Desert Island Discs Revisited

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BBC Radio 4 Extra

Factual: Life Stories

Selected castaway gems from the BBC Desert Island Discs archive.

Desert Island Discs Revisited: Singers 2: Melanie C

23/02/2020

Melanie C

Singers 2

Desert Island Discs

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Desert Island Discs Revisited, Singers 2, Melanie C

Melanie C, singer and Spice Girl, shares the soundtrack of her life with Lauren Laverne

4 Extra Debut. From Blur to Stevie Wonder. Singer and Spice Girl, Melanie C shares her castaway choices with Lauren Laverne. From 2020.

From Blur to Stevie Wonder. 

Singer and and songwriter, Melanie C shares her castaway choices with Lauren Laverne.

Melanie Chisholm - known as Melanie C - found global fame as one fifth of the Spice Girls, the most commercially successful female group ever. 

Melanie was one of 400 other hopefuls who answered an advertisement to form a new girl band in 1994 - little knowing how her life would be turned upside down by fame and worldwide success.  She was given the nickname Sporty Spice and presented what she calls a "gobby' persona to the outside world, but inside she was a shy girl who preferred to stay in the background.  

She grew up in Merseyside and as a child she loved performing.  At 16 she attended the Doreen Bird College of Arts, aiming for a career in musical theatre. By her early 20s, she was an international star:  Spice world was a high-octane life of constant recording and touring and the accompanying press scrutiny contributed to a stressful environment.  As the pressure intensified Melanie suffered from eating disorders and in 2000 she was diagnosed with depression.  Her recovery was long and painful but she says finally getting a diagnosis enabled her to begin the process of getting better. 

When the Spice Girls went their separate ways for a while Melanie began a career as a successful solo artist.  

In 2009 she played Mrs Johnstone in the London West End production of Willy Russell's musical Blood Brothers, earning five star reviews and standing ovations.  

More recently she's been back on stage with the Spice Girls on their stadium tour. 

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2020.

Desert Island Discs Revisited: Singers 2

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

A collection of singer castaways share their desert island choices.

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