Lorraine Kelly recalls ‘flashing the nation’ when she met the Spice Girls in 1996

Lorraine Kelly will be repping her native Scotland on Friday as she heads to Wembley Stadium to watch them play England in the Euros 2020.

And joining her will be Spice Girl Mel C – there to cheer on the opposing team.

But Lorraine insists any rivalry will be sports-womanly and cordial – and that she was one of the first to chat to Mel and her fellow Spice Girls when they were catapulted to stardom in 1996 with their debut single Wannabe.

‘I tried on their big shoes and the nation saw my knickers!’ Lorraine Kelly has recalled meeting Spice Girls in 1996 as she prepares to watch England vs Scotland with Sporty Spice Mel C

‘The first time they performed Wannabe on TV was on the Southbank for GMTV,’ Lorraine, 61, recalled in a chat with MailOnline. ‘They were this new girl band – and I thought then, they’ve got something.

‘They were clever. There was something there for every little girl. And then of course they went from strength-to-strength. It’s nice to see them do their own things as well. They’re a great bunch of girls.’

Wannabe – which marked its 25th birthday this week – went straight to number one, with Lorraine interviewing the band – which also features Mel B, Emma Bunton, Victoria Beckham, and Geri Horner – about it at the time.

‘I interviewed them a couple of months later when they got to number one. And Mel B brought in her big shoes and I tried them on,’ Lorraine recalls. ‘I did this Zig-A-Zig-Ah high kick and the whole nation saw my knickers. I’m sure that’s not what they wanted to see!’

25 years later: 'I interviewed them when they got to number one. And Mel B brought in her big shoes and tried them on,' Lorraine recalls

25 years later: ‘I interviewed them when they got to number one. And Mel B brought in her big shoes and tried them on,’ Lorraine recalls

Friendly rival: Lorraine will be repping her native Scotland on Friday as she heads to Wembley Stadium to watch them play England in the Euros 2020. And joining her will be Spice Girl Mel C - there to cheer on the opposing team

Friendly rival: Lorraine will be repping her native Scotland on Friday as she heads to Wembley Stadium to watch them play England in the Euros 2020. And joining her will be Spice Girl Mel C – there to cheer on the opposing team

Of joining Sporty Spice Mel C on Friday to watch the match, Lorraine’s excitement is palpable.

‘I have never been to Wembley! Whenever I’ve watched Scotland play they’ve been away abroad or at Hampden,’ she said. ‘And I haven’t seen my team, Dundee, play for ages. I’m so missing it!

‘These games – you throw form out the window. On paper, England are better than us. But you can’t look at that. Things are more to do with passion or luck or what happens on the day.

‘Apparently 86 per cent of Scotland fans say that beating England would be as emotional as winning the whole tournament! So this game means such a lot.

She wears them well: 'I did this Zig-A-Zig-Ah high kick and the whole nation saw my knickers. I'm sure that's not what they wanted to see!' Lorraine remembers

She wears them well: ‘I did this Zig-A-Zig-Ah high kick and the whole nation saw my knickers. I’m sure that’s not what they wanted to see!’ Lorraine remembers

Scottish Spice? Wannabe - which marked its 25th birthday this week - went straight to number one, with Lorraine interviewing the band about it at the time

Scottish Spice? Wannabe – which marked its 25th birthday this week – went straight to number one, with Lorraine interviewing the band about it at the time

‘When England won the World Cup in 1966, Scotland beat England the following year, when Jim Baxter was playing. My dad still talks about as one of THE moments of football. So this could be a momentous win!’

Lorraine has been a football fan for decades, with her husband Steve taking her to watch Hearts play Dundee United at Tannadice for their first date, in 1985. 

‘I know it’s only a game, but the passion is there, and the Tartan Army are brilliant ambassadors for Scotland,’ she adds. ‘Whenever you see them abroad, it’s like an invasion, and it’s all great natured.

‘Obviously the tiny minority take it too far, and drink on empty heads which is a great shame. But on the pitch when the whistle goes, they will be shaking each other’s hands.

Lorraine insisted: 'I'll be giving Mel C lots of cuddles, whoever wins!'

Lorraine insisted: ‘I’ll be giving Mel C lots of cuddles, whoever wins!’

Pals: Lorraine is working with Booking.com, along with Mel C, Mark Wright and Nathan Evans, for their #RivalsReUnited campaign

Pals: Lorraine is working with Booking.com, along with Mel C, Mark Wright and Nathan Evans, for their #RivalsReUnited campaign

‘And I’ll be giving Mel C lots of cuddles, whoever wins!’

Lorraine is working with Booking.com, along with Mel C, Mark Wright and Nathan Evans, for their #RivalsReUnited campaign.

They aim to bring opposing fans together after their research shows that six in 10 English fans (62 per cent) and Scottish fans (62 per cent) say football fans are rivals on the pitch but friends off it. 

England vs Scotland Euro 2020 will air on ITV from 8PM on Friday. 

Three lions! Mel will be flying the flag for England at Friday's match [pictured at Euro 96]

Three lions! Mel will be flying the flag for England at Friday’s match [pictured at Euro 96]