Emma Bunton: Spice Girls reunion not confirmed

Emma Bunton has cast doubt on reports that The Spice Girls are set to reunite next year.

The Sun newspaper reported Bunton, Geri Halliwell, Mel C and Mel B will reform for an international tour next year, without former band member Victoria Beckham.

But Bunton, aka Baby Spice, said on her Heart London radio breakfast show this morning: “If anything happens and it’s concrete, and we decide on something, I will let you know, but nothing’s happening at the moment.”

She also responded to the claims on Twitter, teasing: “Do I need to put my pigtails in?!?!?”

Do I need to put my pigtails in?!?!? https://t.co/TfWZQL9ux2

— Emma Bunton (@EmmaBunton) August 7, 2015

Mel C, aka Sporty Spice, tweeted: “Woke up this morning wondering whether I need to start practising my backflips???!!!”

Woke up this morning wondering whether I need to start practising my backflips???!!! 😳

— Melanie C / Mel C (@MelanieCmusic) August 7, 2015

Beckham, who became known as Posh Spice, posted a picture of an official Spice Girls photo album on Twitter, including the hashtag #TBT which stands for “Throwback Thursday” and is used when people post old photos on social media.

She wrote: “love my Spice Girls.”

#TBT love my Spice Girls x vb pic.twitter.com/HEcrWt3DTX

— Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham) August 6, 2015

And Mel B shared a picture of herself as Scary Spice on Instagram with the caption “The world deserves to hear your voice! £BeLoud £Tbt”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Irish Examiner (@irish_examiner)

Halliwell, who celebrated her birthday on Thursday, is yet to comment.

2016 will see the 20th anniversary of the band’s debut single Wannabe which was released in 1996 and catapulted the five-piece to global stardom. And rumours of an anniversary reunion have been circulating for some time.

Mel C said last year: “You might see a few of us having a little dance about on stage, no plans, but we’ll see what we can do for you.”

And in March this year Bunton said: “We love each other and we love performing together.

“It’s just when the timing is right because we all have our own careers now and we have families, it’s just about getting five schedules together and that’s all it is.”

Together Ginger, Posh, Baby, Scary and Sporty sold more than 75 million records and had nine number ones. Their debut album, Spice, made them the fastest-selling British act since the Beatles.

The group were introduced to royalty, pictured with Nelson Mandela and performed with operatic heavyweight Luciano Pavarotti.

But despite their rapid success, relations within the group became increasingly fractious.

Halliwell quit the band in 1998. The group continued as a quartet for a time but by 2001 they had dissolved and were working on their solo careers.

After much speculation they reformed for a money-spinning 47-date tour which began in 2007. As it closed, the girls acknowledged there would be no more.

But the quintet reunited to perform together again at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.

They also gathered together to launch a stage musical inspired by their songs called Viva Forever.

Each has gone on to find a measure of success in their own right, juggling their careers with motherhood.