Mirror: What time did you get up?
Melanie: I was awake at 5, but made myself stay in bed till 6. I was tossing and turning all night. I usually get up by 8, I'm an early bird. A morning person. I'm not much use in the evening - the opposite to the other Spice Girls, which can be a pain.
Mirror: Who was the first person you spoke to today?
Melanie: Ying, my assistant. I must have been in a right mess this morning - do you know what I did? I was running the bath, and I didn't leave it that long, but it overflowed. It was like a big pool, so I woke her up to help me soak it up with loads of towels. Ying is - are you 31 now? She's 31. She's from Rhyl in Wales, her father was Chinese.
Mirror: Where are you right now?
Melanie: In my kitchen. It's quite big. I've got one of those nice big stainless steel fridges. You know, with the double doors and the ice? It's great. When I moved into the flat, it was already done, so I had all the top gear in it. I think I've got teak - is it teak? - cupboards, and a little leather booth. I've got a stainless steel table as well.
Mirror: What are you wearing?
Melanie: A DKNY vest, it's violet. It's a very calming colour, isn't it? And jogging bottoms - I've just got back from the gym. They're a more purply blue. No shoes or socks. No make-up and my hair's all greasy from a treatment at the gym. One of those algae wrap things.
Mirror: What's your most recent purchase?
Melanie: I went shopping in Hampstead yesterday for some pressies for Phoenix's birthday, Mel G's little girl. Some old-fashioned toys - a little wooden mobile and a dragon. Sunday's the best day in Hampstead. In fact, I think it might be a good place to pull. You'll probably see me roaming the High Street, looking for the father of my children.
Mirror: When did you last get drunk?
Melanie: My friend's birthday on the 28th of January. I was doing a radio thing in Manchester. We went out for dinner after and got disgustingly drunk on champagne. I had a dreadful hangover. They seem to last days. I always want a McDonald's, but I never have one. The smell makes me want to be sick.
Mirror: What's your most recent journey?
Melanie: I flew back from Germany yesterday. I was in Cologne doing a TV show - it was a complete farce. It's a fantastic show, but a bit of a shambles. They played my songs in the wrong order. It's exhausting, travelling. And some airline food is weird. I didn't touch it, but they gave everybody beef for breakfast.
Mirror: What's the most recent domestic thing you've done?
Melanie: Cooking last night, a stir-fry. I used to do all my own washing and stuff, then it got to the point where I just didn't have the time. Mind you, when the Spice Girls lived together, I was the tidiest, the one who was always washing-up. I've just got out of the habit. And when you can afford a cleaner, you don't want to do it yourself, do you?
Mirror: When did you last have a snog?
Melanie: Gosh, that's a bit personal! Probably on that drunken night out on the town, actually. Not since then, I've been a busy girl, working. It was somebody I'm fond of, yes. Somebody you might know about? Possibly. And it was a good snog, yes, they're a good snogger. I'm not even going to tell you initials. I'm going to keep you guessing.
Mirror: When did you last cry?
Melanie: Watching Sixth Sense. I absolutely adore Bruce Willis, he's my hero. I was just crying uncontrollably. Big quiveries, you know, `Urh! Whurh!' Like that. Red nose, red eyes, the works. Thank God I was in a hotel room, not a cinema. I can sometimes just shed a tear, but if I've got to get it out, it's a sight to be seen.
Mirror: What are you going to do when you hang up?
Melanie: I've got to find out - is Emma coming? Yes, a lady is coming round to talk about decorating my bedroom. I've had it painted blue, but that's quite cold, and it's got a very high ceiling, so I need it warming up. Tonight I'm just going to sit in front of the telly. I'm making the most of my time in England, catching up with the soaps.