It's Heaven and Hell, Being Geri Halliwell Quiz

Answer: False

Geri used to tell a lot of lies in the early days of the Spice Girls, and this was one of them. She was actually born in Watford. However, she is half-Spanish; her mum Ana Maria is from Spain, and Geri speaks Spanish. She does a rap in Spanish on 'If U Can't Dance'. Geri's parents divorced while she was a child, and her mum briefly became a Jehovah's Witness and took Geri witnessing with her.

Answer: Turkey

The game show, 'Secbakalim', was a Turkish version of 'Let's Make a Deal'. Geri was discovered while working as a topless model, and offered a job in Turkey. Her role was to wear a glamorous outfit and display prizes to the competitors. Despite not being able to speak Turkish, she took the job because she needed the money and wanted to see Istanbul.

However, having to travel between the UK and Turkey took a toll on her health.

Answer: She never formally trained as a singer or dancer.

While the other Spice Girls had been to stage schools, acting classes or dance classes, Geri had no background in dancing or singing, other than working as a go-go dancer. As a result, she struggled with the choreography and had to practice more than the others, even giving up her breaks.

When the Spice Girls started performing live, Geri also had problems with the dance routines. It was later revealed that Bob Herbert, one of the group's original managers, had actually considered kicking Geri out and replacing her as he thought she was 'tone deaf' and a disruptive influence, and it was this that inspired the group to leave their original managers. Chris Herbert, Bob's son, got on well with Geri and was impressed at how eager to succeed she was. Geri did not fail her first audition; she missed it and bombarded the management's office until Chris agreed to audition her. Geri later admitted that she probably would have failed her first audition.

Answer: Margaret Thatcher

In an interview with 'Smash Hits', Geri said that Margaret Thatcher was her heroine because she was the first female Prime Minister. Simon Sebag-Montefiore of the 'Spectator', a conservative British magazine, interviewed the group about politics - their idea had been to interview the most popular pop star at the time - and both Geri and Victoria expressed their support for the Conservative Party, with Geri also saying that the Spice Girls were 'true Thatcherites' and that Margaret Thatcher was a Girl Power icon. Melanie C, a Labour voter from Liverpool, said later that she did not agree with the sentiments Geri expressed and that her father had warned her, "You want to watch yourself when you go to Liverpool", Liverpool being a Labour stronghold. Melanie B described the interview as 'twisted beyond belief', and Sebag-Montefiore said afterwards that she was 'ignorant' and he had had to tell her to shut up.

Answer: Trixie Firecracker

Geri was Trixie Firecracker, Victoria was Midnight Miss Suki, Emma was Kung Fu Candy, Melanie B was Blazin' Bad Zula, and Melanie C was Katrina Highkick. The video was filmed in the Mojave Desert in California and the girls wore black PVC outfits. Geri stated in her 1999 memoir 'If Only' that she had come up with the idea. Geri was also responsible for a large portion of the group's lyrics, as well as the whole Girl Power philosophy; the Spice Girls noticeably played down the 'Girl Power' aspect after she left.

Answer: Viva Forever

There are many reasons why Geri left the Spice Girls. Both she and Melanie B were driving forces in the sacking of Simon Fuller, their second manager, but there had always been friction between the two, particularly when it came to performing. Melanie would often criticise Geri's lack of dancing ability, particularly when Geri tried to rollerskate onstage during 'Denying' and she kept getting in Melanie's way. Geri had also wanted to do an interview about breast cancer, as she had found a lump in her breast as a teenager, but the rest of the group vetoed it.

She left before the American tour and an appearance on the 'National Lottery' show, and both parties made an official announcement on 31st May 1998. The group performed 'Viva Forever' on 'Top of the Pops' as a quartet, their first performance without Geri, and hastily rearranged the vocals for the American tour. Geri returned several years later for the 2006 reunion. Melanie C has since said that the Spice Girls effectively ended when Geri left.

Answer: Look at Me

'Look At Me' came out in May 1999 and featured Geri playing various characters: a nun, a '40s vamp, a hard-nosed businesswoman and a virgin bride. It also contained a 'funeral' scene where 'Ginger Spice' was laid to rest, and ended with a shot of Geri naked, captioned 'Geri's back'.

The single charted at Number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. Emma Bunton was asked for her opinion of the song and she said she couldn't watch it as "she tried to break up a great group". Melanie C was also scathing about Geri's solo career, calling her 'cotton wool'. 'Schizophonic' was going to be called 'Schizophrenic', but the title was changed for fear it would be offensive to mentally ill people.

It also contained a song called 'You're in a Bubble', which many critics thought was a jab at Melanie B.

Answer: It's Raining Men

'It's Raining Men', a cover of the Weather Girls' song, was featured in 'Bridget Jones' Diary' and had a video based on 'Flashdance', in which Geri showed off her new yoga-enhanced body and dance skills. It was released in 2001 and was Geri's fourth consecutive Number 1. 'Scream If You Wanna Go Faster' peaked at Number 8 and 'Calling' at Number 7.

The cover of the album received some criticism for encouraging dangerous behaviour, as it featured Geri wearing rollerskates and holding onto the back of a car. Like 'Schizophonic', the album also had contributions from the songwriting duo Absolute, who had previously worked with the Spice Girls. (This quiz, incidentally, is named after a song on the album.)

Answer: Ugenia Lavender

Outside the Spice Girls, Geri was a judge on 'Popstars: The Rivals' - the show which led to the creation of Girls Aloud, whose success outdid that of the Spice Girls - and had a cameo in 'Sex and the City'. She also wrote a series of children's books about 9-year-old Ugenia Lavender, who Geri claims is based on herself.

The books were originally going to contain a character based on Victoria Adams/Beckham, 'Princess Posh Vattoria', but the character was scrapped. The books contain puzzles and a newsletter from Ugenia about the things she learned. Several other characters are based on celebrities, including chef Gordon Ramsay and footballer Wayne Rooney.

Answer: Christian Horner

Geri was in a relationship with screenwriter Sacha Gervasi in the mid-00s and had a daughter with him, Bluebell Madonna. She and Christian Horner, a former racing driver and the boss of Formula 1 team Red Bull Racing, began dating in 2014 and were married the following year.

She changed her name to Geri Horner. The couple had a son together, Montague George Hector Horner (Monty for short). She was also the subject of a controversial interview with Melanie B in 2019, in which Melanie claimed that the two had slept together during their Spice Girls days. Halliwell did not comment on the story.