An interview with Emma Bunton

handbag talk to Emma Bunton about Spice Girl reunions, appearing on 'Neighbours', and having a 'baby spice' of her own. By Bridget March

When we first met Emma Bunton she was one-fifth of teen sensation The Spice Girls. Young and fresh-faced, 'Baby Spice' was the adorable one complete with pigtails and a perma-smile, being the least scary of the Girl Power bridgade. Fast forward 10 years on and Emma is still how you would envisage - sweet, gorgeous and grateful.

After recently revealing she suffers from endometriosis, a condition that can make it difficult to conceive, she has confirmed her pregnancy with singer Jade Jones. Considering the 'dog years' rule applies to celeb relationships (one year for them is seven for us), her eight years with Jones makes them one of the most established show biz couples. Her new single 'All I Need to Know' is a classic ballad which couldn't more fittingly reflect how loved-up with life the singer seems.

So with her successful solo career and a baby of her own on the way, does this mean Baby Spice is all grown-up?

 
Congratulations on your pregnancy! How are you feeling about it?
Thank you! Yes it's great, great news.

And you and Jade are all happy and doing well?
Oh absolutely he's been wonderful were both so happy. We've been telling our family and friends and it's the best start to the new year for us, it really has.

Have you had any weird cravings yet or experienced any morning sickness?
I haven't you know, it's all very new and we've just been overly excited and dealing with that really, so I haven't had any cravings or anything as yet. And no morning sickness - just excitement at the moment!

Have you had to make any big sacrifices?
No, I've always been quite healthy and not drinking hasn't affected me at all 'cause I'm not a big drinker anyway.

Do you think there's any chance he might give you a proposal? What with it being eight years, not to forget the pregnancy?
Oh, no. We're having this part of our life first and so we'll see - we've been together for so long we're quite happy at the moment. Obviously I think marriage would be lovely, it would definitely be quite a small intimate thing but, you never know! I don't know, it depends what kind of day I'm having! Ha ha! I don't know, I'm not sure.

We saw you out the other night with Victoria and Geri. How was that?
Yes it was good. We try to catch up as much as we can, we got together just before Christmas as well and we always catch up when we're all in town, um yeah you know just real girlie chats and catching up, it's lovely.

How are they? Did they offer any good baby advice?
They're really, really good. They were really pleased for me!

Has Mel B shared any tips as she's pregnant as well?
We've been in contact but I'm not going into details about it!

So, the big question, is there any chance of that Spice Girls reunion? We've been keeping our fingers crossed!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed too! I think it would be wonderful - I'd love to do something with the girls again. We've just got to find a time when one of us is not pregnant! I really, really hope we do something and I know individually at some point we've all said it would be a nice thing to do, so I hope so. I haven't spoken the girls about it in a little while but I'm sure if you spoke to them they would say it would be a nice thing to do. It's just getting the right time really.

Do you still feel like you're 'Baby Spice'?
Well I think, you know, obviously it was a huge part of my life and obviously she'll always be around but I think most people now know me as Emma Bunton, but I really don't mind it.

What's the best thing about being Emma Bunton?
Ohhh, obviously I get to perform. I get to write music - its kinda like a diary for a girl, but then we're getting kinda personal. I feel very lucky, I've been very lucky to achieve some amazing things.

Do you write music regularly then?
Yeah I try and write lots of things down, I write a lot.

You have a new single out now, what's it about?
It's called 'All I Need to Know', and it's out right now. It's just a really gorgeous classic ballad, which I wrote just as I was turning 30 and I had that feeling when I was changing quite a lot and trying new things and the support I had from my family and my boyfriend and even my fans was just, you know, amazing and I felt like I could go out and do mad things like 'Strictly Come Dancing'. I've always got that support and I think everyone can identify with that, we've always got that support behind us. The single's a bit of a tear-jerker, a proper ballad!

We also hear you've filmed a cameo in Aussie soap 'Neighbours'?
Yes I have! They asked me to come and do a little cameo and I just play myself - how can you turn down that? How can you turn down being in Neighbours?! I think it's going to be aired summertime over here.

Have you managed to do any ballroom dancing since starring in 'Strictly Come Dancing'?
I haven't, I'm still recovering! It was quite hard work but it was brilliant. I can't believe now I can ballroom dance, it's fabulous! Jade's always wanted to learn it as well so I think we're gunna go to classes together.

He was really supportive of you doing it wasn't he?
Oh, unbelievable! Even now my friends say, 'Oh his little face when he was watching you', there were some shots of him on the show and you know he was just so proud and it was really lovely to have him there and have his support.

Are you planning on becoming a serial 'reality TV' personality?
No, I loved doing 'Strictly' because obviously I learnt a new skill and I was a big fan of the show anyway. But I think that's the only one I would do.

You're not planning to move to LA like some of the other girls now are you?
No, I love seasons and I love being around my family. I love visiting, I mean I feel so lucky that I'm able to travel 'cause I love LA and Japan, so yeah I love visiting but no, I think I'll always come home.

Download Emma's new single here

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