TOTP+: 'I Turn To You' is your next single. Was it an obvious choice?

Mel C: Yes, it's funny, when you write an album and you're picking which tracks to go on it, the choice does come quite naturally.

TOTP+: What can we expect from the video?

Mel C: I had loads of treatments from video directors and they were all very arty and deep and I just wanted one that was really fun, one that expressed the song. It's a dance track, particularly the remix by Hec Hector, which is quite banging house: so I thought, let me get a freebie holiday to Ibiza from my record company by shooting a video there! It's the perfect place to shoot a video as it's got great landscapes and beaches, the water's beautiful and of course Ibiza has a great club scene.

TOTP+: Are you a regular on the Ibiza scene, then?

Mel C: I think I could have been into the Ibiza scene if I wasn't a celebrity. I was into clubbing when I was younger, but I feel a bit old for all that now. A lot of my friends used to go, but I think I'd freak too many people out if I went out there now.

TOTP+: We had rock with your first single, then a ballad, a bit of R&B, and now the new single's a dance track. How many other styles are you going to experiment with?

Mel C: How many other styles are there? I just love music. When I write songs I want to be able to write in the musical style which suits the theme of that song. 'Going Down' was very aggressive, so I wanted it to be rock. I wanted 'Never Be The Same Again' to be romantic, so R&B seemed appropriate. I don't play any instruments, but my instrument is my voice so I like to experiment with it. Doing different styles enables me to do that.

TOTP+: Do you still have singing lessons?

Mel C: Absolutely, but we call it singing coaching and pretend it's not a lesson! We just do silly things with musical scales - very classical. I would love to do classical singing. I suppose I've done a bit when the Spice Girls worked with Pavarotti on the single 'Viva Forever'.

TOTP+: Tell us about your forthcoming UK tour.

Mel C: I'm touring the UK from September and I'll be all over the place. We haven't started rehearsals yet, but we've been doing a lot of live work trying to build up the stamina for doing a whole show. But I think I'll be alright as I'll get through it on adrenaline alone!

TOTP+: How do you think the critics will describe your show when they see it?

Mel C: Oh, who knows. They've probably already decided! I always like to surprise people because I think that people have a cynical view of Melanie C, whether it's because of my background as a Spice Girl or just because I'm a girl, I don't know. I suppose some people will love it and others won't. I'm the only critic that matters, along with my mum and my mates!

Mel's solitary Northern star maybe twinkling bright, but does that mean the Spice Girls' light is dimming slowly away? Mel let's on below...

TOTP+: What did you think about Victoria's solo performance?

Mel C: It was great. She had said to me "Melanie, be really honest with me" and we are always really honest with each other. I secretly thought, please let it be good so I don't have to hide my feelings. But, luckily it was great. It's going to be a big hit. If I get to No.1, she'll probably be the one to knock me off the top slot!

TOTP+: So, you definitely won't be competing against each other in a Spice solo race?

Mel C: No, I just don't need that. I get all that press attention about it being a race. I'm not into using and abusing the press the way they do to me.

TOTP+: Are you living in London now, because you were spending a lot of time in California while making 'Northern Star'?

Mel C: I'm based in London and I have a little place in Liverpool. London is where I spend most of my time, so it's my home now. I've bought a flat here, so I now feel like a big girl with my own place.

TOTP+: Do you live on your own?

Mel C: No, I've got a couple of lodgers, my sister and my personal assistant, Ling.

TOTP+: Is there pressure because people will be expecting your new single to go to No.1?

Mel C: I'd love it to be a No.1, but there's no pressure after coming from the Spice Girls where our singles were No.1 after No. My first two releases went in at No.4, which is an amazing chart position, but because I was a Spice Girl it was like I failed. When I got my first No.1 it was a really big deal and that's when all the nasty stuff comes out in the papers because you're successful. I suppose people are expecting another No.1, but I'm pleased with the track and I'm having a great time and I'm going on tour. If it doesn't get to No.1 - so what!

TOTP+: What's happening with the Spice Girls?

Mel C: The Spice Girls album will be out in November. We're shooting the video for the next single in a couple of weeks, but we're just bickering over which track it's going to be.

TOTP+: Are you looking forward to being back with the girls?

Mel C: Er, yes and no! We haven't been apart before really, so I do miss them. It's taken a long time to make our album. We've had big gaps in between because of solo projects, but I've loved being the centre of attention! I'll probably be saying, "Look at me everybody, don't look at Posh"! No, I'm sure it'll be fun to get back together.