The British press have written some nasty and spiteful things about the way I look which used to affect me quite badly when it was new to me but luckily, I’ve learned to ignore the comments. why do they even care about how I look?

I don’t want to be daft and say I had some spiritual awakening or something, but I really did come of age in Los Angeles, where we recorded the album. I had my own little house and my own little circle and I really got to feel how the city ticks.

The funny thing about making this record and being away from the girls and on my own in LA is that it allowed me to reflect on how much we’ve accomplished.

Putting out my album on my own label has been a great experience for me. It’s been very inspiring. It’s like a new start for me and having all this creative freedom is so liberating and exciting.

The success of this album is very much in question. Who knows where it’s going to go? My being a Spice Girl is no guarantee of anything, although I hope it’ll benefit the sales.

A lot of people have been quite surprised with the stuff that I’m doing on my own, which shocks me because I’ve always known what I wanted to do. But people have only seen me with the Spice Girls, so I suppose it’s not that surprising.

I recognise a lot of myself in these kids who enter shows like Pop Idol. It’s very hard to get into the music industry and you have to take every opportunity that you can. Something like Pop Idol is a great opportunity but unfortunately, I think it’s tainted by the people that make these shows.

I swear in real life-probably too much-though I don’t swear in front of my gran. We adapt to every situation.

I don’t think the Spice Girls are celebrated as much as they should be. We championed British pop worldwide. We toured everywhere to sell-out crowds and I think there should have been a reflection of that at February’s Brit’s anniversary.

I love being onstage and I love to perform. To be honest with you, I’m more comfortable performing than I am in an everyday situation, which I can’t quite explain.