Let's face it, Spice Girls are huge. In fact, they're huger than huge - they're blimmin' gargantuan! L&K braves the fantastic feisty five at Live & Kicking and asks if their plan is to take over the whole world!
It's 8.00am backstage at Live & Kicking. The coffee bar outeside Studio 7 is packed with autograph hunters (mainly blokes), ready to pounce on whichever Spice should happen to walk through the swinging glass doors first. And the main Television Centre gates are already swamped by a barrage of teenage girls chanting Wannabe. A year ago, none of us had even heard of the Spice Girls, but since then they've stormed their way to the top of the charts all the way around the world, and now they're bringing Wood Lane, home to Live & Kicking, to a complete and utter standstill!
Inside the studio, things are a little calmer. Emma, Geri, Victoria and Mels B and C are standing in the wings, having their finishing touches put to their hair and make-up, before being positioned on the stage. Four pre-show runs through Mama later, they make a beeline for us and, after hugs and kisses, join us for a birrova power-packed natter...
So are Spice gunning for total world domination?
Geri: Nah, we're more about spreading the message that music can unite the world, than domination.
Mel B: Like, hopefully we can spread a positive vibe of energy, the Spice Girls vibe. I'm not really sure if we want domination though because I don't like to dominate or dictate to anyone.
So, how will you know when you've spread your word and your job's done?
Mel B: I can't ever really see our job being done. I don't think things can ever come to a stop for us, because, for example, our attitudes and opinions may change a little bit, so we'd want to say different things. Our message might change, but we can still be positive. I just hope we can keep going... touch wood!
Spice are superstitious then?
Mel C: I am. I always salute magpies. I probably look stupid doing it, but if you see one on it's own, it's meant to be bad luck isn't it? I do walk under ladders though. That doesn't bother me at all.
What's it like being known all over the globe?
Emma: It's hard to say, because there must be some people who don't know who the Spice Girls are. When I do think about it though, it's really scary and a bit weird.
Have you ever learnt how to say 'Girl Power!' in any other languages?
Mel B: I can't, but the other Melanie can. It's what her new tattoo says.
Mel C: I had it done at a place called Tattoo Mania in Los Angeles. It's cool.
At this point in the proceedings, Mel C discovers the inflatable globe we've brought along for our shoot. She has a bit of a kick about with Mel B, and pretends to score a goal, nearly putting her foot through the backdrop in the process. "Goooooaaaal!" she cheers as Victoria gets ready in front of the camera.
"Make sure you get my new shoes in. They're hand-made you know," she smiles, pointing to some unfeasibly tottersome high-heeled sandals, while her hair-stylist gives her 'do a bit of a fluff. Emma sits quietly in the corner pouring over a crisp Live & Kicking, while Geris on about, erm... aliens?!
Would you fancy having a planet or star named after you?
Geri: Oh yeah! There could be 'Planet Ginger' and 'Planet Baby' (Emma looks up and smiles). I tell you what though, there are probably loads of undiscovered planets out there. We'd be very arrogant to think we're alone. There could be a parallel universe. It's all a bit spooky.
If you met an alien then, what would you do?
Geri:(Laughs) Say, 'I come in peace'. Then they'd probably zap me anyway!
If the alien said, 'Take me to your leader', who would you take them to?
Geri: I'd bring 'em to my four mates, for a bit of a chat.
You don't think you lot would scare any aliens off?
Geri:(Laughs) Of course not. We'd welcome them into our homes!
All of a sudden, Emma pipes up. She's spotted Paul Nicholl's comment about her being his favourite Spice Girl. She sports a huge grin for a few seconds, before reading on to discover that she's actually his favourite Spice Girl... in a Comic Relief Red Nose! Oh well! Mel C's finished her kickabout and plops herself down next to Emma, laughing about the Paul Nicholls story. We continue...
If you really did have power to change the world, what would you blitz first?
Mel C: I'd wanna stop all of the things most people hate - racism, war - the usual stuff. But I can't really see that ever happening. You're always gonna have evil people on this earth.
So, if you were stood between two people about to have a fight, how would you stop them?
Mel C:(Joking) I'd punch them! I'd stand smack bang in the middle of them and fling my arms out. Wham! That'd sort them out!
Mel B's ready for our photographer now. "I suppose I should pull some scary places?" she laughs, as she is high kicks in her see-through purple catsuit. (The catsuit, we discover, was originally intended for Geri, but Ginger says it suits Mel better).
Where are Spice off to next then?
Mel B: Korea, Bali and Taiwan. Australia's the one place that we still want to go though. we start our world tour next February, which is a bit exciting, and hopefully Australia will be on the list.
Would you like to be the first band to perform on the moon?
Mel B: I'd perform anywhere, so yeah, it sounds like a great idea. I think I'd be a bit scared, but knowing be and my curiosity, I'd have to try it out! (Suddenly distracted) You smell really nice! Really fresh.
Eh?
Mel B: Come here!
Mel B flings her arms round L&K's Ed, Jeremy, who turns a bright shade of red, and goes for a closer sniff before rubbing her wrists over his neck in the hope that some of his aftershave will rub off on her! In a fit of giggles, she and the girls head back up to the TV studio, Geri slapping Mel B's bum along the way. What a day!
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