Catch a Fire

Catch a Fire

It's all here: the council estate childhood, the formation of the Spice Girls, the early months being groomed for stardom, the subsequent global domination, Geri's departure, the marriage - and acrimonious divorce - to Jimmy Gulzar, the birth of Phoenix Chi, the solo career and the leap into TV presenting. Not bad for the rebellious, mixed-up girl from Leeds who is still only in her mid-20s. Born to a working-class mixed-race family from Leeds (her mother took extra work cleaning toilets to pay for her dancing lessons), Melanie B grew up feeling different from her schoolfriends. Her hyperactive energy was channelled into drama school, and in 1994 the Spice Girls were formed. The rest is history.