Many girls (around 400) responded and they were split into groups of 10 for group perfomances. After 2 hours, the numbers were down to just 50 for solo auditions, including Melanie Brown (who sang 'The Greatest Love Of All' by Whitney Houston), Melanie Chisholm (who sang 'I'm So Excited' by the Pointer Sisters) and Victoria Adams (who sang 'Mein Heirr' from Cabaret). A short while later, these 3 girls along with 9 others were called back, although Melanie Chisholm missed it due to tonsillitis. They had a brief interview and then choreographed routines to 'Just A Step From Heaven' by Eternal in groups of 4. It was at this point Geri Halliwell (having missed the first auditions) appeared, and the girls were given Stevie Wonder's 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered' to learn. A week later they were back to perform and Melanie Brown, Geri Halliwell, Victoria Adams, Lianne Morgan and Michelle Stephenson, were picked as the girl group ' the Herberts were looking for, Touch'. Soon afterwards however the line-up changed as Melanie Chisholm replaced Lianne Morgan as she was younger and it was felt Lianne should pursue a solo career. They spent a week in a Guesthouse in Surrey, spending days rehearsing in Trinity Studios (in Knaphill) and getting to know each other.

The 5 girls then moved in to 58 Boyn Hill Road in Maidenhead for 9 months, a house owned by financier Chic Murphy. Melanie Brown and Melanie Chisholm shared a room, Victoria Adams and Michelle Stephenson shared a room and Geri Halliwell had a single 'box' room. They continued to rehearse at Trinity Studios, but it soon became clear that Michelle Stephenson was not fitting in and she left to pursue a University place and care for her ill mother. Emma Bunton was suggested as a replacement by Pepi Lemer, a singing coach who worked with the girls in July 1993. The other 4 went to collect her from Maidenhead Station in Geri's green Fiat Uno. The girls soon adapted, and the line-up we all know and love was complete!

The name 'Spice' was coined by Geri in August 1993, and they continued to record and rehearse. A showcase was arranged for December 1993, where the girls sang some of their songs, one being 'We're Going To Make It Happen', at Nomis Studios, London, in front of lots of Music Industry experts who showed interest. Not long afterwards, the girls decided they wanted to do their own thing and not be governed by Chris and Bob. They did a midnight flit from the house in Maidenhead in 1994 leaving their managers behind. They managed themselves and wrote songs with Elliot Kennedy, and duo Matt Rowe and Richard 'Biff' Stannard such as 'Love Thing' and 'Wannabe'. Then came the long hunt for a new manager. Geri was armed with her Filofax full of management companies, and they went round auditionning managers, which initially was unsuccessful. In the end they chose Simon Fuller from 19 Management, signing in March 1995.

The girls recorded material for their debut album while Simon Fuller tried to find a good record deal. In September 1995, the girls signed to Virgin Records and they also signed to US music publishers Windswept Pacific in November 1995. They then started a promotional tour in the USA and finished off their album.

'Wannabe' (famously written in just 20 minutes) was the first single off the album, 'Spice'. The video, shot in St Pancras Station in London, had been very successful on music channel 'The Box' from May 1996, and pop magazines (such as 'Top Of The Pops' and 'Smash Hits') had also given publicity and shown interest, interviewing the girls. Peter Lorraine of 'Top Of The Pops' magazine coined the girls nicknames (Scary, Ginger, Baby, Posh and Sporty) over a lunch in Notting Hill.

'Wannabe' was released in the UK on the 8th July 1996 and went in at Number 3 on the 14th July. A week later the girls had their first interview in a national paper, and their single went to Number 1 and stayed there for 7 weeks selling 4 million. It went on to be Number 1 in 31 countries, the most successful debut ever. Girl Power was born!