to happen until we actually get on stage, because of how long we’ve been trying to get there.
“I know it is a bit boring for people – the number of times it was on and then off. I’m sorry about that.”
And she admits the girls never came close to persuading Victoria to join them, despite Mel B’s insistence she was poised to sign up.
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Geri adds: “No, there was never a point it was all five of us. Mel thought she could make it happen if she just kept on saying it.
“She’s clever, you’ve got to hand it to her.
“I’ve started independent rehearsals with the dancing, which my daughter is very embarrassed about.
“She hates my dancing on All Together Now too and keeps begging me to stop.
“I’m relearning the songs, learning the harmony parts. I haven’t done that for however many years.”
Geri managed to orchestrate the reunion while filming All Together Now, which returns for its second series tomorrow after proving a huge hit last year.
The singing contest sees the Spice Girl join 99 fellow “judges” on a panel, who join in with contestants to show their approval. The series winner takes home £50,000.
But Geri admits she was distracted during filming as she was liaising with her bandmates around the world. She adds: “We’ve been talking for many years about reunions and we were finally ironing out the details in between shooting.”
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Rob jokes: “You walked past me FaceTiming the Spice Girls – I felt like I was having some sort of weird dream. She went, ‘One minute’, and then it was like, ‘Hey Mel B’.” But so far there are no plans to continue the comeback beyond this summer’s gigs, as Geri explains: “I haven’t agreed to anything until that last clap is over.
“Ask Mel B and she’ll tell you something different.
“I actually said that at a meeting the other day, because remember we’ve got families now.
“We’ve found a common ground why we want to do it and it’s really nice for that next generation to see it — it’s a cultural event.
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“That’s the right motivation, then enough.”
Until then, the duo remain optimistic that All Together Now will prove another success — saying there is clearly space in the TV schedules for a singing contest, which doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Geri adds: “There are lots of great shows out there and everything has its moment, but All Together Now is what it says on the tin. We all come together and have a laugh.
“Especially in the climate that we’re in — it’s not divisive, it’s the opposite of that. It’s done with kindness – and £50,000 is a lot of money.”
As Rob quips, that’s almost enough for two Spice Girls tickets on StubHub.
Spice Girls UK tickets for reunion tour: how to get YOUR tickets from AXS and Ticketmaster
READ ON FOR MORE OF SIMON BOYLE'S BIZARRE COLUMN
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LADY Gaga has hit back after Bradley Cooper’s girlfriend Irina Shayk unfollowed her on Twitter after their romantic duet at the Oscars. Gaga said: “Social media is the toilet of the internet. And what it has done to pop culture is abysmal.”
Miley's girl first kiss
MILEY Cyrus has revealed her first kiss was with a girl – and that it scandalised her home town.
The former Disney child star said: “When I was growing up in the South, my first kiss was with a girl. And no one could understand it in Nashville. I was one of the only kids on Disney who’d come out and say that I supported all my gay friends.”
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Recently married Miley, who identifies as pansexual and says gender is almost “irrelevant” to her relationships, also told drag star RuPaul on his podcast: “Even aside from being about sexuality, it represents being your f***ing self. It doesn’t have to attach to who you love, it’s about you loving yourself.”
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THE countdown to Mariah Carey’s London concerts is on – and her fans are going to love what’s lined up.
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Mariah began the US show in this diamante-encrusted dress, pictured, before changing into six jaw-dropping outfits including a silver mini dress and a blush-pink ball gown.
The show comes to the Royal Albert Hall for three days from May 25.
Fans can look forward to the diva belting out 24 of her biggest hits including We Belong Together.
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TEN days after I revealed they were making a comeback, Jonas Brothers have confirmed the news to fans. Their next single, Sucker, is out now and Nick, Joe and Kevin will be taking over James Corden’s Late Late Show for a week to celebrate.
WAG Liz is told to cover up
MY favourite wag, Lizzie Cundy, has hit a sticking point with her new book, Tales From The Red Carpet.
One supermarket has told her it is refusing to stock the autobiography because her nude snap on the cover is “too rude” for its shelves. It has warned it will only change its mind if she reshoots the cover – this time with her clothes on.
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Lizzie’s book covers everything from locking hardman actor Mickey Rourke in the boot of her car to becoming a big name in her own right after the breakdown of her marriage to footballer Jason Cundy.
She also spills the beans on celebrities including Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and legendary actor Al Pacino.
I don’t think she’ll struggle to sell copies, no matter what is on the cover.
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