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| Spice Girls make UK stage return | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The reunited Spice Girls have burst onto the stage at London's O2 arena for their first UK concert in nine years. | |
| Singer Emma Bunton joined her four bandmates for the show's opening number, Spice Up Your Life, despite injuring her ankle earlier this week. | |
| Speaking on Friday, Bunton said she would not miss the gig, "even if I have to come on stage on crutches". | |
| However, the band did pull out of a scheduled appearance on this week's Strictly Come Dancing semi-final. | |
| Singer-songwriter James Blunt is to take their place, with the Spice Girls due to appear in next week's final. | |
| Sold out | Sold out |
| Tickets for the band's homecoming gig sold out in just 38 seconds when they went on sale in October, according to the show's promoters. | Tickets for the band's homecoming gig sold out in just 38 seconds when they went on sale in October, according to the show's promoters. |
| As a result, 16 further London dates have been added, in addition to two nights in Manchester next year. | As a result, 16 further London dates have been added, in addition to two nights in Manchester next year. |
| Tickets cost up to £75. | Tickets cost up to £75. |
| Geri Halliwell quit the band in 1998The gigs form part of the girl power quintet's world tour, which kicked off in Vancouver earlier this month to broadly positive reviews. | Geri Halliwell quit the band in 1998The gigs form part of the girl power quintet's world tour, which kicked off in Vancouver earlier this month to broadly positive reviews. |
| The two-hour show features eight costume changes and a laser-lit stage backed with huge video screens. | The two-hour show features eight costume changes and a laser-lit stage backed with huge video screens. |
| Alongside songs from their heyday, including Wannabe and Stop, the set incorporates solo hits by Melanie C, Geri Halliwell and Bunton. | Alongside songs from their heyday, including Wannabe and Stop, the set incorporates solo hits by Melanie C, Geri Halliwell and Bunton. |
| The tour marks the first time the band have performed as a five-piece since a 1998 gig in Birmingham, shortly after which Halliwell walked out on her bandmates. | The tour marks the first time the band have performed as a five-piece since a 1998 gig in Birmingham, shortly after which Halliwell walked out on her bandmates. |
| On the opening night of the reunion tour, Halliwell referred to the incident by amending the lyrics to the band's debut single, Wannabe. | On the opening night of the reunion tour, Halliwell referred to the incident by amending the lyrics to the band's debut single, Wannabe. |
| "If you really bug me then I'll say goodbye," she sang, adding: "And I did!" | "If you really bug me then I'll say goodbye," she sang, adding: "And I did!" |
| Dates postponed | Dates postponed |
| Bunton hobbled off a plane on crutches when she arrived in the UKBunton - aka Baby Spice - injured her ankle during the band's final US concert in Las Vegas on Tuesday. | |
| The 28-year-old has been receiving treatment from David Beckham's doctor in a bid to get fit for the London show. | The 28-year-old has been receiving treatment from David Beckham's doctor in a bid to get fit for the London show. |
| Victoria Beckham reassured fans that the performance would go ahead. | Victoria Beckham reassured fans that the performance would go ahead. |
| "It's going to be amazing. We're going to give you the best show you've ever seen," she said. | "It's going to be amazing. We're going to give you the best show you've ever seen," she said. |
| In the coming months, the five will also perform in Cape Town, Buenos Aires, Shanghai, Sydney and Beijing. | In the coming months, the five will also perform in Cape Town, Buenos Aires, Shanghai, Sydney and Beijing. |
| But the original dates for these performances have been cancelled after the band decided to reschedule the tour due to cope with exceptional demand for tickets. | But the original dates for these performances have been cancelled after the band decided to reschedule the tour due to cope with exceptional demand for tickets. |