Mel B hints at Spice Girls reunion – including Victoria Beckham
At the start of Mel B’s new drag talent show, she says she is looking for a new member of the Spice Girls to go on tour with.
But perhaps that won’t be necessary as the star has told Sky News it won’t be long until the five original members get back together.
“We are going to be doing some stuff, all five of us pretty soon, which is going to be announced,” she said.
“But yeah, I like giving a little bit of a dig to my girls – ‘I’m going to replace ya’ – not that I ever would or I ever could anyway.”
For fans desperate to know if that “stuff” means a Spice Girls tour, Mel had this to add: “There will be – if I’ve got anything to do with it.”
The Spice Girls haven’t performed together as a five-piece since 2012
The Spice Girls last reunited for a tour in 2019, but as a four-piece without Victoria Beckham. The last time all five performed together was for the London Olympics in 2012.
For now, Mel is joining the second series of Queen Of The Universe, a talent show that sees drag queens from across the world singing live.
She’s on the panel along with returning judges including RuPaul’s Drag Race star Michelle Visage, actress and singer Vanessa Williams, and US drag superstar Trixie Mattel.
Despite being there to critique the queens, Mel is also sympathetic when things don’t necessarily go their way. She remembers how it feels to be on the receiving end, she says.
Queen Of The Universe (L-R): Judges Michelle Visage, Trixie Mattel, Mel B, host Graham Norton, and Vanessa Williams. Pic: Joel Palmer/Paramount+
“I think back when Spice Girls were out, it was way harsher because we weren’t seen to be pushed to be so politically correct.
“So it was more like, ‘You’re fat, you’re this, you’re the wrong colour’ – whereas now it’s a little bit more inclusive and a little bit kinder, if I can say that.
“So it’s not as harsh, but the struggle is still there – I mean, on the show you get to hear some of the stories and the trauma that they’ve gone through to be still part of the drag community and still do their drag act, and it’s not an easy road at all for any of them.”
‘In drag, you will get cut down if you’re not good enough’
There’s no doubt that drag is gaining popularity – with shows such as Queen Of The Universe and RuPaul’s Drag Race bringing it to TV audiences across the world.
Viola is one of the stars of season two. Pic: Joel Palmer/Paramount+
“I think because it’s more and more accessible in people’s everyday now, people are having to look at it and actually give it credit because it is an art form and it’s never going away,” says Mel. “So we might as well celebrate and all join in.
“It’s a tough world out there, just like any part of the entertainment world is, but particularly drag because you will get cut down if you’re not good enough or you have to learn the hard way.
“Being part of this show, I get to see it first and foremost right there in front of me, and I get to see stuff that goes wrong and how they can kind of turn it around and just make it part of the routine – you’ve got nails pinging off, you’ve got wigs being flung everywhere. It’s really dramatic.”
While giving her feedback, Mel doesn’t soften any blows. At one point, another member of the panel tells her to “stop being scary, Scary!”, in reference to her Spice Girls nickname.
Scary, Posh, Baby, Ginger and Sporty were the nicknames dished out to Mel and her bandmates when they first rose to fame in the 1990s. They instantly stuck after being dished out by a “teenybopper magazine” journalist. “It wasn’t a thing that we necessarily chose, but it was like, I don’t mind my name… well, let’s just roll with it then,” she says. “And it’s one of those things that just made sense so why even try and correct it?”
But she says that perhaps it suited her because she isn’t afraid to say what she thinks.
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“I think maybe my northernish attitude can make it feel like I’m scary, but I’m just what you see is what you get. And I’m honest, which is why I like being on this panel because, you know, I’ve done these other shows before and some of the other judges have like a writer writing their stuff or they like to watch rehearsals.
“I’m not that person – I like to be in the moment and critique and comment on what I see right there in that moment, so I don’t always know what I’m going to say, but I know it comes from a good place and I’m always going to be honest.”
Mel might be direct, but some of the drag acts are happy to push back on what she says – something she has mixed feelings about.
“I do respect it, but then also you’ve got to think of why we’re on the panel in the first place – it’s to give our critique. And I’ve got so much experience from performing and doing Broadway and touring the world with the Spice Girls that I’m like, ‘No, I think I know a little bit more than you, otherwise you’d be sitting here’.”
Queen Of The Universe premieres on Paramount + in the UK on Saturday 3 June
A man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the ship collision in the North Sea.
Humberside Police said the 59-year-old is in custody to allow enquiries to take place, and officers are talking to those involved to find out what happened.
The force added investigators have started a criminal probe into the cause of the collision between the Stena Immaculate and Solong off the coast of East Yorkshire on Monday, and are working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Ernst Russ, the owner of Solong, later confirmed the man detained was the ship’s captain. The shipping firm called him “the master of the ship” – which is understood to be the same as a captain.
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Sky News above North Sea ship collision
One person remains missing and is presumed dead after emergency services stopped their search on Monday evening.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is also involved in early work to determine what caused the two vessels to collide.
Read more: What we know about the collision
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Map shows moment of collision in North Sea
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson, said: “Humberside Police have taken primacy for the investigation of any potential criminal offences which arise from the collision between the two vessels.
“Extensive work has already been carried out, and we are working closely with our partners to understand what happened, and to provide support to all of those affected.
“Following enquiries undertaken by my team, we have arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision, this follows the conclusion of search operations by HM Coastguard for the missing crew member of the SOLONG.”
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North Sea: Sailor presumed dead
He added: “Our thoughts are with the family of the missing crew member, and I have appointed family liaison officers to make contact and provide support to the family.
“The man arrested remains in custody at this time whilst enquiries are under way, and we continue speaking with all those involved to establish the full circumstances of the incident.”
Ernst Russ added in a later statement that it could confirm the master of the Solong “has been detained by Humberside Police in the UK”.
“The master and our entire team are actively assisting with the investigations,” the shipping firm said.
“Out of respect for the investigation and all involved we will not comment further at this time.”
Read more:
Oil tanker collision could have lethal ecological impact
Sky News above North Sea ship collision
HM Coastguard said in an update that the Solong is still alight
US tanker Stena Immaculate was anchored off the coast of East Yorkshire when the Solong crashed into it at around 9.45am on Monday.
Some 36 people were brought safely to the shore, but one person was reported missing from the cargo ship.
At least one tank of Jet-A1 fuel onboard the Stena Immaculate was ruptured, its operator said
At around 11.20pm, the Solong started to drift southwards away from the crash site. HM Coastguard said in an update earlier on Tuesday that the ship is still alight.
Tugboats are in the vicinity to ensure it remains away from the coast
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the container ship is expected to stay afloat, after a minister told parliament that it could sink earlier in the day.
She said she met with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s chief executive Virginia McVea, and was “pleased to have been informed that early indications suggest that both vessels are now expected to stay afloat”.
Ernst Russ also denied reports the vessel was carrying sodium cyanide and said: “There are four empty containers that have previously contained the hazardous chemical.
“These containers will continue to be monitored.”
Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of Jet-A1 fuel in 16 tanks, at least one of which was ruptured, its operator also said.
UK
Triple killer Kyle Clifford will serve whole-life sentence for murdering BBC commentator’s family
Triple killer Kyle Clifford has been handed a whole-life sentence for murdering his ex-girlfriend, her mother and her sister.
Warning: This article contains distressing details.
The sentence imposed by Mr Justice Bennathan means he will never be released.
The former soldier, 26, admitted murdering BBC racing commentator John Hunt’s wife Carol Hunt, 61, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
He also pleaded guilty to false imprisonment of his former partner Louise, as well as possession of the crossbow used to kill her and her sister, and the 10-inch butcher’s knife he stabbed their mother to death with.
Louise Hunt
Pic: Facebook
Clifford denied raping Louise, who had broken up with him 13 days before the four-hour attack in the Hunt family home on 9 July last year.
But he was found guilty by a jury last week after a trial at Cambridge Crown Court, which he refused to attend, prompting police and prosecutors to brand him a “coward”.
The judge paid tribute “to the astonishing dignity and courage” of the victims’ family, including John Hunt and his surviving daughter Amy, who hugged after the sentence.
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Footage shows Clifford fleeing the Hunt family home
They, along with Hannah’s partner Alex Klein, had read emotional victim impact statements in court as Mr Hunt said hell would roll out the “red carpet” for him.
He said the evidence showed Clifford “to be a jealous man, soaked in self-pity – a man who holds women in utter contempt”.
The court heard Clifford, from Enfield, north London, began planning the murders after Louise ended their 18-month relationship in a message on 26 June.
Carol Hunt pictured with her husband John Hunt.
Pic: Facebook
He tricked his way inside before stabbing her mother to death in what prosecutors said was a “brutal knife attack”, then lay in wait for an hour for Louise to enter the house.
Clifford held her for more than two hours, as he restrained her with duct tape and raped her, then shot her through the chest with a crossbow moments before her sister Hannah got home and was also killed.
He fled the scene and shot himself with the weapon as armed police descended and is now paralysed from the chest down.
The recovered crossbow.
Pic: Hertfordshire Police
The 10-inch butcher’s knife Clifford used was never found but police released an image of the packaging.
Pic: PA
The judge told Clifford, who didn’t attend his sentencing hearing, he went to the Hunt family home to launch “a murderous attack” on his ex-girlfriend’s family.
“You first killed her mother Carol, who even on that day showed you nothing but kindness in the moments before you attacked her,” he said.
“You raped and killed Louise who had been as gentle as she could in ending her relationship with you, after your arrogance and anger proved too much for her to stand.
“Then you murdered Hannah Hunt, who had done nothing to harm you save supporting her little sister.”
The jury wasn’t told Clifford had searched for Andrew Tate’s podcast less than 24 hours before the murders.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said “it is no coincidence” he turned to the “poster boy for misogynists – a poster boy for those who view women as possession to be controlled” the night before committing such “acts of violence against women”.
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