Early Days with the Group
Lianne Morgan was initially selected as part of the original line-up of the girl group that would become the Spice Girls. Alongside Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, and Melanie Brown, she was a member of the group then known as 'Touch'. However, Morgan was later replaced by Mel C, reportedly because at 23 years old, she was considered "too old against the other girls."
After returning from a cruise ship engagement, Morgan saw the group performing their hit "Wannabe" on Top of the Pops. She recalled her reaction to the moment:
"I was so pleased for them and got out their numbers and was going to call to say congrats. But then thought no, I won't, they might not even remember me,"
In the 1990s, Morgan attended an audition at Nomis Studios in London and was chosen to be part of the girl group called Touch with Geri Halliwell, Melanie Brown, and Victoria Adams. She described the audition process and her fit for the group:
"I fitted the bill for what they were looking for as I was a singer and dancer with an edge and confidence. Having sang in Welsh social clubs as well as up North I was confident and could hold an audience and deal with hecklers. I could hold my own,"
The mother of two, now 55, noted that Geri Halliwell was the first member who "stood out" to her:
"Geri was great fun to be around and I would have definitely been closest to her, she was the most grounded one,"
She also described Victoria Beckham as "very quiet and shy," adding:
"She did not want to sing at all, she kept on saying I am not a singer I am a dancer."
Regarding Melanie Brown, Morgan said:
"She was so confident, even at just age 16. She had an incredible voice and I knew she would be picked but felt she was very, very young,"
Career and Group Dynamics
Morgan expressed excitement about joining the group, having formed friendships during the audition process and looking forward to living with the other members in London:
"Being an only child I have always enjoyed the family feel to when you are doing a tour, or when I was in a group, so that was mainly the thing I was looking forward to."
However, she recalled financial stress during this period, as they were only paid about £50 per week. Ultimately, she was replaced by Mel C before the group achieved worldwide fame as the Spice Girls. She explained the reason given for her replacement:
"I received a letter to say that they felt I looked too old against the other girls which I was seven years older than most of them, I was only 23 at the time,"
Reaction to the Group's Success
Following her departure, Morgan became a principal singer on a cruise ship touring the fjords in Norway. While on the ship, British passengers mentioned a girl group gaining popularity in Britain. Morgan did not realize it was her former group until she returned home and saw them perform "Wannabe" on Top of the Pops. She described the moment:
"I kept doing a double-take and then I realised it was the girls. I was so pleased for them and got out their numbers and was going to call to say congrats. But then thought no, I won't, they might not even remember me."
She later found that her concerns were unfounded, as both Halliwell and Beckham mentioned her fondly in their autobiographies and wondered what had happened to her after she left the group. Morgan reflected on the impact of the Spice Girls' success:
"I actually felt it was a real positive for girls in the music industry and it made me feel like if they can do it I can do it,"
However, Morgan said she was portrayed as "bitter" in the press after leaving the group, which was upsetting and had a lasting effect on her singing career. She commented:
"You have to know how to play the game and I was just too naive,"
Later Career and Health Challenges
Over the years, Morgan built a varied career in music, education, and the arts. She performed professionally, managed music projects for young people, and later worked as an artist and community creative.
She shared her work with young people, including those with Tourette's syndrome and nonverbal individuals, highlighting her successes:
"These are my success stories when they can stand and give a presentation to their peers, which felt like a huge accomplishment."
In 2011, Morgan was diagnosed with Spasmodic Dysphonia, a rare neurological condition that paralyzed her voice box. She made a career change in 2014 following this diagnosis. She described the experience:
"It was a devastating diagnosis and after years of treatment it would often leave me with difficulty to speak above a whisper, so I decided to embrace a new road. I realised that my main love has always been connection and communication and this is what music and singing has been for me, so I embraced this through the process of art,"
Morgan has received Arts Council Wales funding for her projects including No Word and A Vibrational World. She currently has a studio in Cardiff Bay and is working on a new exhibition planned for 2028.
30th Anniversary of "Wannabe"
To mark the 30th anniversary of "Wannabe," the Spice Girls shared tributes on social media. Geri Halliwell posted a throwback photo of the group, thanking her "beautiful spice sisters" and fans. Mel B celebrated with the message: "Zigazig ahhhh Yipppeeee." Emma Bunton posted a picture with the caption: "Happy birthday Wannabe, 30 years! Love you all. Thank you!" Meanwhile, Mel C described the song as "the song that changed our lives forever."
