The Spice Girls reunite to launch West End musical

The Spice Girls reunited today, for the first time since their 2008 Reunion Tour, to announce the details of a new musical based on songs from their back catalogue.

Viva Forever, written by comedian Jennifer Saunders, will premiere in the Piccadilly Theatre in the West End this December. It tells the story of an X-factor style talent show, and will feature Spice Girls hits including ‘2 Become 1’, ‘Mama’ and ‘Say You’ll Be There’.

The venue for the reunion was the St Pancras Hotel in London, a symbolic choice, since it was the location of the group's first video shoot for 'Wannabe', back in 1996. They went on to have nine No. 1 singles and two No 1. albums in the UK before splitting in 2000.

The five members of the group posed in front of the staircase from their video, looking poised, groomed and a far cry from their 90s 'Girl Power' pop personae.