We know how we got this far
Strength and courage in a wonderbra

Facing a rather gruelling trip combined with grinding toothache and not enough sleep last night, I discovered to my delight that I could watch Spice World, the 1997 film starring the Spice Girls which I had never actually seen. I must say it cheered me up immensely. It is total nonsense, but not actually offensively bad; the music is toe-tappingly compelling; it is fun to see Meat Loaf, Richard O’Brien, Roger Moore, etc all doing their bit for this deeply silly project; also fun of course to see Naoko Mori in pre-Torchwood days (and likewise Richard E. Grant and Claire Rushbrook before their rather different Doctor Who connections). As for the Spice Girls themselves, it’s clear that while Mel C is the best singer, Geri Halliwell is the best actual performer, and already not quite in sync with the rest of the team. (Her best line: “Haven’t you ever heard of the word ‘compromisaton’?”)

It is perhaps 30 years since I watched A Hard Day’s Night, and I entirely accept the view that this is a pale imitation of it, but it lifted my spirits when they needed lifting, and you can’t ask much more than that.