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7.30am Mel C's flat in Finchley. "I was in bed by midnight. When I've got a show, I usually have a restless night, but eight o'clock is a lie-in."

7.45 "I always watch Big Brekkie on TV." Breakfast is porridge, toast and honey - "Lots of carbs to keep me going" - peppermint tea and a pile of vitamins: C, B complex, zinc ("for my throat since I had my tonsils out") and echinacea.

7.55 Toast burns. "Flames came out of the toaster and everything. But you know what? I didn't panic. Normally you shite yourself and your heart starts going but I was very sensible and put it out with a damp tea towel."

8.30 "I read the showbiz gossip first and then go through the newspaper headlines to see if there's any scandal about me. If there are any nice pictures I'll buy the paper - to show my grandchildren. I've stored all the nice cuttings. I've been very lucky with the tabloids. They tend to leave me alone - maybe I'm not that interesting."

8.45 "My mum is the first person I phone and the last one at night. We speak five times a day. She knows every emotion I go through E poor cow!"

9am More phone calls. "My nan, two friends who are coming to the show and a long-lost college friend." Mobile phone? "No one ever rings it."

9.30 More TV. "Vanessa Feltz was interesting." Then a bit of Richard and Judy to calm nerves. "I'm anxious and excited about the show."

10.30 Off to the gym. "I'm borrowing a Jag. I drive myself to the gym - it's only up the road. I only passed my test recently and I'm not very confident behind the wheel."

10.45 A 90-minute workout. "I've been a member at the gym for four years so everyone ignores me now."

12.15pm Two boys are outside her flat. "It's the first time there's been any fans there. They were nice so I signed autographs and did pictures for them."

12.25 Bath. "I got a box of colour therapy bath oils as a Christmas present: you put in different colours to give you different feelings. Lilac is meant to help your intuition. I don't know whether they work but it looks quite cool."

1pm Chauffeur-driven car takes Mel to the Landmark Hotel where she meets up with the other girls. Interviews, with Steve Wright and David Frost. "Sir David was lovely. We've met him before. he's so professional, isn't he? We invited him along to the show - I think he might come."

4pm Backstage Wembley. Main meal with Mel B and "Tor". Mel C eats brown rice and veg. "I'm not a lover of meat, though I like a bit of fish. I avoid preservatives and fizzy drinks and I won't have any sort of diet drink. I try to buy organic produce, even though it's more expensive. I drink juices and lots of water. Alcohol really buggers up your throat. Lager's my favourite E but it gives you a beer gut, doesn't it?"

4.30 Mel emerges from "make-up" wearing a long false hairpiece. "It fell off on the first night at Wembley."

5.30 Relaxes. "I love supermarkets. We all still do our own shopping. Waitrose is just around the corner from my flat which is very handy. I'm in there every five minutes because I buy a lot of fresh produce. People are sometimes surprised to see me there and quite a few ask for autographs. In fact, I dread the day I'm in the supermarket and nobody is looking at me. Yesterday an old lady asked me to tell her granddaughter I wasn't Mel C and I had to explain that I was."

6pm TV interview with Pepsi Chart Show. They need three takes to say: "She's Rhona and you can catch us on the Pepsi Chart Show." Mel B scowls: "It's a tongue twister, isn't it?" Victoria says that Wembley is "wicked". Mel B says they shout obscenities at one another before they go on stage, "like before a football match". Mel C confides that she fancies Matt LeBlanc from Friends and shows the cameraman her Ralph Lauren knickers.

6.15 Interview with Sky News. Geri reveals she's wearing her "lucky" shirt - a gift from a fan. Emma says she's glad their fans are young because their opinions are "uncorrupted". Victoria yawns and examines her nails, and says she's had a racehorse named after her. Asked about the World Cup song, On Top of the World, Geri says: "We want people to know we are really behind England 100 per cent. This is our way of showing we're backing Britain."

7pm "Meet 'n' greet" session backstage: they sign photos for 100 fans. Mel C jiggles around to Cornershop. Mel B pretends to be thrilled when Emma walks in: "Oooh mah god! It's Bay-beh!!! Come and give us a cuddle!"

7.30 "Secret" pre-gig ritual in a private room - vocal and physical exercises, and the cursing ritual. Mel says: "we all get on the floor and do stomach exercises."

8pm The girls emerge in their stage outfits, touch up their make-up, collect their microphones, give one another - and their dancers - hugs and run onstage. The crowd goes wild.

10pm They meet their guests backstage.

11pm They leave in a fleet of chauffeur-driven cars for Mel B's house, where she is hosting a belated birthday party for Victoria. Mel C: "There's no show tomorrow so I can go out and enjoy myself." And they're off.

*April 27 1998

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