Football pundit and former England defender Micah Richards has shared a surprising childhood anecdote that left his podcast co-hosts Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer completely stunned.
A Star-Studded Childhood Revelation
During a recording of the popular The Rest Is Football podcast, Richards casually disclosed that Melanie 'Mel B' Brown, the iconic Scary Spice from the world-famous Spice Girls, used to be his babysitter. The revelation prompted an incredulous reaction from his fellow presenters.
"Mel B, she used to babysit me when I was younger," Richards stated, adding that his sister still does the pop star's hair today. He explained the connection dates back to his early years in Leeds, long before Mel B found global fame with the best-selling girl group in history in the 1990s.
Lineker and Shearer's Gobsmacked Reaction
Alan Shearer's immediate response was one of pure disbelief. "Can I just ask… what the f*** am I on here?" he interjected. Gary Lineker was similarly taken aback, simply describing the information as "unbelievable."
Shearer couldn't resist a playful nod to the Spice Girls' most famous hit, joking: "Did she tell you what she wanted, what she really, really wanted?" Richards, now 37, confirmed he remains in touch with Mel B and had spoken to her just a couple of months prior to the podcast recording.
Savouring Secrets and Lasting Links
Richards played coy about further details of the unusual connection, suggesting he had to save something for future podcast episodes. "It’s not known. You’ve always got to save something for the pod, haven’t you? Always have something up your sleeve," he teased.
While he admitted his memories of the time are hazy, he confirmed photographic evidence exists from the era. The Spice Girls, who split up in 2001, were at the peak of their fame in the 90s. After the group disbanded, Mel B built a successful television career, appearing on shows like America's Got Talent and The Masked Singer.
Richards' own career saw him shoot to prominence as a teenage star for Manchester City, where he won the Premier League and the FA Cup. Injuries later curtailed his playing days before he transitioned into his current role as a regular pundit for broadcasters including the BBC, Sky, and CBS.
