Spice Girls musical confirmed

Media tycoon Simon Fuller revealed today he is teaming up with the creator of global hit 'Mamma Mia!' to bring a Spice Girls musical to life.

Judy Craymer, who is reckoned to be worth £75m (€86m) from her film and stage hit based on Abba songs, is to create the show which is tentatively titled 'Viva Forever'.

The Spice Girls musical has been rumoured for a number of months after the band met up to discuss the project, but has only now finally been confirmed.

There will be huge expectations from the show, which is one of the first projects from Fuller’s new global entertainment firm XIX.

Craymer’s previous hit has taken more than £1bn (€1.15bn) at theatres, and the movie version of 'Mamma Mia!' is the highest-grossing film ever released in the UK.

The Spice Girls became worldwide superstars in the late 1990s, guided by their manager Fuller, with a string of number one hits.

They sold more than 55 million records, packed huge venues and starred in their own movie.

When Geri Halliwell left the band she enjoyed a successful solo career, with Mel B, Mel C, Emma Bunton and Victoria Beckham eventually following suit by releasing records in their own right.

The musical is being billed as a production which will “harness the distinct personality of The Spice Girls to create a musical that celebrates the energy and excitement of the biggest girl-band of all time”. Producers stress it is “not a tribute show”.

It is expected to open in London within the next two to three years.

Fuller, who has been behind TV hits such as 'Pop Idol' and So You 'Think You Can Dance', has become a major media player in the past few years and is worth around £300m (€345m).

Last week he announced he was setting up his new firm XIX, although he will continue to oversee some projects for media rights company CKX, to whom he sold his company 19 in 2005.

The Spice Girls, whose hits included 'Wannabe' and 'Spice Up Your Life', reformed for a tour which began in December 2007.

But after the 47-date run was over, they made clear that the group was over. In a message to fans they said: “Our time is up... we’ve come to the end of the road ... We hate goodbyes but sadly the time has come to take our final bow.”