Emma Lee Bunton (born 21 January 1976) is a British pop singer, best known as a member of the girl group The Spice Girls formed in the 1990s. Bunton is known as Baby Spice as she is the youngest member. She is currently a radio presenter on Heart FM, presenting Heart Breakfast in London with Jamie Theakston and she presents The Saturday Show from 5pm to 7pm.
Her debut solo album, A Girl Like Me, was released in the United Kingdom on 16 April 2001 by Virgin Records. The album debuted and peaked at number four on the UK Albums Chart. It was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 100,000 copies,[1] ultimately becoming the 147th best-selling album in the UK for 2001.[2] The album brought the UK and New Zealand number-one single "What Took You So Long?" as well as top five hits "What I Am" and "Take My Breath Away" and the top 20 hit "We're Not Gonna Sleep Tonight".
Bunton's second album, Free Me, was released in 2004 through 19 Entertainment/Universal Records. Four singles were taken from it: "Free Me", "Maybe", "I'll Be There" and "Crickets Sing for Anamaria". Bunton reunited with the Spice Girls in 2007 for an international tour and greatest hits album. From 2003 to 2012 Bunton had a recurring role on the BBC comedy series Absolutely Fabulous. Bunton performed at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony on 12 August with the Spice Girls.
Bunton's television appearances include being a judge on the ITV skating show Dancing on Ice and the ITV entertainment series Your Face Sounds Familiar. She has guest hosted a number of shows including GMTV, Lorraine and This Morning Summer.
Contents[]
Music career[edit][]
1976–92: Early life and career beginnings[edit][]
Bunton was born in Finchley, North London, brought up as a Catholic, and grew up in Woodside Park.[citation needed] Her parents, Pauline, a karate instructor, and Trevor, a milkman, split up when she was 11, after which she stayed with her mother. She has a younger brother, Paul James.[3] Bunton went to St. Theresa's Primary School in Finchley, then to Sylvia Young Theatre School in Marylebone.[citation needed] She appeared briefly in the BBC series EastEnders in 1992 as a mugger.[4] In 1993, she appeared in the ITV1 police series, The Bill, and also made a brief appearance as a prostitute in the BBC drama series To Play the King. After appearing on the show she was offered a temporary role as a troubled prostitute trying to kick her drug habit, but she turned it down because she wanted to maintain a wholesome image.[citation needed] Bunton also appeared in a public information film for the British government concerning fire safety.[5]
1993–2000: The Spice Girls[edit][]
Main article: [[The Spice Girls
She joined The Spice Girls (then called Touch) in 1993 after Michelle Stephenson left.[citation needed] Bunton was called Baby Spice because she was the youngest, had long blonde pigtails, wore babydoll dresses and had a girly girlpersonality.[citation needed]
The debut single "Wannabe" was the first of nine number ones in the United Kingdom for the Spice Girls, and reached the top in 37 countries.[citation needed] As a songwriter, Bunton set the shortest time to achieve six No. 1 UK singles, one year and five months from "Wannabe" to "Too Much".[citation needed] In 1999, she presented Emma on VH1. She recorded "(Hey You) Free Up Your Mind" for the film Pokémon: The First Movie.
2001–02: A Girl Like Me[edit][]
Her debut solo album A Girl Like Me, released in the United Kingdom on 16 April 2001 by Virgin Records. The album debuted and peaked at number four on the UK Albums Chart, with 21,500 copies sold in its first week. Although initial success was promising, A Girl Like Me fell down the chart quickly. However, singles "What Took You So Long?", "Take My Breath Away", and "We're Not Gonna Sleep Tonight" helped the album stay on the UK Albums Chart for several weeks. On 7 September 2001, A Girl Like Me was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 100,000 copies,[1] ultimately becoming the 147th best-selling album in the UK for 2001.[2] Lacklustre sales may be partially explained by the fact that the album was not released in Latin America (except in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile) and North America. The album brought the UK number-one "What Took You So Long?" as well as top five hits "What I Am" (a cover of a 1988 song by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians) and "Take My Breath Away" and the top 20 hit "We're Not Gonna Sleep Tonight". The album sold 125,000 copies in the UK.[citation needed] Disappointing sales led to Bunton's leaving Virgin in 2002.[6]
2003–05: Free Me[edit][]
Bunton's second album, Free Me, was released in 2003 through 19 Entertainment/Universal Records. Four singles were taken from it: "Free Me", "Maybe", "I'll Be There" and "Crickets Sing For Anamaria". After success in the American dance charts the album was sold in North America.[citation needed] The American edition included remixes and a different cover.[citation needed] The album was the second to follow her 2001 release, A Girl Like Me, and spent over twelve weeks inside the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number seven and selling over 141,712 copies, earning gold award status. The album was widely acclaimed by critics as being the "one of best solo Spice records ever" due to its catchy and fun use of sounds from the Motown and the 1960s era. The album was largely produced by Mike Peden and Yak Bondy, who have produced tracks for S Club 7 and Lucie Silvas, to name a few. Other contributions on the album courtesy of Cathy Dennis, Henry Binns and Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi. "One Thing I Know", an unreleased track co-written by Bunton for Free Me, was recorded by another 19 Management act, S Club 8, for their album Sundown. Bunton's original vocals can clearly be heard on S Club 8's version.
The lead single, "Free Me", was released in the spring of 2003. The song immediately picked up airplay, and the single sold well in the UK, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart. "Maybe" was released as the second single in the autumn of 2003, and also gained extensive airplay throughout the UK, peaking at number six, one position lower than its predecessor.
In the spring of 2004, the album and its third single, "I'll Be There", were released. The single, like its two predecessors, performed well on the charts, peaking at number seven, one position below "Maybe", and two positions below "Free Me". The album sold more copies in its first week then her debut solo record had, and would ultimately go on to outsell it by 25,000 copies. With this, Bunton became the only Spice Girls member to have sold more copies of her second album than her first in UK. Later in the year, the fourth single, "Crickets Sing for Anamaria", was released. Despite its harder beat and grittier sound, by now the impact of Free Me was beginning to wear off, and the song only came in at number fifteen on the UK Singles Chart, totalling 25,000 copies, and becoming Bunton's lowest-selling single.
In the U.S., both "Free Me" and "Maybe" were dance club regulars, reaching number four and number six on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play respectively. In 2005, Bunton filmed guest roles in two Bollywood films: Pyaar Mein Twist and Chocolate: Deep Dark Secrets.[citation needed]
2006–08: Life in Mono and return of the Spice Girls[edit][]
[1][2]Bunton performing during thereturn of the Spice Girls tour in 2007
In October 2006, Bunton was a contestant in the BBC programme Strictly Come Dancing, partnered by Darren Bennett. She finished third place in the final.[citation needed]
In November 2006, Bunton released the charity single for the BBC Children in Need appeal, recording Petula Clark's 1960s song "Downtown (Emma Bunton song)". It reached number three on the UK Singles Chart and was followed by her third studio album, Life in Mono on 4 December.[citation needed] The album was originally set for a November release in the UK, however it was later pushed back to 4 December 2006. Life In Mono, much like her previous album, Free Me, experimented with elements of 1960s pop music. For this particular album the musical arrangement was more directed towards the 1960s French pop music, with some elements of British 1960s pop and Motown. The first single taken from the album was a cover of Petula Clark's 1964 hit single "[[Downtown (Emma Bunton song)", released on 13 November. "Downtown" is the 2006 BBC Children in Need official charity single and reached No.3 in the UK singles chart. "All I Need to Know" was released as second single.
Bunton had been working on her third release since winter 2004. The album's title track is a cover version of the hit "Life in Mono" by 1990s trip hop band Mono, best known through its usage in the 1998 film Great Expectations. The track "Take Me to Another Town" contains a sample from Herb Alpert's 1965 "Green Peppers". Due to Emma’s pregnancy all forms of promotion were cancelled after a few months. Rumours of a third single surfaced through sites after Emma stated she was thinking of releasing a third single, however this never came. The songs I Wasn’t Looking (When I Found Love),Perfect Strangers and Take Me To Another Town were rumoured.
Although it sold almost 13,000 copies in its first week, the album was Emma's first not to reach the UK Top 10. It debuted on the UK Albums Chart at No.65 on 10 December 2006 falling to No.75 in its second week and dropped out of the chart the following week. On the whole, the album sold around 60,000 copies in the UK. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at 65, selling 13,000 copies in its first week.[citation needed] The second single from it was "All I Need to Know", on 12 February 2007, intended for Valentine's Day. Bunton shot the video around Old Street in East London, in the week before Christmas 2006.[7] Entering the UK Singles Chart at 60, "All I Need to Know" became the lowest-charting single of Bunton's solo career.[citation needed]
2012: Viva Forever musical and London Olympics[edit][]
On October 2009, reports suggested that The Spice Girls were to star in a reality show in which they will cast female actors to play their roles in a musical.[8] Melanie Brown denied this claim, stating that all members of the group were already accounted for and planning "something exciting".[9] Judy Craymer teamed up with the Spice Girls and Simon Fuller and began to develop a Spice Girls musical entitled Viva Forever. Although the girls were not to star in the show themselves, they were to influence the show's cast and production choices in a story which uses their music but bears no relation to their personal story; similar to that of ABBA's music in Mamma Mia!.[10][11] On 28 August 2010, it was reported that Jennifer Saunders would pen the script for the Spice Girls' musical, Viva Forever.[12] Saunders had twice previously worked with the group: the first time, appearing in the Comic Relief version for the "Who Do You Think You Are" video, the second, making a cameo appearance in the 1997 feature film, Spice World. On 26 June 2012, all five Spice Girls were in attendance at a press conference in London to promote the launch of Viva Forever: The Musical.[13][14] The press conference was held at St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel, the location where the Spice Girls filmed the music video for their breakthrough hit "Wannabe", sixteen years earlier, to the day.[15] The musical is due to open at the West End's Piccadilly Theatre on 11 December 2012.[13]
On 12 August 2012, after much speculation, Bunton and The Spice Girls performed a medley of "Wannabe" and "Spice Up Your Life" at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony, reuniting solely for the event.[16][17] Their performance was the most tweeted moment of Olympics closing ceremony with over 116,000 tweets on Twitter per minute.[18] Bunton also worked with fellow Spice Girl Melanie C on her 2012 album, Stages for the album track "I Know Him So Well". The song was released as a single on 11 November 2012.[19]
Other work[edit][]
Radio[edit][]
In February, and again between May and June 2009, she starred as guest presenter on Heart London's Heart Breakfast alongside Jamie Theakston and Harriet Scott.[20] Bunton began hosting her own pre-recorded Saturday drive time[21] radio show on Heart in the Saturday afternoon slot 4pm – 7pm starting on Saturday 13 June 2009.[22] Bunton provided maternity leave cover for Heart Breakfast co-presenter Harriet Scott from 3 October until 23 December 2011 onHeart London.[23] On January 2012, Bunton reprised her role as one of fictional PR manager Edina Monsoon's disgruntled clients in a revival of the BBC's Absolutely Fabulous. Following Harriet Scott's departure from Heart Breakfast in November 2012, it was announced Bunton would succeed her as co-host along with Jamie Theakston from 7 January 2013.[24]
Television[edit][]
Bunton has been seen in a television commercial for the supermarket chain Tesco. She also had a cameo role on the Australian soap opera Neighbours in the episode "What's a Spice Girl Like You...?", aired on 19 March 2007 in Australia, and on 25 May 2007 in the UK.[citation needed] Bunton returned to US screens with a nationwide commercial for Prego in May 2007.[citation needed]
In October 2008, Bunton appeared on the UK series of The X Factor to assist judge Dannii Minogue in choosing the three best over-25s acts to take through to the live shows.
In December 2008, Bunton debuted as a member of the panel on Loose Women on ITV.[citation needed]
In February 2010, Bunton appeared in a UK National Television campaign first aired during Coronation Street,[25] showing her in the Heart Radio studios at the start and the end of the advert.
Presenting[edit][]
In July 2008, Bunton stood in as co-presenter alongside Richard Madeley on the television show Richard & Judy while Judy Finnigan was recovering from a knee operation.
Bunton's first main presenting job was with Channel 5, hosting the 2010 show Don't Stop Believing.
In August 2010, Emma guest presented GMTV with Lorraine on GMTV. On 8 October 2010,[26] 19 November 2010 and 7 January 2011,[27] she guest presented Lorraine on ITV Breakfast.
She also guest presented ITV's This Morning Summer alongside Jamie Theakston for three episodes in July and August 2013.
Judging[edit][]
In January 2010, Emma joined the "Ice Panel" on ITV dancing show Dancing on Ice replacing former judge Ruthie Henshall. She stepped down from this role on 2 December 2011 in order to pursue new projects.[citation needed]
In the summer of 2013, Bunton was a judge on the ITV Saturday night entertainment series Your Face Sounds Familiar alongside Julian Clary and a different guest judge each week.
Film[edit][]
She had a cameo in Keith Lemon: The Film which premiered in August 2012.[28]
Personal life[edit][]
Bunton has been in a relationship with singer Jade Jones since 1997. Bunton became engaged to Jones on 23 January 2011. The couple have two sons: Beau Lee Jones (born 10 August 2007)[29] and Tate Lee Jones (born 6 May 2011).[30][31] She is also a godmother, alongside Victoria Beckham, to Geri Halliwell's daughter Bluebell Madonna Halliwell.
Bunton had two labradors, one of which, Phoebe, was stolen whilst on a walk. Two days later, she was found dead by the charity Dog Lost on a railway line,[32] leaving Bunton and her family devastated.
Filmography[edit][]
Television[edit][]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | EastEnders | Mugger | "18 August 1992" (season 8, episode 66) |
| 1993 | the Bill | Janice | "Missionary Work" (season 9, episode 22) |
| To Play the King | Prostitute | Supporting role; TV mini-series | |
| 1999 | Emma | Presenter | TV show |
| 2003, 2005, 2012 | Absolutely Fabulous | Herself | "Cleanin'" (season 5, episode 1)
"Huntin', Shootin', Fishin'" (season 5, episode 4) "Comic Relief Special" (season 5, episode 10) "Job" (season 6, episode 2) |
| 2006 | Neighbours | Herself | "What's a Spice Girl Like You...?" (episode 5171) |
| Strictly Come Dancing | Contestant/Herself/Competitor | Season 4; finalist—third place | |
| 2008 | Richard & Judy | Presenter | Season 2008, while Judy Finnigan was recovering from a knee operation. |
| [[The X-Factor 9UK TV series) | Mentor/Herself/Judge | Season 5, episodes 9 and 10 | |
| American Idol | Mentor/Herself/Judge | Season 7, episode 30 | |
| 2008, 10, 11, 12 | Celebrity Juice | Team captain/Panellist | |
| 2008—2009 | Loose Women | Co-presenter/Panellist | September 2008 — January 2009 |
| 2009 | Eurovision: Your Country Needs You | Mentor/Herself/Judge | Season 1, episode 4 |
| The F Word | Mentor/Herself/Judge | Season 4, episode 11 | |
| 2010 | Let's Dance for Comic Relief | Mentor/Herself/Judge | Season 1, episode 1 |
| GMTV with Lorraine | Guest presenter | Season 2010 | |
| Don't Stop Believing | Presenter | ||
| 2010—2011 | Lorraine | Guest presenter | 8 October 2010 — 7 January 2011 |
| 2010—2012 | Dancing on Ice | Mentor/Herself/Judge | Season 5 |
| 2012 | The Spice Girls Story: Viva Forever | Herself | Documentary about the Spice Girls |
| 2013— | Your Face Sounds Familiar | Herself/Judge | ITV entertainment series |
| This Morning Summer | Herself/Co-presenter | Guest presenter on Fridays | |
| I Heart Glee | Herself/Presenter | Documentary about the US TV series Glee |
Film[edit][]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Thatcherworld | Josie Jenkins | Main role; TV movie |
| 1997 | Spice World | Baby Spice | Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress
Nominated — Golden Raspberry Award for Worst New Star Nominated — Orange Blimp Award for Favorite Movie Actress Nominated — Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress – Comedy |
| 2001 | Yes You Can | Pop Angel | Main role |
| 2004 | Pyaar Mein Twist | Kylie Milligan | Bollywood film |
| 2005 | Chocolate | Tabetha Gagoh | Bollywood film |
| 2007 | Giving You Everything | Herself | Documentary |
| 2009 | Ant & Dec's Christmas Show | Evil Stepmother | TV movie |
| 2012 | Keith Lemon: The Film | Herself | Supporting role |
Radio[edit][]
| Year | Title | Station | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–present | The Saturday Show | Heart FM | Presenter | Global Radio programming |
| 2013–present | Weekday Morning Slot | Heart FM(London only) | Presenter | Local radio programming with Jamie Theakston |
Discography[edit][]
Main article: Emma Bunton discography*A Girl Like Me (2001)
- Free Me (2004)
- Life in Mono (2006)