Spice Girl Melanie C's sad admission about leaving the group

She was part of one of the most famous bands in the world - but Melanie Chisholm has revealed how she should have left the Spice Girls sooner for the sake of her mental health.

The pop star, 46, opened up on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs about her “relief” at being diagnosed with depression after the group disbanded in 2000, which felt a “weight had been lifted” off her shoulders.

Speaking to host Lauren Laverne, she explained she actually stayed “a bit longer” than she wanted to.

“A lot of that was because I was so unwell,” she said.

“I was struggling being in the company of the girls. I knew I had to go because I had to sort myself out.”

Mel C goes on to add she thinks her body took over her mind, revealing she went from being anorexic to having a binge eating disorder.

“That's when I went to my GP and I was diagnosed with depression. It was such a weight lifted off my shoulders,” she remembered.

“It was such a relief because I thought, ‘Oh my God, there's a name for it and I can be helped.'“

The singer also admitted her struggle to live up to her “gobby” and “boyish” persona as ‘Sporty Spice’, saying it used to hurt when she was described as the “plain one at the back” that doesn't really do or say much.

“That is really hurtful when you are a young aspiring pop star,” she said. “I tried to make myself perfect, whatever I deemed perfect to be.”

Added pressure, Mel claimed, also came from an incident at the Brit Awards in 1996, before the Spice Girls’ debut single Wannabe had been released.

The star recalled how she and bandmate Victoria Beckham had a “scuffle” and she was disciplined by their management.

Since 2015 the singer has been dating boyfriend Joe Marshall, and she has an 11-year-old daughter Scarlet from a previous relationship.

Mental health support for yourself or a loved one can be found by calling Lifeline on 13 11 14, Mensline on 1300 789 978, or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800. Online support is available via Beyond Blue.

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