Emma Bunton interview: Spice Girls reunion ‘just about scheduling’

In this chat with Jon Hornbuckle, eternal Baby Spice Emma Bunton opens up about the constant Spice Girls reunion rumours, THOSE Spice leaks, the Ab Fab film and her latest role, as an ambassador for Specsavers. Read on…So, we are here for Specsavers. Name a guy and girl you think are ‘Spexy’ – sexy in specs…

Johnny Depp has to be one of the top because, well he’s Jonny Depp. He’s got the tinted glasses going on and it’s just part of him now and actually that’s what this campaign for me is mainly about. It’s about loving your glasses and them becoming a part of you and actually I’ve really noticed that because I’ve only worn glasses in the last 2 years but I’m literally lost without them. Sometimes because obviously I can’t see if I haven’t got them on, but other times just because they’re such good fashion accessories.

Emma’s got specs appeal with BFF of 20-odd years, Sporty Spice Melanie C. 

Which female would you go for?
Mel C! I’ve gotta stick up for my own.

I was going to say Anastacia or Deidre Barlow…
YES! That would be an amazing girlband… I’m going for my Mel C. I was with her the other day and we both had our glasses on so we were doing it together.

Also, Girls Aloud did their range of eyelashes. What if the Spice Girls did glasses? Think of the potential with the designs!
Yes! We’re on it. Scary could have leopard print and I’d like a bit of like Dame Edna. A bit of fun, glam and pink & white.

 

So, wedding talk…. do you get bored of people asking when you and Jade will marry?
I don’t get bored of it at all but what is really bad is that the only answer I have for you is that Jade and I are both Aquarius and we kind of live in our own little world. We’ve just never got around to it. It’s been a long time though! Our friends are always asking and saying ‘well let’s just have a big party then’ but we are just so unorganized, yeah we are very unorganized but we have our children and it’s something to look forward to. We met and we are still going through exciting times, we’ve had our children and we still could have that exciting wedding one day.

With Geri on her wedding day earlier this month. 

Geri’s wedding is approaching (we spoke to Emma ahead of Geri’s May 15 ceremony), will we have the Spice Bridesmaids?
You’ll have to ask Geri about her wedding…

When you do all get together, can you relax because I know there’s always paparazzi waiting to take snaps?
No, I think the thing is y’know, obviously on the inside when we are together we are friends and we talk about normal things and it’s very relaxed when we are all together. It happened not long ago, not that anyone else knew about it and it’s lovely that we do that. I was with Geri & Mel B last week and we hang out, we’re just good friends.

What is the agenda when you’re together?
It’s just catch-ups and babies and children.

We spotted you at the Brits with a Victoria Beckham clutch bag – are you ever tempted to go to her next New York fashion show and mingle with Anna Wintour?
Absolutely, yeah! I mean, I love her stuff. For me I’ve been lucky enough to wear Victoria’s stuff and she just knows how to make a woman feel very sexy.

I really want to ask about the leaked Spice Girls songs, do you know about this?
I have heard about that, yes, but obviously I can’t really talk about those.

Were you the type of act that pretty much just recorded the songs that went on the album or are there quite a few tracks hiding in vaults somewhere?
Well actually, no. There’s lots. Do you know what, we recorded lots and lots and lots of songs and had fun doing it.

Regards the future of the group, next year is the anniversary. What do you think might happen?
The thing is, because we all have our own careers now and we have families and children and it’s just making the timing right for all of us. It’s not that one of us doesn’t want to, it’s just about getting 5 schedules together and that’s all it is. We love each other and we love performing together and it’s like I was saying, I’m sure you’re not doing exactly the same as you were doing when you were 18. We are all moving down with different things.

Would it be a thing where you could do some bits as a 3 piece, then a 4 or a 5 then a 3 again?
Who knows!

Will there be any more music?
It’s something that I would love to do. Music is something that is a passion of mine and of course, again though it’s just when the timing is right.

What about solo? Because you had the whole 60’s vibe before Amy Winehouse and Adele came on the scene… Did they get it from you?
See! I know, I’m so proud of that album (Free Me). I’ve loved all of them but as you said that whole 60’s vibe is definitely a part of me. It’s the way I write, it’s the things I listen to. There will always be a hint of the 60s in my music.

There’s an Ab Fab movie coming, will you be reprising your role from the show for that?
I do talk to Jennifer quite a bit, yes. There’s always talks and it’s exciting isn’t it.

You obviously can’t confirm it but would you be up for it?
Yes absolutely, of course. I’ve been in a few of the episodes now and it’s just amazing to be a part of it. I love Jennifer to bits and Joanna Lumley is just a legend so it’s great to work with them and yeah.

Dancing on Ice is no more but we have seen you on X Factor twice now, has there ever been talk of you doing it full-time? Would you?
I’ve loved doing the part with Mel. It’s the tough part because when you’re spending time with Melanie and when you’re spending time with Dannii, there’s a lot of pressure on them and it is hard so you’re kind of making someone’s dreams or not and that’s the scary part. It was wonderful to be out there with Mel, we had a lot of fun and there were some amazing people in her group so it was great to be a part of it.

There’s talk every year about who will or won’t be on the panel. I’d love to see all five Spice Girls doing it one year. Some nice friendly rivalry…
It would be a bit feisty like with Mel.

Maybe throw in Simon as well?
I think we should just stick with the girls. It works and it’s always worked that way.

What is left to achieve?
I’d love to do music in some capacity, what that is I’m not sure but I’d love to do more. Silly thing would be that I would love to cook, I’m awful. So that would be good and I’d like to travel a bit more. I’ve travelled loads but I’d love to take my boys and it’s usually been hotels, gigs, hotels and then back home. There was always an itinerary.
I think TV is something that is always in the pipeline, I’d love to do a bit more telly. At the moment with the breakfast radio show, that’s your whole morning taken up and it’s madness but it’s been the best fun. We’ve just had so much fun, Jamie is incredible and I’ve learned so much on the other end of music.

The industry is very different now to when you last released anything though…
It’s very different! I miss going out and buying my single on a Monday morning. It has changed and I’ve learnt a lot over the past couple of years on the radio. Jamie is great because I’ve known him for so many years as well.

Victoria tweeted last year about her Mum finding some Spice Girls pizza from 20 years ago in the freezer. Do you have any merchandise stashed away?
I’ve got lots, I’ve got the wallpaper, the dolls, the crisps. I’m sure I’ve got it all.

There’s a Spiceworld: The Movie singalong happening at a cinema near me and apparently everyone goes in fancy dress, including the blokes…
Yes, I heard that as well. Fabulous! I have seen a few that have been on the interesting side but I love it. I love the fact that people are still having lots of fun with it and going out and having a ball with it. I’d say big shoes, little pink dress and pigtails. I’m quite easy to do.

WORDS BY JON HORNBUCKLE