To describe Mel B as scary might be a touch predictable, but you wouldn't want to test the former Spice Girl's patience in an enclosed space.
We're at her home in Los Angeles where Mel is getting ready to be interviewed. It's more than 90 degrees outside, hair and makeup-people are buzzing around her, as are a publicist, an assistant and her husband, who doesn't help the chaos by insisting Mel has damaged their car. 'You scratched it,' he says. 'Are you talking to me?' she replies. "You scratched the car.' 'Oh, whatever,' she harrumphs. 'He does my head in,' says Mel, 'but I love him to bits.'
Seven years of living in LA have done nothing to dilute 35-year-old Melanie Brown's Leeds accent. She came for a holiday, decided to stay, got hitched to Stephen Belafonte three years ago and has been here ever since. It's clear they have a feisty relationship, which makes Mel's latest venture a risky move.
The reality show Mel B: It's A Scary World starts in the UK next week. Are we ready for the Spicy equivalent of The Osbournes, as the cameras follow her and Stephen, her 11-year-old daughter Phoenix (by first husband Jimmy Gulzar) and three-year-old daughter Angel (by actor Eddie Murphy)? There's certainly the odd tiff on screen.
'You're a big, needy, bald baby,' Mel tells Stephen who complains about their lack of sex. It's like taking my food and water away from me,' he counters - she later gives him a foot massage as a peace offering. Me and my husband can scream at each other and two seconds later all is good,' Mel explains. 'We have therapy once a week, so I don't think there's going to be any breaking up.'
A few weeks ago, Stephen apparently phoned a journalist to say the couple were on the verge of divorce, although he now insists: 'No, I was talking about an assistant and there was a mix-up, that's all.'
They claim their union is solid enough to plan on having a child next year. And the divorce rumour coincided with the launch of the show in the U.S., which can't have harmed viewing figures.
Nor, of course, can the anticipation that Mel's former bandmates might make an appearance. After all, the five are working together on a Spice Girls musical, Viva forever.
'Last year we met Judy Craymer [who created the film and stage versions of Mamma Mia!] and Jennifer Saunders was mentioned as a writer and we loved her track record, so we hired them both.I don't know yet if it's going to be based on our real stories or a fabricated story. We've talked about 20,000 different storylines, but it's down to five and we'll all have to agree. There are no plans for a movie yet, but that would be great.'
Years of touring together have helped the girls forge a lasting bond. 'I saw Mel C and Emma a couple of months ago,' says Mel. 'But Victoria travels a lot and so do I, so it's a bit harder.'
We meet just after David Beckham filed a lawsuit against prostitute Irma Nici for claiming they slept together - has Mel been in touch with Victoria to offer her support?
'We are always in touch with each other,' she says, giving me a look that could freeze butter.
'We're supportive of each other because we've known each other a long time. When we were younger, it was five girls who had our periods together, so we screamed at each other, but we all made up afterwards.'
Mel C once said the relationship between Geri and Mel B was very fiery, with blazing rows. 'Me and Mel C got into a few fights back in the day, too,' Mel laughs. 'But if we had a problem with each other, we'd discuss it and get on with it.'
Mel's ex, Jimmy Gulzar, once intimated the relationship between Mel and Geri may have gone further than just friendship, saying: 'Geri tried to put me down because she knew Mel liked me. I'm not saying any more - just that they were very close with each other.'
Did she and Geri have an affair? 'I've had affairs with all the Spice Girls as far as I'm concerned - they're the loves of my life.'
I've been told that any mention of Eddie Murphy is strictly forbidden. Mel had been dating the Beverly Hills Cop star four years ago when Murphy denied he was the father of her daughter Angel until a DNA test proved otherwise.
On the show Mel says: 'I was hanging my head in shame because people were asking: "Is that the father or isn't it?" People called me a gold digger, saying that I got pregnant on purpose. It was horrible.'
Murphy now sees Angel, who is the image of him, regularly, although she calls Stephen Daddy. Mel doesn't rule out another Spice Girls tour. 'The first time we did it, it was sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll and the last time it was all nappies and dummies. But I got to travel the world with my four best friends. What could be any better than that?'
Mel B: It's A Scary World starts on Monday at 9pm on The Style Network (Sky 253).
Source : Daily Mail
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