Mel C confirmed as new coach on The Voice Kids

Mel C is joining The Voice Kids as a new coach – as Paloma Faith steps down from her role on the panel.

The Spice Girl legend, 47, will take her seat alongside returning coaches Danny Jones, will.i.am and reigning champion Pixie Lott in the search for the next generation of singing talent, while Emma Willis is back to host the series.

The series won’t air until Christmastime, and will see an array of singers, aged seven to 14, taking to the stage in a bid to impress the star coaching panel and get those big red chairs turning.

Mel C said: ‘I’ve always been a huge fan of The Voice so I am super excited to be a coach on The Voice Kids this year. I can’t wait to get in one of those big red chairs and Spice things up!’

Of Mel coming aboard, Danny said: ‘I’m chuffed to have Melanie C joining the gang. 

‘Every year when I think the talent can’t be topped I find myself blown away by the new up and coming kids. I’m looking forward to discovering some brand new little superstars, it’s also a mission of mine to catch up with Pixie’s winning streak.’

Pixie gushed: ‘I am the biggest Spice Girls fan, they were the first concert I ever went to, so it’s such a thrill to have Melanie C joining the show too, upping the level of girl power even more!’

will.i.am said: ‘A big welcome to Melanie C this year, also known as Sporty Spice. What do you think of the nickname Coach Spice?’

Paloma decided to step down due to the imminent arrival of her second child.

Mel recently made headlines when she reflected on her battle with depression, stressing the importance of reaching out to loved ones for help.

The Spice Girl was diagnosed with depression more than two decades ago and has often spoken about it as well as struggling with an eating disorder. 

While chatting on The Graham Norton Radio Show on Virgin Radio, Mel encouraged her fans to ‘never be embarrassed’ to talk about their mental health.  

Mel explained how at first she was too ‘ashamed’ to talk about it, but speaking about how she was feeling was an essential part of getting well again.

She said: ‘I kept those secret and I think people are quite aware of it around you but they don’t know how to approach you.

‘I think I would have just said “people love you and care about you, please reach out to them”… So often you need that external help, you have to be ready, but you do need help and personally for me I needed professional help.’ 

The Who I Am singer continued that she thinks many people are ’embarrassed’ to speak up despite it being vital.  

She added: ‘I’ve suffered with an eating disorder as well. I think a lot of people feel very ashamed and very embarrassed about it like it’s a weakness and you’ve lost this control… 

‘It’s so important to reach out and never, ever be embarrassed. We all have problems and concerns. People need people.

‘If anybody close to me was going through it [depression], I think you just need to reach out when you’re depressed…’ 

Elsewhere in the interview, Melanie – who released her self-titled eighth solo album last year – admitted she’s made peace with the fact she will always be remembered as a Spice Girl.

She said: ‘When you’ve been part of something as enormous as the Spice Girls that’s the thing that everybody’s going to remember you for, but I’m so grateful that it’s enabled me to go on and make my eighth studio album.’

If you have been affected by this story, you can call Beat on 0808 801 0677 or visit www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk or call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.