Mel C transforms from Sporty Spice to dowdy West End stage Mama for Blood Brothers role

Thirteen years ago she was high-kicking and back flipping her way onto the music scene as one-fifth of Britain's biggest girl band.

But former Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm couldn't look further from her once energetic Sporty Spice image in her new guise as dowdy Mrs Johnstone in the West End musical Blood Brothers.

The 35-year-old, who gave birth to her first child in February, daughter Scarlet, is taking over the role from former X Factor contestant Niki Evans next week at London's Phoenix Theatre.

Now and then: Former Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm as Mrs Johnstone (L) in the West End musical Blood Brothers and (R) in 1997 in her Sporty Spice heyday

And as these photographs show, Mel's new look is far from that of a popstar.

In one shot, she is seen wearing a tweed coat complete with yellow tights while in another she dons an unflattering floral apron.

The musical is based on the play by Liverpudlian Willy Russell and is now in its 21st year on the West End stage.

Mama Spice: She will take on the dowdy mother role starting next week, seen here with Stephen Palfreman, who plays one of her twin sons

It tells the story of twins Eddie and Mickey who are separated at birth after Mrs Johnstone gives one of them up because she can't afford to raise them.

The twins' different backgrounds take them to opposite ends of the social spectrum, one becoming an Oxbridge graduated councillor and the other unemployed and imprisoned.

Both fall in love with the same girl, with tragic consequences.

Twins together: She poses with on stage sons, played by Palfreman (L) and Richard Reynard (R)

Not so sporty now: Mel will grace the stage in a series of dowdy outfits

It will mark Mel's first turn on the West End stage and will see her treading the boards for a six-month run.

Meanwhile it has been reported that The Spice Girls are planning to bring their story to the West End stage.

Recent reports that the group is to reform have been denied by the band's members.

Stony broke: Mrs Johnstone is forced to give one of her twins up at birth because she cannot afford to raise them both

It has now been claimed that their story will be made into a musical for London's West End.

A source said: 'The project is really Geri's baby, but all the girls are backing it.

'The idea is for five relatively unknown actresses to take the parts and, hopefully, the girls will each have a say in who is cast.'

Treading the boards: It will see the former singer make her West End debut and she will play the role for six months