FRINGE BENEFITS

The Spice Girls will soon be fronting the next campaign for the L'Oreal range of hair care products after signing a multi-million pound promotional deal. The brand with the tagline "Because I'm worth it" obviously believes that the quintet will be able to follow in the footsteps of Andi MacDowell and David Ginola who both sacrificed dignity for a wad of cash and a shiny pelt.

Of course, the Spice Girls won't be the first singers to have shamelessly flung themselves onto the haircare gravy train, though they may be the first to actually resemble the rabbits whose eyes their product was tested on (just joking! - rabbits are far more attractive).

A source close to the band, who asked to be un-named as they might actually not exist, gushed,

"They are back in a big, big way, and they're not going to stop at a tour. They are in talks to sign with L'Oreal, and have a lot of other things in the pipeline." Wow. First Tesco, then L'Oreal... what next for 'Girl Power'? The Halfords bicycle sale?

At least it'll be a challenge to make Emma Bunton, the woman with the largest head and thinnest hair in pop, look like she's sporting a glossy mane. But I don't envy the stylist confronted with that John Merrick-style forehead on the day of the shoot.