Spice Girls icon Melanie Chisholm has revealed she remains optimistic about a potential reunion tour, as she appeared on ITV's This Morning to discuss her latest solo album, Sweat. The 52-year-old singer, famously known as Sporty Spice, shared her aspirations to see the iconic 90s girl group headline Glastonbury and perform live together again.
Melanie Chisholm on This Morning
During her interview with hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, Melanie opened up about the creative process behind her new record and her recent on-stage collaboration with former bandmate Mel B. She expressed a strong desire for the five original members—Mel B, Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, and herself—to reunite for live performances while they still can.
“I think we need to do some more live stuff, while we still can. There’s so many opportunities, we could do Glastonbury, we could do the Sphere [in Las Vegas], there’s lots of things I’d like to do and I’m working on them,” Melanie stated.
Hologram Reunion Rumours
The interview comes amid speculation that the Spice Girls might reunite virtually through holographic avatars, similar to the ABBA Voyage show in East London. Victoria Beckham commented on the idea on SiriusXM radio, saying, “I think it would be a great idea. The principle of it would be great. We were talking about it at dinner, but we’ll see.”
Addressing the hologram rumours, Melanie remarked, “That would be an amazing thing for us to do, for that legacy to be able to live on, but personally, I want to see us on stage together.”
New Solo Album and World Tour
Melanie’s ninth studio album, Sweat, was released this week, marking her return to the music scene after a six-year hiatus. She announced a world tour—her first in over two decades—saying, “I love performing, anyone who knows me knows that. It just doesn’t stop and I’m having the time of my life.”
Last week, she reunited with Mel B on stage to perform Spice Up Your Life, describing the experience as “magical.” She added, “It was the only time we performed together outside of the Spice Girls. It was amazing. It was a big surprise.”
Embracing Sporty Spice Image
In the music video for Sweat, Melanie leans into her Sporty Spice persona, showcasing her fitness with weightlifting and spin bike scenes. She admitted, “I’ve had so much fun with this album as I’ve really leaned into that sporty side of myself. I’ve brought it all together, and it’s worked beautifully.”
Reflecting on her early solo career, she said, “With my first solo album way back in 1999, it was the first thing I did without the Spice Girls, and I was really frustrated as I wanted people to see there was more to me than Sporty Spice. But as time has gone on, I’ve realised, I am that person, and when I’m on stage it just comes out.”
Fitness and Body Positivity
Melanie has been candid about her fitness journey, revealing a rigorous routine of three weightlifting sessions per week, spin classes, and weekly runs. She admitted that her busy lifestyle doesn’t hinder her workouts, as she brings resistance bands and a skipping rope on tour.
Despite past struggles with body image and disordered eating during her Spice Girls days, she now feels empowered by her muscular physique. “I always wanted to be strong,” she said. “I’m finally proud of my body.”
Her boyfriend, model Chris Dingwall, praised her on Instagram, calling her “the hardest working, most talented human I know” and declaring her new album “b****y brilliant.”
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.
