While the Spice Girls are keen to stress their comeback tour will be a family affair with husbands and children in tow, David Beckham is likely to miss nearly all of the girl group’s North America shows so he can concentrate on looking after his dad, Ted, in the UK.

Ted Beckham had an almost fatal heart attack in September, with David flying in from Los Angeles to be with him during the early touch-and-go days. David then had to return to California for the end of the soccer season but is said to be planning an extended break in the UK over the next two months to look after his dad.

A source close to the family told the People newspaper: “Ted is still very weak. He’s having a lot of trouble with breathing and can’t work at the moment.”

“David wants to spend most of December and January with his dad to make sure there’s no stress which could bring on another heart attack. He also wants to give Ted’s house a full makeover so it’s a comfortable place to live.”

“Victoria has been very understanding about David’s concern for his dad. She’d have loved David by her side when she hits the stage but she knows how concerned he is about his dad. Victoria has already told him Ted’s health must be his priority.”

The source added David, who reconciled with Ted earlier in the year after falling out after Ted wrote an unauthorised book about his son in 2004, is keen to remain on good terms with his dad: “David doesn’t want his relationship with his father to deteriorate into what it was before they patched things up. He’s determined to make amends for the time they didn’t spend together.”