Geri's role seems to be to sit and offer quasi metaphysical words of advice no doubt gleamed from a plethora of self-help books (Jean-Paul Sartre she ain't!), that are about as helpful to the aspiring pop star as a fart in a spacesuit!

Want to know more? Believe me you don't! Don't go there!.--

Likewise, with 9 number 1's with the Spice Girls, Emma has now been dropped by her record label and has returned to her former manager, Simon Fuller.

But she remains a talented performer and it is hoped that if she surrounds herself with the right management she can hit the heights again.--

The lawsuit alleges that Beckham made "loud and rude" comments while accusing the shop of selling fake autographs and asserted that an autograph of her husband, Manchester United and English World Cup Soccer star David Beckham, was not genuine.

The owners of the store claim they suffered financial loss after the story appeared in newspapers. The case went to the appeals court after a judge denied that the singer would have known that her words would cause extreme damage to the shop's business.

GT's Recollections claim Beckham's statements in the shop were false and that they sell only genuine celebrity autographs. She denies the allegations. Appeal judges have also awarded legal costs of £100,000 ($152,000) against Beckham.--

Anyway, Mel C mentions more delays to the release to the follow up to the excellent Nortern Star album. Early 2003 is now the tentative release date.

The "second album" is a difficult and notorious beast. The history of pop music is cluttered with dead souls whose careers have fallen on the sword of the awfulness of their second album! The signs are not good. Anyone remember Terence Trent D'Arby? Released a stunning first album then spent an eternity on the follow up that was, well, crap!

Mel C seems to be falling into the same category. You know, putting everything into the first album and then when it comes to the second the well hs run dry. Let's hope she proves me wrong! But as by far the most talented of the Spice Girls if anyone can do it then Mel C can!

The case centred on a sponsorship deal in 1998 that flopped when Geri Halliwell left the band.

The High Court originally ruled in February 2000 that the girls had known Halliwell was about to leave when they signed the deal with the Italian-owned firm, Aprilia World Service.

They were told at the time they had to pay Aprilia damages plus legal costs.

Three Appeal Court judges confirmed the decision on Thursday, saying the group had been guilty of misrepresentation when they signed the £500,000 contract with Aprilia.

The promotion became a "total marketing flop", the original hearing heard.

That misrepresentation had had a wider impact on the company than the High Court had originally found, they added.

Vice Chancellor Sir Andrew Morritt, Lord Justice Chadwick and Lord Justice Rix dismissed the Spice Girls' appeal and awarded Aprilia all its costs.

The final figure to be paid by the Spice Girls has yet to be confirmed as the legal fees have risen due to the cost of the appeal.

The five members of the Spice Girls had argued that they should have won their original claim for unpaid sponsorship fees and guaranteed royalties on a special edition scooter they promoted.

They claimed they signed the deal with Aprilia in March 1998, and Halliwell revealed her intention to leave the following month.

Total flop'

Aprilia, which sponsored the 1998 Spiceworld tour, had signed the contract with the band to promote its products, including a special Spice Sonic scooter with a silhouette of the five Spice Girls on it.

But the original hearing was told the promotional campaign had turned into a "total marketing flop" when Halliwell left the group.

The company had lost millions of pounds, the High Court heard.

When Aprilia refused to pay the Spice Girls any more on the sponsorship contract, the group launched their action against the company.

They claimed £100,000 in unpaid fees, £112,250 in guaranteed royalties on sales of the Sonic Spice scooter and £6,000 for scooters promised to them.

They also wanted the appeal judges to quash Mrs Justice Arden's ruling that they should pay £45,550 damages for scooters Aprilia supplied to the girls, plus legal costs.

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