Spice fever took over Dublin tonight as the Spice Girls made a triumphant return performing together for the first time since the 2012 Olympics.
Appearing from beneath the stage in a flurry of fireworks, Geri Horner, 46, Mel Brown, 43, Mel Chisholm, 45 and Emma Bunton, 43, gave the 75,000 fans what they really really wanted.
They kicked off the first night of their reunion tour in Croke Park, Dublin with Spice Up Your Life in outfits containing over one million hand-sewn Swarovski crystals
The show was split into six acts with each girl having a “House” and dedicate dancers.
They had 24 outfits and started with the Spice Girls’ most iconic looks reimagined Baby wore a shimmering pink mini dress, Scary donned a glittering animal-print jumpsuit, Sporty had a shining Olympian outfit and Geri, who had already gone back to her Ginger roots earlier this week thrilled fans in a sparkling Union Jack gown complete with tiara in a nod to her infamous 1997 Brit Awards dress.
And it all eyes were on former lovers Mel B and Geri, who showed there was no hard feelings as they shared a moment holding hands and exchanging looks during Let Love Lead The Way.
The pair continued to have playful banter throughout the show with Geri accusing Mel B of being racist for saying “What’s the craic?” to the Irish crowd.
She responded: “Everyone knows I’m racist I’m allowed to be I’m black.” Geri also revealed: “I'll let you into a secret about Mel B, Scary Spice.
"She isn’t scary. She’s soft. She’s cuddly.” Later Mel B blasting her for quitting on her birthday.
She joked: “She left on my birthday can you believe that?” Before adding it was “the best birthday present of my entire life.”
It was a particularly poignant night for Mel who dedicated her performance to her late father, Martin who passed away in 2017 after years of estrangement.
She also reflected on her hard times after leaving her abusive husband Stephen Belafonte after a decade together
Writing in the programme, she said: “Good things and bad things happen to all of us but I believe in honesty and respect and treating people as you wanted to be treated.
"It’s true in the end love IS all you need. Dad I’m doing this for you. I love you forever.”
After performing Who Do You Think You Are, they took a trip down memory lane about how they met and joking that they were impressed they still remembered the lyrics 20 years on...
Emma received a huge cheer when she mentioned her first meeting of Victoria Beckham who was in “a little black dress.”
They paid tribute to another singer who has plenty of girl power - Beyoncé remixing their song Holler with her song, Who Runs The World dresses in raunchy leather outfits.
And they clearly wanted to their show as inclusive as possible rebranding their famous catchphrase of “Girl Power” as “People Power” and they also had two Spice Boys dancer perform intimate ballet routine together before kissing at the end as they launched into Viva Forever dressed in whimsical fairy- esque gowns.
It was the first time four girls performed together without Victoria Beckham aka Posh Spice was missing, she sent her well-wishes on social media.
Finishing their two hour set with Wannabe a song more than 20 years, the crowd who were all ages sang along as more fireworks reigned and it was clear when it comes to the Spice Girls Friendship really never ends.
• Spice Up Your Life
• If U Can’t Dance
• Who Do You Think You Are
• Do It
• Something Kinda Funny
• Military Cadence/Sound Off
• Holler
• Queer Tango
• Viva Forever
• Let Love Lead The Way
• Goodbye
• Car Wash
• Never Give Up On The Good Times
• We Are Family
• Love Thing
• Lady Is A Vamp
• The Last Wait
• Too Much
• Say You’ll Be There
• 2 Become 1
• Stop
• Mama
• Wannabe
- Note: some of the photographs in this story are from dress rehearsals - not the live show
