melanie chisholmMelanie Chisholm has confirmed that she’s several months pregnant with her first child.

The former Spice Girl announced the news of her website last night, saying: “Some happy news. Well, I can now announce that [partner Tom Starr] and I are expecting a baby and we are very happy.

“As I’m sure you’ll understand we needed time to wait for results and tell our families.

“I will be taking it easy but am also excited to start writing for the fifth album. I will need to take some time off to be a mum but, before you know it, we’ll be back.”

Mel is the last of the five Spice Girls to have a baby and last month complained that everyone was always pushing her about when she was going to start a family.

She told a magazine: “Everybody asks whether I’m going to be next or whether I’m trying. I hate to disappoint people, but the answer is ‘no’.”

The baby is thought to be due early in the new year and will take the grand total of Spice Babies to eight: Victoria Beckham has three sons (Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz), Melanie Brown two daughters (Phoenix Chi and Angel), Geri Halliwell a daughter (Bluebell) and Emma Bunton a son (Beau).