Zigga zig aargh: Spiceworld reborn

I'm suddenly feeling ancient. The music of the Spice Girls, if not the members of the band, is being resurrected for the stage as a Mamma Mia-style musical: Viva Forever, indeed. The group that will never say goodbye.

The original Spice Girl fans are now of at least college age and perhaps feeling nostalgic for their first obsession with Girl Power. The demographic could be huge, especially if the storyline is strong enough.

With Simon Fuller's participation, the show will not want for marketing nous, commercial merchandise exploitation and cross-platform promotion. Mr Fuller was the Spice Girl's manager and is an executive with his mitts all over the Idol series that Simon Cowell fronted until recently.

Perhaps the Spice Girl musical is a punt at a post-Idol world if The X Factor replaces American Idol in the hearts and minds of the US viewing public.