Emma Spices Up For Sport Relief

In honour of Sport Relief, we asked four female celebs to talk balls. And bicycles, and running. We get the lowdown on their fitness fixes, being mad about marathons and other sporting passions. Oh, and how they’re doing their bit for Sport Relief ...

Emma, 34, says:

I love tennis but I’m really bad at it! Who cares? I really enjoy playing doubles with my mum, in the summer we plan to play a lot. My partner Jade (Jones) happens to be good at every sport, so I’m sure he’d beat me.

I’m a green belt in karate. I loved doing it before I met the other (Spice) girls and when things got going for us I didn’t have time to carry on training. I’ve learned the basics, though thankfully I’ve never had to use them. I used to do competitions and everything, which were great fun.

Jade and I go and watch our son Beau play football on a Sunday. Well, football in the loosest sense, given he is only two-and-a-half. So many kids are obsessed with their Xbox and don’t have any sport in their life.

At school my main memory is wanting to play football, but not being allowed as I’m a girl. So I used to join in anyway. Girl Power was coming through even then! I loved netball too, but I wasn’t good enough to make the team.

I really got into the Winter Olympics this year – I surprised myself. I’ve always loved ice dancing but I was even watching the skiing. The aerial twists and somersaults they do are incredible.

If I could be guaranteed safety, I’d love to have a go at speed-skating. Mainly because Jade did it for reality show, The Games and it looks scary and fast. I like a little bit of danger every now and again.

Dancing is my main activity for keeping fit. I’ve danced since I was young, though nothing like when I did Strictly Come Dancing. That was very intense. I think I used every single muscle in my body. And dancing really changes your body shape too. Also I’m still thrilled I know how to do the Argentine Tango and the Foxtrot. If I can’t dance, I’ll go to the gym and do as much cardio as possible. Once you’re in your 30s it gets harder. Before then, I could work out and eat healthily and see the difference immediately. Now it’s a very different story.

See Emma's Sport Relief documentary on Friday, BBC1, from 7pm