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October 1-6 1999 News/October 10-16 1999 News
October 24, 1999
Two-Timey Spice
Baby Spice Emma Bunton is two-timing England star Rio Ferdinand.
The Sunday People can reveal that the innocent-looking Spice Girl, 23, is enjoying secret dates with The Lakes TV hunk John Simm behind the footballer's back.
A pal said last night: "Emma is fond of Rio but John is now way ahead in her league."
EMMA SPICES UP LOVE LIFE BY SEEING RIO AND JOHN
CHEATING Baby Spice Emma Bunton has enjoyed a series of secret dates with hunky TV star John Simm, the Sunday People can reveal.
The saucy singer obviously believes two is more fun as she keeps John, 29, and football star Rio Ferdinand on the go at the same time.
One source close to Emma said last night: "She still holds plenty of feelings for Rio - but John is now way ahead at the top of her league."
Emma, 23, first started playing away with The Lakes star John after they met up at her debut solo concert at London's trendy Jazz Cafe earlier this month.
Rio, 20, had been unable to go because he was playing for West Ham the following night.
Emma and John enjoyed a few drinks with pals before going back to his home in nearby Crouch End in the early hours. The source revealed: "Emma had a brilliant time with John when she finished her gig.
"She was desperate to enjoy herself after coming off stage, and without Rio around she was looking for some company.
Millionaire
"John provided the perfect tonic.
"He rounded off |a top night as far as Emma was concerned."
Speaking exclusively to the Sunday People, Emma last night admitted she had been seeing John.
Emma said: "We have been out on a couple of occasions."
But the millionaire singer insisted she and John were still "just good friends".
News of Emma's secret away fixtures will come as a devastating blow to Rio who is said to have fallen head over heels in love with the singer.
The pair met at London's Emporium nightclub in August - and have enjoyed a number of high-profile nights out together.
Just last month they were at the MOBO music awards at the Royal Albert Hall.
One friend of the England defender said last night: "Rio is absolutely besotted by Emma.
"All the lads at West Ham keep taking the mickey because he always seems to be calling her up on his mobile phone.
"They have been seeing each other at least once a week since they met in the summer.
"If Emma's been seeing someone else behind his back, Rio will be absolutely devastated."
Unfortunately for Rio, the Sunday People has learned that Emma and John have seen each other on more than one occasion.
The pair first bumped into one another at a recording studio last month. Emma was rehearsing her new single What I Am with pop band Tin Tin Out while the actor was booked into the next room with his own group Magic Alex.
A studio source said: "John and Emma seemed to hit it off straight away. You could tell immediately that it was more than just a professional conversation. The sexual chemistry was pretty obvious.
"It's no surprise to learn that the pair of them have been seeing each other since."
On another date earlier this month, Emma introduced John to her mum Pauline as they joined a group of pals at a pub in Camden.
A friend said: "Pauline liked what she saw in John. She would quite like it if Emma found a decent guy to settle down with.
"John was really polite and seemed to be really, really keen on Emma."
Loving
Just last week, John turned up at a TV studio with a huge bunch of flowers for Emma.
The Spice Girls source said: "Emma has told us that she likes John because he's different to any other guy she has been out with.
"He's quite cocky, and loves to party - but so far he has been really kind and loving towards Emma whenever they've been together." Cheshire-born John shot to fame playing Danny Kavanagh in controversial BBC1 drama The Lakes.
He quit the show last year after landing a lead role in this summer's hit drugs movie Human Traffic.
Emma's official spokeswoman last night attempted to play down the singer's two-timing antics.
She said: "Emma and John have become good friends and did go out together after the Jazz Cafe gig.
"As far as Rio Ferdinand goes, it's the same story really. The pair of them have been out on dates but again they are just good friends."
And another source close to the singer said: "The problem with a lot of guys that Emma meets is that she thinks they only want to know her because of who she is.
"She wants to take things one step at a time with John. But she doesn't want to upset Rio either."
October 23, 1999
Posh Wins Out
Posh Spice Victoria Beckham has topped a magazine poll asking men to pick their favourite women based on character.
Beckham, who along with her fellow Spice Girls regularly tops polls of most fanciable females, beat seven other well-known women in the experiment.
Men's lifestyle magazine ZM asked readers to chose from the descriptions of each woman's character, only disclosing who the contenders were after the votes were counted.
The Spice Girl was called a family-orientated football lover who dresses fashionably, is house-proud and an bit moody.
The wife of Manchester United footballer David Beckham attracted 44% of readers' votes - twice as much as her nearest rival, TV star and Rear of the Year, Denise Van Outen.
Emma May Have A Stalker
Emma Bunton's mother is worried that her daughter may be stalked or murdered in the same way that TV presenter Jill Dando was, writes James Tapper.
But Pauline Davit's determination that Spice Girl Emma Bunton will be safe at their house in South Mimms suffered a setback, as she lost the fight to keep five globe lights at the front of the house.
A planning inspector dismissed Ms Davitt's appeal against Hertsmere Council's order that the lights be taken down. The inspector, Dennis Bradley, said that the one foot diameter white globe lights, which are ten feet above the ground, were an intrusive feature on the street scene.
But all is not lost for Ms Davitt, she is discussing with the council other forms of lighting, a spokeswoman said.
She is in contact with the Council,she said. The lights are only for security. She's worried about Emma because of all the hassle with Jill Dando. They are meeting again to have new lights put in.
Ms Davitt has until February to comply with the order, a spokeswoman for the council said. She added that a meeting to discuss alternative lighting would probably take place this month.
Merry Christmas..But They're Gonna Miss This One This year
Spice Girl Emma Bunton says the band is too busy to release a Christmas single this year, halting the girls' run of seasonal chart-toppers.
The group - which has had the festive number one for the past three years - had kept fans guessing, although Mel C had sown the seeds of doubt.
But Emma, asked about any release, said: "I don't think there's going to be I'm afraid, not this year."
The band's strong track record at Christmas led to bookmaker William Hill ranking the band 6-4 favourites to clinch the prized position this year.
The three consecutive seasonal number ones are 2 Become 1, Too Much, and Goodbye.
Last year the Spice Girls had huge sales to narrowly beat the South Park spin-off single Chocolate Salty Balls by Chef.
Bunton said: "We're really upset about it as well. We'd have loved to have brought something out, but we're so busy with the album and we've got our gigs at Christmas. We just wouldn't be able to fit it all in."
She follows in the footsteps of her bandmates on November 1 by releasing a single outside the band.
It is a cover of Edie Brickell's What I Am, recorded with Tin Tin Out.
Lighten Up Baby
Posh and Becks' run-in with council planners over building an enormous wall around their property, bad news is brought to Mrs Beckham's bandmate Emma Bunton.
Baby Spice has been having a long-running battle with Hertsmere council over globe lights installed without permission outside her home in South Mimms, Herts.
Emma and her mum, who lives in the house, have had an appeal refused and Ems now has until February to remove the lights.
Confusion reigns as to whether Posh is embarking on a solo career. Pal Mel C tells me: "Vic's started to write some solo stuff".
However Victoria's PR undermined Mel C's claims: "She's in the studio, but it's not necessarily for solo stuff. She's writing tracks, but there's no solo single or tour planned."
Whatever that means.
Mel C's Accent Problems
Mel C's new-found friendship with American punk groups is posing problems - they can't understand a word she's saying.
The part-time Spice Girl has been hanging out with the likes of Offspring, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and New York's Sick Of It All since announcing her love of all things Stateside and punk.
But Sick Of It All guitarist Pete Koller, who spent time with Mel at the Reading Festival, England, says, "I don't mean to be rude but her accent was so strong that I didn't know what the f**k she said to me."
Mel G's Wedding According To Her Dad
Mel G's dad has spoken for the first time about his Spice daughter's marriage.
He said none of his family could explain her raunchy friendship with dance music star Goldie - who she was seen licking and kissing last week over a meal for two in London's trendy Ivy restaurant.
Even Mel's own husband dancer Jimmy Gulzar, 31, is in the dark. Her dad Martin Brown said: "We don't know if Mel and Goldie are more than just friends. And I don't think Jimmy knows."
Mel, 24, has been a regular on the party scene with Goldie recently, sparking fears for her 13-month-old marriage. Her dad said: "Jimmy was babysitting when Mel was out with Goldie. Mel likes a night on the town - and Jimmy doesn't mind supporting her by babysitting."
Last night her mum Andrea said Mel had flown to America last weekend with daughter Phoenix Chi to work.
Jimmy is at their posh home in Little Marlow, Bucks. Cracks in their marriage surfaced after five months and she called in divorce lawyers.
A court hearing was called off at the last minute when they patched it up. They arranged marriage counselling and Dutch dancer Jimmy saw a shrink.
Refusal Spice
Victoria Adams snubbed husband David Beckham's family yesterday by staying away from his sister's wedding.
Last night, Victoria Beckham's absence was blamed on a growing rift between the two families. A friend said: "They are so different. It's never been the easiest of relationships. This is a sign of increasing tension." David, 24, visited his wife's family before leaving alone for sister Lynne's wedding to Colin Every.
And the Manchester United star refused to answer cries from fans of "Where's Posh?" outside the register office at Hornchurch, Essex.
One spokesperson for Victoria, 25, said she had been up all night with baby Brooklyn.
But another said she was "disappointed" she could not attend because she was recording in Sheffield.
Fleshing Out An Addiction
MELANIE Chisholm likes tattoos. She has six strategically placed over her famous body and is planning her seventh.
"I think I'm going to get one on my leg," she says.
Her latest acquisition, joining Celtic designs on each arm and one on her lower back, is a huge phoenix on her back.
"It took three hours," she says.
"It's an endurance thing. I think you need to earn your tattoos and you do after what you go through. It hurt."
Chisholm says sometimes she has an image in mind (like the word "angel" on her stomach to remind her of friends who have died) or she chooses from designs at her tatooist - also frequented by serial ink fans the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
"When I get one tattoo I start planning the next," she says.
"The one on my back is a phoenix rising from the ashes. I thought that might be enough, but then I was reading an article about ying and yang and how in Chinese mythology the phoenix represents the female energy, ying, and yang is the Chinese dragon.
"So I've got to have a dragon now."
Is it like an addiction? "Definitley. But I'd never go too far, never get one on my face or whatever."
What's the attraction?
"Visually, I've always liked them and it's kind of spiritual for me."
In her documentary, former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell is shown covering up her tattoo and saying: "I should have lsitened to my mother, she said tattoos make you look cheap and she was right".
"I don't think they look cheap," Chisholm says.
"I think Geri was actually having a bit of a dig at me then actually. Or maybe I'm just paranoid.
"I think they can look cheap. But trashy's in."
October 20, 1999
Rich As Can Be
THE Spice Girls continuing success story has made them the sixth highest-paid women in Britain this year.
Posh, Scary, Sporty and Baby Spice made £6.2m each, raking it in from CD royalties, merchandise and concert receipts.
Their earnings jumped from £5.4m and 11th place last year. But they still fall £11m short of top woman earner Hilary Cropper - at £17.4m - a 58-year-old mum-of-three and boss of a highly successful computer software company.
Former Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell was 10th in the earnings league table, despite quitting the band. She still made millions from Spice Girls royalties.
And next year she may well leapfrog her former band when solo royalties start rolling in.
The earnings survey reveals more and more women joining the big-money league in many walks of life.
Five years ago, there were just 14 women earning over £1m. Last year there were more than 50.
Harry Potter children's books author JK Rowling made £14.5m, putting her third - just three years ago she was an unemployed single parent.
Singer Des'ree - at No16 - made £3.2m after car giants Ford and US steel manufacturers bought the rights to her five-year-old hit You Gotta Be.
Kate Moss is Britain's best paid model at £3m and 18th, two places above the three sisters in Irish pop band The Corrs.
Highest-earning actress is Kristin Scott Thomas, with £2.2m, who was paid £1m to appear in the film The Horse Whisperer. Catherine Zeta Jones's £1.8m puts her at No32.
Other famous names making the top 50 were TV presenters Carol Vorderman, All Saints Shaznay Lewis and Sarah Ferguson who took home £1m for being a spokeswoman for Weightwatchers.
Emma Plans to Spice Up Your Life
From WENN correspondent Melanie Bromley in London Latest: London girl Emma Bunton is set to brighten up life for her favourite charity Art Start- and her own neighbours - when she switches on the Christmas lights in Edmonton on Nov 27 (99).
The Spice Girl, who is patron of Art Start, agreed to kick off the festivities after the charity got involved in her own area's Christmas celebrations.
Spokesperson for the organisation Debbie Dean says, "It's a great honour. Emma got involved in the charity when she saw the good work we were doing in her local area. "We asked her if she would switch on the Christmas lights for her local town neighbours and she happily agreed." Emma will be treated to a procession of locals in fancy-dress at the sparkling occasion
No X-mas Single Planned
On a recent "Live and Kicking" interview with Emma Bunton, she said that the new Spice Girls album will be released next year. She also said that the girls plan on going on another tour next year.
Also, Emma comfirmed that there will be no Christmas single this year because they are all to busy to promte it with all the stuff they all are doing lately.
More Mature Album Planned
Geri's gone and the two Mels have been dabbling in solo work; even so, the sparkling, candy-coated boat known as the Spice Girls is still on course to deliver a new album.
After delivering the one-two punch of 1996's "Spice" and 1997's "Spiceworld," the Girls did some heavy-duty time on the road before splintering and following different pursuits. Mel C. recorded a solo album ("Northern Star"), Emma hosted a TV show, and Mel G. and Victoria got hitched, leading many to wonder if the time would ever be right for the four to become one again.
The answer came this summer when the stars aligned and the Girls hit a London studio to begin work on their third album.
"We're really excited, actually, because it's been a long time since we've been in the studio," Melanie C. told MTV News while in New York recently to promote "Northern Star."
"With the world tour last year, and then 'Spiceworld' was like two years ago, I think, so we were a little bit nervous, but we knew once we got back together it would be fine."
This time out, the Spice camp is bolstered by Rodney Jerkins, whose golden touch has already been applied to Jennifer Lopez, Brandy, Monica, Whitney Houston, and others.
"We've got some great stuff with him, and also [Jimmy] Jam and [Terry] Lewis, so it's gonna be a good album," Mel C. said. "It's a bit more mature, but it's not a mature album, but you know, a little bit more mature than the first two. Still very poppy, quite R&B based... we feel vocally a lot stronger now after the world tour and being a four-piece." [RealVideo]
The album won't arrive any time in the near future (as no release date has been set), though Mel C. says the Girls are planning a few live shows for the holiday season. Chisholm said that she then plans an extensive U.S. tour for February before rejoining her Spice counterparts for a U.S. tour next summer.
Mel C Expresses Herself
From WENN correspondent Melanie Bromley in London Latest: Mel C is in a muddle - she can't decide which Madonna song to perform for a special tribute to her favourite superstar.
Mel C will be donning a Madonna-style outfit to sing in honour of the Material Girl for the one-off British TV special Music of the Millenium
Her shortlist of five includes Ray of Light, Like A Prayer, Lucky Star, Open Your Heatr, and Express Yourself.
But she only has two weeks to decide which hit will be the one for her - the programme is filmed on Nov 6 (99).
A spokesperson for the show says, "She is hoping to dress up for the occasion and is so excited about celebrating the work of her favourite star. "She's got so many things to look forward to at the moment, it is a great honour for her." Noel Gallagher is another star rumoured to be playing tribute to his musical heroes on the show - the Oasis star may be covering a Beatles tune. The show, to be screened on 13 November (99), will also reveal the results of a poll of 600,000 voters to find the nation's favourite star.
A Solo Project From Victoria?
Spice Girl Mel C has revealed her bandmate Victoria Beckham is writing solo material - the last of the band to work on her own songs.
Mel told pop magazine Smash Hits she is working on tracks with one of the band's collaborators, which would mean each of the original five have developed pop careers alongside the band.
However, a spokeswoman for Victoria - who is touring with the group in December - said there were no plans for solo releases.
Mel G and former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell have already notched up No 1s outside the group. Mel C reached No 4 with Goin' Down and Emma Bunton launches a single with Tin Tin Out next month.
In this week's Smash Hits, Mel C said: "Vic's started to write some solo stuff. At the moment she's working with our old friend Elliott Kennedy and soon she's going over to Dublin to do some more writing."
Kennedy has previously worked with the band on Say You'll Be There and co-wrote the Bryan Adams song When You're Gone which featured Mel C. Smash Hits editor John McKie said: "It's about time Victoria went solo and this is great news. I'm sure the record will be classy and sophisticated - just like her."
Victoria's publicist said: "She's in the studio, but it's not necessarily for solo stuff. She's writing tracks, but there's no solo single or tour planned from Victoria's point of view.
"One thing she has been very keen on is an acting career. She's had a lot of scripts but there is nothing as yet. She wants to do something quite specific.
"All the Spice Girls have been in studios doing solo things at some stage but they have either gone on to the albums or been dropped."
Wall Over For Becks
Council blocks security plans
ON the pitch there's no one better at getting through a wall...
But David Beckham and his missus Victoria have run into big problems getting a wall around their house through the planning authorities.
Britain's most famous couple had hoped to turn their pounds 2.5 million, seven-bedroom love nest into a fortress by building a perimeter wall to keep prying eyes at bay.
They wanted it be 60 metres long and two metres high with state-of-the-art security gates.
Like Posh's old mate Geri Halliwell, they also wanted to fit security cameras to keep a watch for unwanted intruders.
According to close friends, the Beckhams have been terrified by a series of crank threats to their eight-month-old son, Brooklyn.
Although their new home is already regarded as "very secure" they were prepared to spend hundreds of thousands on security alone before moving in.
But their plans have been dashed by the local council - and the giant construction dubbed "The Great Wall of Sawbridgeworth" by bemused locals won't be happening. Sawbridgeworth Town Council has blocked the plans after hearing objections from two of the Beckhams' neighbours.
One local told me: "The property already has security gates and a fence around it - the last owners even had guard dogs patrolling the place.
"The house is so secluded a lot of local people don't even know it's there. But the Beckhams clearly didn't want to take any chances. The area where they want to build the wall is one of the few parts of the estate which could just about be visible to outsiders."
The Beckhams had the plans for the giant wall drawn up by a firm of architects.
The plans featured a parapet design and used bricks to match those of the house.
A spokesman for Sawbridgeworth Town Council's Planning Committee told me: "It was judged to be inappropriate and not in keeping with the immediate vicinity."
The Beckhams will now have to wait until November at the earliest for a meeting of the East Hertfordshire District Council - to see if they can get the decision overturned.
Ironically, the house once belonged to the local council and for a long time was a home for disabled boys.
I revealed in August how the newlyweds had fallen in love with the luxury home after seeing it in an upmarket property magazine.
Posh Spice described the house and its 24 acres as a dream come true.
Until now ...
October 17, 1999
Mtvs New Feature: Melanie C: Pleased To Meet You
Mel C Just Mad On Her
MEL C is to do a tribute to superstar Madonna as part of Channel 4's Music Of The Millennium night.
Sporty Spice has come up with a shortlist of her five fave songs - Ray Of Light, Like A Prayer, Lucky Star, Open Your Heart and Express Yourself - and will choose one to perform on the musical extravaganza.
The show, which will also reveal the results of a poll of 600,000 voters to name their favourite star, is to be screened on November 13.
What I Am Single Tracks
What I Am
Radio Edit
Gangstarr Remix
Groove Chronicles Remix.
What I Am 12 "
What I Am (Gangstarr Remix)
What I Am (Groove ChroniclesRemix)
TWM (DJ Jam & De Leon Remix)