Spice Girls Pull Out Of 'X Factor' Final Performance After Lining Up 5 After Midnight Duet

The Spice Girls have allegedly pulled out of plans to perform at this year’s ‘X Factor’ final. 

According to reports, the band were hoping to use the show as their big comeback as a trio, duetting with finalists 5 After Midnight. 

However, Mel B, Emma Bunton and Geri Horner have dropped out due to scheduling clashes, leaving bosses scrambling to find a replacement. 

A source told The Sun the girls were impressed after seeing the boys put their spin on their hit ‘Say You’ll Be There’ earlier in the series, and were keen to collaborate.

“The girls were very keen to make it happen and negotiations went on throughout the week,” the insider said. 

“But at the end of the day they couldn’t make the schedules work. Mel B was in town for the filming of ‘Lip Sync Battle’, but she has to get to New York to start rehearsals for ‘Chicago’ on Broadway.

“They did everything they could to make the schedules work at the end of the day but it just couldn’t happen.”

While the source added the girls still have plans for 2017, it still leaves 5 After Midnight without a star act to collaborate with in the final. 

It seems early reports they would perform with The Weeknd have turned out to be false, while The Sun has suggested they could team up with Clean Bandit and last year’s winner Louisa Johnson for a rendition of their track ‘Tears’. 

Meanwhile, it’s also been claimed Nicole Scherzinger will perform with her act Matt Terry, after both Sam Smith and James Arthur turned down the chance to sing with him. 

However, it is looking like bookies’ favourite Saara Aalto will still be welcoming Adam Lambert to the stage during Saturday’s (10 December) final. 

Reports the Spice Girls were in negotiations for a performance seem to contradict what Mel B had told the Radio Times in an interview earlier this week, when she cast doubt on the group’s reunion altogether. 

“I’m not sick of talking about it. If anything, I want to keep on talking about it until something actually happens, because as of right now there’s nothing booked, there’s nothing set in stone, nothing’s been signed,” she revealed.

“I’m off doing Broadway for the next three months [in ‘Chicago’] and I go straight into America’s Got Talent so I’m pretty busy all of next year, but if anybody said to me, ‘Okay, the Spice Girls are going to perform next week’, I’d be the first one right there!”

Little Mix, Kylie Minogue and The Weeknd are all confirmed as guest performers over the weekend’s ‘X Factor’ final, which airs on Saturday and Sunday at 8pm on ITV.