Original Spice Girl Lianne Morgan on being dropped for looking 'too old'

Lianne Morgan, now 55, was originally selected for the group Touch—later the Spice Girls—alongside Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, and Melanie B. She was replaced by Mel C because at 23 she was deemed 'too old' compared to the others. Morgan first heard Wannabe on Top of the Pops after returning from a cruise ship gig. She considered calling the group to congratulate them but decided against it, thinking they might not remember her. Both Halliwell and Beckham later mentioned her fondly in their autobiographies. After leaving, Morgan built a career in music, education, and the arts. In 2011 she was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, a rare neurological condition that paralyzed her voice box, leading her to shift focus to visual art. She received Arts Council Wales funding for projects No Word and A Vibrational World, and currently has a studio in Cardiff Bay working on an exhibition planned for 2028.