The single, the second album, and breaking America
Why are you giving the proceeds from your new single If That Were Me to charity?

I always wanted the royalties to go to charity because the song was inspired by homelessness. The lyrics are simple but very self-explanatory. Myself and my friends give spare change to homeless people but how's that going to help? We need to do something more constructive and help people have more pride in themselves. The charity I'm giving the money to, www.kandu-arts.com, is about getting people back on their feet, it's about music and TV, so they've got something to live for as well as somewhere to live.

This is the last single from Northern Star. Are you working on the second album?

Not yet. Things are always floating through my mind but I'm not back in the studio until this time next year. I'm going to America in the next few days to do some radio stuff because I'm number one in the dance chart over there. I'm going to try and break America - Brits abroad once again! Then I'll be back next year touring the UK again in February, then the rest of the world, then back in the studio!

Are you going to use the producers you used on the first album?

I'd like to work with some of the same people, well all of the same people! I really love the album and I couldn't do any better, but there are new people who are interested in me. The artists and producers I want to work with are very diverse in their musical styles. That's the way I like to write because it doesn't give you any boundaries. But I don't plan anything, we just go in and do it.

The truth about the Spice Girls
Lots of people reckon the Spice Girls are splitting up.

I'm really bored of having to clear up all these stories. When we released Wannabe everybody thought we were a one hit wonder and here we are three albums and nine number ones later. Yeah, we're all doing solo stuff but I hope the MTV Awards showed that we're still together, we're still very much a band. You're either built up by the press or you're getting battered by them. It's very sad this country's like that but it's something you have to accept. They'll continue to write it but the fans know the truth.

You were quoted as saying the MTV performance could be the Spice Girls' last.

That's not true. I don't know where that came from. You read stuff that you've never actually said. It's just very tedious. There's not going to be a tour next year, we haven't got time to fit it in. But that doesn't rule out the possibility of a tour the year after. We don't know what the next single's going to be. We've got to discuss that so you'll have to wait and see!

Christmas plans
Who's your bet for Christmas number one?

I think it would be great if Eminem could get to number one. Everyone's talking about Stan, aren't they? It's a great track. I don't know whether Spice Girls will be able to release a single in time for Christmas but I think a fantastic number one would be "Time Goes By" from the Forever album.

How are you spending Christmas?

I'm going home for Christmas as ever. I'm going to see my mum and dad and my family and friends and then I'm going on a little bit of a holiday. Time to relax after a hectic year.

Where are you going?

I'm not going to tell you! The paparrazi are going to follow me wherever I go but I'm trying to keep it secret for as long as I can!