Geri Halliwell has been revealed to be among the star-studded list of guests headlining at this year’s Hay Festival.

The Spice Girl, 51, will be joining in her capacity as an author, having penned a number of children’s books, including the popular Ugenia Lavender series.

The 11-day cultural event attracts around 300,000 people to Hay-on-Wye, Powys to celebrate literature each year, and saw pop superstar Dua Lipa headline last year.

Geri will be joined by Dame Judi Dench, who is leading the drama contributions by sharing extracts from her book, Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent.

Gary Lineker will also be making an appearance for the festival’s Sports Day and Miriam Margolyes will be discussing her memoir Oh Miriam! in the Inspiring Life Stories segment. 

Other famous faces appearing include singer Bonnie Tyler, actor Stephen Fry, presenter Sir Lenny Henry, How to Fail’s Elizabeth Day, singer-songwriter James Blunt, comedian David Baddiel, journalist Clive Myrie, The Repair Shop’s Jay Blades and musician Charlotte Church.

There will also be number of comedy shows during the festival, with sets from Sara Pascoe, Jon Ronson, Ruby Wax, Nish Kumar, Angela Barnes, Adam Kay, Josh Berry, Garth Marenghi, Sofie Hagen, Ahir Shah, Natalie Haynes, Julian Clary and Marcus Brigstocke.

While Nobel Prize-winning activist Maria Ressa and National Poet of Wales Hanan Issa will also appear, as well as former Prime Minister Theresa May and ex-politician Rory Stewart.

A registered charity, Hay Festival is one of the world’s best known cultural events, bringing readers and writers together around the world with programmes to inspire, examine and entertain.

Hay Festival chief executive Julie Finch said: ‘In a year when more voters than ever in history will head to the polls, as at least 64 countries hold their elections, we present a programme to bring people together, respectfully exploring different perspectives and the power of storytelling to unite us.

‘With new venues on our free-to-enter Festival site and diverse new projects throughout the programme, this is a festival for everyone. Join us in a world of different ideas.’

The famed literary event’s 37th spring edition is due to take place between May 23 to June 2, with tickets to go on sale at 12pm on Friday March 15. 

The announcement that Geri will be headlining at the event comes amid her husband Christian Horner’s ‘sex texts’ scandal. 

F1 Red Bull team principal, Christian, 50, has been the subject of intense speculation after he was accused of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by a female employee before the start of the 2024 season.

He had been cleared of allegations of ‘coercive behaviour’, but has been fighting for his future after flirtatious text messages apparently exchanged between him and the female complainant were divulged to 149 F1 figures.

Geri was spotted attending the Commonwealth Day Service in London on Monday after supporting her husband at both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prixs. 

Christian, who has won 13 world championships since heading the team as a 31-year-old in 2005, had previously thanked his ‘very supportive wife’ for her backing during the accusations.

Geri staged another public show of unity with Christian as she watched his team charge to victory with another one-two finish in Jeddah earlier this week.

Although the pair were seen cosying up again in front of the cameras, insiders claim that the leaked texts scandal ‘has been tough on her’.

Last week, Christian’s accuser was suspended on full pay as a direct result of Red Bull’s inquiry because she was reportedly ‘dishonest’ when giving evidence.

As the spotlight continues to glare on the couple, a source close to them told The Sun: ‘It’s been tough but Geri has been a rock for Christian through all this and he has spoken out about how much that means to him.

‘There was no question of her staying away from Saudi – that would have sent entirely the wrong message.’

Christian also faced reporters in a press conference on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s race and admitted that the scandal had taken its toll on his family, while fending off questions on the woman at the centre of it.

He also said his wife had been ‘hugely supportive’ but admitted the scandal had been ‘very trying’ on his family.

‘It’s obviously been a very trying period,’ he said. ‘I’m married and have three children. And when that intrusion includes your children and the scrutiny that is placed upon your marriage.

‘I’m very fortunate that I have a beautiful family and very supportive wife. Of course, It’s very trying, it’s very challenging. When there’s children involved, parents, families, it’s not pretty.’

He added that the grievance had been ‘dealt with in the most professional manner’ by Red Bull’s parent company GmbH, which had appointed one of the top ‘KCs in the land’.

After fielding a barrage of questions of the topic, he called for the invasion into his private life to cease and attention turned towards racing.

‘The intrusion on my family is now enough,’ he said. ‘We need to move forward. It’s time now to focus on why we’re here, which is to go Formula One racing.’

Friends of the star claimed last week that it it would ‘break her heart’ to end her marriage to Christian — the man she sees as the ‘Prince Charming’ she has longed for since she was a little girl.

It’s believed that the scandal put the couple’s marriage ‘in question for the first time’.

Friends close to Geri, who stood by her husband of nine years resolutely throughout the internal probe, revealed she had ‘the meltdown to end all meltdowns over the leaks’.

The mother-of-two has been left ‘feeling humiliated’ after the messages were spread ‘so widely out there’, a friend added.

Hundreds of intimate WhatsApp exchanges purportedly between Horner and the colleague were released via an anonymous email account.

Geri had told friends that she was ‘relieved and elated’ that the claims against her partner ‘had finally been cleared’.

Friends of the Spice Girl told the Mail she thought the scandal had ‘finally gone away’ but have warned the appearance of the intimate messages – to which there are 79 screenshots – could ‘destroy’ her.

One said: ‘All along Christian promised there was nothing in it.’

Another said he now fears for how the star, who has been left mortified at the embarrassing fall out, will be able to comprehend such a public humiliation.

He said: ‘Geri has been living in this happy, happy bubble for so many years now, she thought she had her prince and her knight in shining armour but now this.

‘She thought that it had all gone away, she was delighted and over the moon when she learned Christian had been cleared.

‘Geri was pilloried when she got together with Christian because he had just had another baby with another woman but she has worked hard to rid that image of herself and Christian, and in particular that she is a homewrecker.

‘Now it has all come crashing down. The tears stopped when the judgment came in on Wednesday, now they absolutely will have started again. This will destroy her. All along Christian promised there was nothing in it.’

The couple mixed in social circles before they struck up a romance, having first met each other at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2009.

Their relationship, however, got off to a rocky start, coming under fire after the Red Bull chief left his long-term partner Beverley Allen six months after she gave birth to their daughter Olivia.

While the couple took a short break to see if Christian could rescue his relationship with the mother of his child, just nine months later he announced his engagement to Geri in an advertisement in the The Times in 2014.

The couple tied the knot at St Mary’s Church in Woburn, Bedfordshire, in 2015 and welcomed son Monty in January 2017.

Geri also shares daughter Bluebell 17, with her screenwriter ex Sacha Gervasi, who she split from before giving birth.

Christian Horner received hundreds of comments from baffled fans after he posted a Mother’s Day message to wife Geri Halliwell on Sunday.

Fans claimed the timing of his message was ‘strategic’ amid his ‘sex texts’ scandal and branded him ‘stupid’ for not disabling comments on his Instagram.

The Red Bull team principal, 50, shared photos of Geri, 51, to mark Mother’s Day, along with a heartfelt tribute to her in the caption.

Christian had been cleared of allegations of ‘coercive behaviour’, but has been fighting for his future after flirtatious text messages apparently exchanged between him and the female complainant were divulged to 149 F1 figures.

The former Spice Girl has been in attendance at both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prixs to show her support to her husband amid the controversy.

Christian shared two photos of Geri featuring the couple’s seven-year-old son Monty, as well as another snap with his own mother Sara.

He wrote: ‘Happy Mother’s Day – So appreciative of the mums in our family for everything they do. We’re always grateful, today and every day.’

But fans were left pondering over his integrity amid his sweet post, with one claiming that he ‘wasn’t fooling anyone’.

Other comments read: ‘My brother, you are digging yourself a deeper hole.’

‘What a joke….’, while another read: ‘Why would he leave the comments on [laughing emoji]’. 

‘The audacity’, another penned: ‘Read the room…..’ 

Christian, who has won 13 world championships since heading the team as a 31-year-old in 2005, had previously thanked his ‘very supportive wife’ for her backing during the accusations.

The couple mixed in social circles before they struck up a romance, having first met each other at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2009.

‘[Geri] was a guest of [former CEO of the Formula One Group] Bernie Ecclestone’s in Monaco one year and came down the pit lane,’ Horner previously told The Telegraph. ‘I remember [McLaren boss] Ron Dennis was standing next to me and Eddie Jordan was there as well.

‘She gave Ron a kiss on the cheek, and she gave Eddie a kiss on the cheek. So I thought, ‘OK, I’m on for a kiss on the cheek here!’ And I went to give her one and she shoved her hand out at me.’

Their relationship, however, got off to a rocky start, coming under fire after the Red Bull chief left his long-term partner Beverley Allen six months after she gave birth to their daughter Olivia.

While the couple took a short break to see if Christian could rescue his relationship with the mother of his child, just nine months later he announced his engagement to Ginger Spice in an advertisement in the The Times in 2014.

It said: ‘The engagement is announced between Christian, son of Mr and Mrs G.M. Horner and Geraldine, daughter of the late Mr L.F. Halliwell and Mrs A Parkinson.’

The former Spice Girl and Red Bull boss tied the knot at St Mary’s Church in Woburn, Bedfordshire, in 2015.

The singer, shares Bluebell 17, with her screenwriter ex Sacha Gervasi. They split prior to her birth.

Geri staged another public show of unity with Christian as she watched his team charge to victory with another one-two finish in Jeddah earlier this week.

Although the pair were seen cosying up again in front of the cameras, insiders claim that the leaked texts scandal ‘has been tough on her’.

Earlier this week, Christian’s accuser was suspended on full pay as a direct result of Red Bull’s inquiry because she was reportedly ‘dishonest’ when giving evidence.

As the spotlight continues to glare on the couple, a source close to the couple told The Sun: ‘It’s been tough but Geri has been a rock for Christian through all this and he has spoken out about how much that means to him.

‘There was no question of her staying away from Saudi – that would have sent entirely the wrong message.’

Christian also faced reporters in a press conference on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s race and admitted that the scandal had taken its toll on his family, while fending off questions on the woman at the centre of it.

He also said his wife had been ‘hugely supportive’ but admitted the scandal had been ‘very trying’ on his family.

‘It’s obviously been a very trying period,’ he said. ‘I’m married and have three children. And when that intrusion includes your children and the scrutiny that is placed upon your marriage.

‘I’m very fortunate that I have a beautiful family and very supportive wife. Of course, It’s very trying, it’s very challenging. When there’s children involved, parents, families, it’s not pretty.’

He added that the grievance had been ‘dealt with in the most professional manner’ by Red Bull’s parent company GmbH, which had appointed one of the top ‘KCs in the land’.

After fielding a barrage of questions of the topic, he called for the invasion into his private life to cease and attention turned towards racing.

‘The intrusion on my family is now enough,’ he said. ‘We need to move forward. It’s time now to focus on why we’re here, which is to go Formula One racing.’

Friends of the star claimed last week that it it would ‘break her heart’ to end her marriage to Christian — the man she sees as the ‘Prince Charming’ she has longed for since she was a little girl.

It’s believed that the scandal put the couple’s marriage ‘in question for the first time’.

Friends close to Geri, who stood by her husband of nine years resolutely throughout the internal probe, revealed she had ‘the meltdown to end all meltdowns over the leaks’.

The mother-of-two has been left ‘feeling humiliated’ after the messages were spread ‘so widely out there’, a friend added.

Hundreds of intimate WhatsApp exchanges purportedly between Horner and the colleague were released via an anonymous email account.

Geri had told friends that she was ‘relieved and elated’ that the claims against her partner ‘had finally been cleared’.

Friends of the Spice Girl told the Mail she thought the scandal had ‘finally gone away’ but have warned the appearance of the intimate messages – to which there are 79 screenshots – could ‘destroy’ her.

One said: ‘All along Christian promised there was nothing in it.’

Another said he now fears for how the star, who has been left mortified at the embarrassing fall out, will be able to comprehend such a public humiliation.

He said: ‘Geri has been living in this happy, happy bubble for so many years now, she thought she had her prince and her knight in shining armour but now this.

‘She thought that it had all gone away, she was delighted and over the moon when she learned Christian had been cleared.

‘Geri was pilloried when she got together with Christian because he had just had another baby with another woman but she has worked hard to rid that image of herself and Christian, and in particular that she is a homewrecker.

‘Now it has all come crashing down. The tears stopped when the judgment came in on Wednesday, now they absolutely will have started again.

‘This will destroy her. All along Christian promised there was nothing in it.’

Embattled Red Bull team principal Christian Horner shared photos of his wife Geri Halliwell to mark Mother’s Day, despite the furore around his sex texts scandal.

The Red Bull boss, 50, had been cleared of allegations of ‘coercive behaviour’, but has been fighting for his future after flirtatious text messages apparently exchanged between him and the female complainant were divulged to 149 F1 figures.

Halliwell, the former Spice Girl, has been in attendance at both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prixs to show her support to her husband amid the controversy.

Horner shared two photos of Geri featuring the couple’s seven-year-old son Monty, as well as another snap with his own mother Sara.

‘Happy Mother’s Day – So appreciative of the mums in our family for everything they do,’ Horner wrote. ‘We’re always grateful, today and every day.’

Horner, who has won 13 world championships since heading the team as a 31-year-old in 2005, had previously thanked his ‘very supportive wife’ for her backing during the accusations.

Halliwell and Horner mixed in social circles before they struck up a romance, having first met each other at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2009.

‘[Geri] was a guest of [former CEO of the Formula One Group] Bernie Ecclestone’s in Monaco one year and came down the pit lane,’ Horner previously told The Telegraph. ‘I remember [McLaren boss] Ron Dennis was standing next to me and Eddie Jordan was there as well.

‘She gave Ron a kiss on the cheek, and she gave Eddie a kiss on the cheek. So I thought, ‘OK, I’m on for a kiss on the cheek here!’ And I went to give her one and she shoved her hand out at me.’

Their relationship, however, got off to a rocky start, coming under fire after the Red Bull chief left his long-term partner Beverley Allen six months after she gave birth to their daughter Olivia.

While the couple took a short break to see if Horner could rescue his relationship with the mother of his child, just nine months later he announced his engagement to Ginger Spice in an advertisement in the The Times in 2014.

It said: ‘The engagement is announced between Christian, son of Mr and Mrs G.M. Horner and Geraldine, daughter of the late Mr L.F. Halliwell and Mrs A Parkinson.’

The former Spice Girl and Red Bull boss tied the knot at St Mary’s Church in Woburn, Bedfordshire, in 2015.

Halliwell’s A-line lace bridal gown was designed by British designer Phillipa Lepley.

Bluebell, whom she had with screenwriter Sacha Gervasi in 2005, also attended the wedding.

Guests included Geri’s former Spice Girls co-star Emma Bunton, radio presenter and singer Myleene Klass, and TV presenter Amanda Holden.

Christian’s parents were reportedly left devastated when the sporting professional left Ms Allen to be with the chart-topping star and therefore chose not to see the duo tie the knot.

A source close to the couple previously said: ‘Geri and Christian are disappointed that his parents aren’t coming.’

Halliwell had last year recalled the lonely experience of being a single mum to her daughter Bluebell, comparing it to raising her son Monty with Horner.

The singer, shares Bluebell 17, with her screenwriter ex Gervasi. They split prior to her birth.

Halliwell said she needed ‘broad shoulders’ to raise Bluebell as a single parent and later struggled when ‘learning how to be a team.’

Geri told Giovanna: ‘I’ve experienced both and I can tell you that, yeah I had my mom to help me with Blue. So I’m very grateful. And her granddad is gorgeous so it was a fantastic role model for her.

‘He takes her to football, which is amazing and I think you know, they both have their blessings and challenges.

‘Being a single parent, mother you don’t have to answer to anyone, but it’s all on you. And that can be quite stressful and you have to be responsible. All the responsibilities are on you in every way.

‘Broad shoulders are needed and sometimes it’s lonely. So I’ve experienced that. And then, you know, having the blessing of having a lovely husband or partner, which I’ve experienced. That’s amazing.

‘So it’s not all on you, but then you’ve got to compromise, we might have, you know, we’re all different in the way we think things should be done. So learning to be a team, which has been a challenge for me.’

Halliwell staged another public show of unity with Horner as she watched his team charge to victory with another one-two finish in Jeddah yesterday.

Although Horner and Halliwell were seen cosying up again in front of the cameras, insiders claim that the leaked texts scandal ‘has been tough on her’.

Earlier this week, Horner’s accuser was suspended on full pay as a direct result of Red Bull’s inquiry because she was reportedly ‘dishonest’ when giving evidence.

As the spotlight continues to glare on Horner and Halliwell, a source close to the couple told The Sun: ‘It’s been tough but Geri has been a rock for Christian through all this and he has spoken out about how much that means to him.

‘There was no question of her staying away from Saudi – that would have sent entirely the wrong message.’

Horner also faced reporters in a press conference on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s race and admitted that the scandal had taken its toll on his family, while fending off questions on the woman at the centre of it.

He also said his wife had been ‘hugely supportive’ but admitted the scandal had been ‘very trying’ on his family.

‘It’s obviously been a very trying period,’ he said. ‘I’m married and have three children. And when that intrusion includes your children and the scrutiny that is placed upon your marriage.

‘I’m very fortunate that I have a beautiful family and very supportive wife. Of course, It’s very trying, it’s very challenging. When there’s children involved, parents, families, it’s not pretty.’

He added that the grievance had been ‘dealt with in the most professional manner’ by Red Bull’s parent company GmbH, which had appointed one of the top ‘KCs in the land’.

After fielding a barrage of questions of the topic, he called for the invasion into his private life to cease and attention turned towards racing.

‘The intrusion on my family is now enough,’ he said. ‘We need to move forward. It’s time now to focus on why we’re here, which is to go Formula One racing.’

Friends of the star claimed last week that it it would ‘break her heart’ to end her marriage to Christian — the man she sees as the ‘Prince Charming’ she has longed for since she was a little girl.

It’s believed that the scandal put the couple’s marriage ‘in question for the first time’.

Friends close to Halliwell, who stood by her husband of nine years resolutely throughout the internal probe, revealed she had ‘the meltdown to end all meltdowns over the leaks’.

The mother-of-two has been left ‘feeling humiliated’ after the messages were spread ‘so widely out there’, a friend added.

Hundreds of intimate WhatsApp exchanges purportedly between Horner and the colleague were released via an anonymous email account.

Halliwell had told friends that she was ‘relieved and elated’ that the claims against her partner had finally been dropped.

Friends of the Spice Girl told the Mail she thought the scandal had ‘finally gone away’ but have warned the appearance of the intimate messages – to which there are 79 screenshots – could ‘destroy’ her.

One said: ‘All along Christian promised there was nothing in it.’

Another said he now fears for how the star, who has been left mortified at the embarrassing fall out, will be able to comprehend such a public humiliation.

He said: ‘Geri has been living in this happy, happy bubble for so many years now, she thought she had her prince and her knight in shining armour but now this.

‘She thought that it had all gone away, she was delighted and over the moon when she learned Christian had been cleared.

‘Geri was pilloried when she got together with Christian because he had just had another baby with another woman but she has worked hard to rid that image of herself and Christian, and in particular that she is a homewrecker.

‘Now it has all come crashing down. The tears stopped when the judgment came in on Wednesday, now they absolutely will have started again.

‘This will destroy her. All along Christian promised there was nothing in it.’

Arriving hand-in-hand for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix wearing vintage Gucci and a poker face, Geri Horner was determined to give everyone a clear message: Stand By Your Man. 

Spice Girl Geri was seen sharing several PDAs with her beleaguered husband Christian Horner – after the humiliating leak of hundreds of WhatsApp messages, apparently exchanged between the Red Bull team principle and a female colleague. 

And yet the couple were all over each other, sharing kisses and huddling up close, all in full sight of the photographers.

It comes straight out of the playbook of a beleagured MP after a cheating scandal – kiss for the cameras and perhaps it will make everyone forget. 

Dominic West tried the same tactic in a notoriously awkward photoshoot with his wife in 2020, after he was caught in a passionate clinch with then co-star Lily James.

Another memorable cheating row from that same year saw a teary-eyed Will Smith put on a show of unity with Jada Pinkett-Smith after she admitted to an affair with musician August Alsina – by appearing on their family talk show.

Here, FEMAIL takes a look at the cringe-worthy moments of solidarity from seemingly hard-done spouses…

CHRISTIAN HORNER AND GERI HALIWELL 

Geri Halliwell shared a kiss with her beleaguered husband Christian Horner at the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend, amid scandal rumours.

It appeared that Christian leaned in to kiss his wife in full view of the cameras as the world watched their response to the controversy that has rocked Formula One.

After they shared a smooch, Geri seemed to look directly at photographers. 

Her husband, Red Bull F1 chief Christian, has faced allegations relating to hundreds of WhatsApp messages that appeared to be written by him to a female colleague.

Christian was cleared to continue as Red Bull head following an internal probe into ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by the F1 team’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH. The 50-year-old has always denied the claims. 

Christian initially broke cover on Saturday morning with no sign of Geri after his wife found out the texts were leaked as she was flying in a private jet.

Yet the couple walked hand-in-hand in the Paddock in Bahrain. Geri appeared red-eyed as she put on a brave face, smiling while her husband clenched her hand. 

Last week, Red Bull cleared Horner of inappropriate behaviour allegations which were made by a female employee.

But 24 hours later, flirtatious WhatsApp messages apparently exchanged between Christian and the female complainant were leaked to 149 F1 figures while Geri was on a flight to see her husband ahead of this weekend’s season opener.

An insider previously told the Mail it would be ‘mayhem’ if Geri showed her face at Saturday’s Grand Prix. 

However, Red Bull confirmed to Mail Sport on Saturday that the former Spice Girl would be on the grid and she was seen at around 1.20pm with her F1 boss husband.

Geri was holding ‘crisis talks’ over Christian’s leaked text messages and did not want to meet her husband in Bahrain until she was talked into it by his family, sources earlier claimed.

Red Bull workers are reportedly afraid that more messages may be leaked.

Christian, who has won 13 world championships since heading the team as a 31-year-old in 2005, had previously thanked his ‘very supportive wife’ for her backing during the accusations.

Geri and Christian mixed in social circles before they struck up a romance, having first met each other at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2009.

Their relationship, however, got off to a rocky start, coming under fire after the Red Bull chief left his long-term partner Beverley Allen six months after she gave birth to their daughter Olivia.

While the couple took a short break to see if Christian could rescue his relationship with the mother of his child, just nine months later he announced his engagement to Ginger Spice in a notice in the The Times in 2014.

The former Spice Girl and Red Bull boss tied the knot at St Mary’s Church in Woburn, Bedfordshire, in 2015.

Geri’s A-line lace bridal gown was designed by British designer Phillipa Lepley.

Her nine-year-old daughter, Bluebell, whom she had with screenwriter Sacha Gervasi in 2005, also attended the wedding.

Guests included Geri’s former Spice Girls co-star Emma Bunton, radio presenter and singer Myleene Klass, and TV presenter Amanda Holden.

DOMINIC WEST AND CATHERINE FITZGERALD

Dominic West and his wife struck a ‘denial pose’ in echoes of ‘unfaithful politicians trying to save their careers’ as they posed outside their house in 2020 – in a famously awkward photoshoot.

The actor, who wasn’t wearing his wedding ring, and his wife Catherine FitzGerald kissed and put on a united front outside their Wiltshire home after his passionate clinch with Lily James in Rome in a pose reminiscent of various MPs – including the likes of Piers Merchant. 

Speaking to FEMAIL at the time, body language guru Judi James said she was surprised the couple went for the ‘old-school and rather gruesome body language ritual known as ‘The Denial’ pose’ to prove their marriage is still ‘strong’ and that they’re ‘very much still together’.

‘Whether prompted by guilt or actual innocence, the denial ritual is notoriously and historically one of the trickiest non-verbal performances to pull off,’ she explained. 

‘A favourite of face-and-career-saving politicians, who would often involve their entire family in the Walton’s-style shots, the public have become cynical as a result of so many of them emerging just prior to a split.’ 

The photos came one day after the actor and the Mamma Mia! star Lily, caused quite the stir with their passionate – and very public – display and didn’t seem to mind who saw them as they cuddled up while taking in the sights of the Italian city. 

JADA PINKETT-SMITH AND WILL SMITH 

Many fans were left wincing after Will Smith four years ago joined his wife Jada Pinkett-Smit on Red Table Talk – for a candid conversation about the affair she had admitted to having.

During their talk on the Facebook show, the two openly discussed Jada’s ‘entanglement’ with August Alsina as they even addressed the break in their marriage in 2015. 

In the episode, the Hollywood couple sat opposite each other as they set the record straight and reaffirmed their commitment to each other.

Jada began explaining that the couple met August through their son Jaden, 25, and recalled the singer, who would have been 23 at the time, was ‘really sick’.

Jada said: ‘And it all started with him just needing some help, me wanting to help his health, his mental state. 

‘The outpouring for him from our family was initially about his health,’ she said. ‘We found all those different resources to help pull him through and from there you and I were going through a very difficult time.’ 

Following Jada’s confession Will admitted: ‘I was done with you,’ while Jada added that they decided to separate for a ‘period of time’.

‘And then what did you do, Jada?’ Will asked, urging his wife to keep talking. 

‘As time went on, I got into a different type of entanglement with August,’ Jada explained.

The mother-of-two went on to respond to August’s claim that Will gave her ‘permission’ to have an affair.

‘The only person that can give permission in that circumstance is myself,’ she insisted.

‘But what August was probably trying to communicate because I could see how he could see it as permission because we were separated amicably, and I think he wanted to make it clear he’s not a home wrecker, because he’s not.’

When Will pushed Jada to clarify what she meant by ‘entanglement’ she responded, ‘It was a relationship, absolutely.’ 

As Will made light of the fact that he’s being the dutiful husband and standing by his wife after her ‘transgressions’ amid intense media scrutiny, Jada admitted that she doesn’t see her relationship with August ‘as a transgression at all’.

Jade said: ‘Through that particular journey, I learned so much about myself and was able to really confront a lot of emotional immaturity, emotional insecurity and I was really able to do some really deep healing.

In October, Jada admitted that she decided to stay by Will’s side, the moment he slapped Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022.

‘I knew it was going to be an intense reaction. And that was the moment that I decided that I was going to stay by his side,’ she said on The One Show. ‘You know, it’s funny how intense situations can amplify love, and it was a pretty difficult time, but it definitely drew us closer. So yeah, it’s, crazy how things work.’

In the explosive memoir, she has revealed how the dynamics of her marriage with famous actor and Will changed after the Oscars.

The pair had secretly separated six years prior to the incident, with Jada confessing: ‘I’m not thinking in a million years he’s getting up on stage and it has anything to do with me!’

Speaking to Red magazine, she added: ‘That’s when your relationship gets deeper than romance or all the c**p that comes with marriage.

‘I was just really concerned about Will. And I realised in that moment that, as challenging as our relationship can be, I’m always going to be by his side, no matter what.’

At the 94th Academy Awards, Will strode onto the stage and slapped Chris after the comedian cracked a joke about Jada looking like ‘G.I. Jane’ because of her bald head when she had recently revealed that was suffering from alopecia.

While she and Will were living separately at the time, Jada explained that they’ve always had each other’s backs, more so now that they’re apart.

PIERS AND HELEN MERCHANT 

Disgraced former Tory MP Piers Merchant, who died in September, 2009, was caught with 17-year-old Soho nightclub ‘hostess’ Anna Cox at the height of the Tory sleaze furore before the 1997 General Election. 

His wife Helen Merchant backed her husband by declaring that he had been a ‘bloody fool’ but that she still loved him – and similarly appeared on the doorstep of the family home and kissed him passionately.

Piers, a committed Thatcherite, was Personal Private Secretary to Social Security Secretary Peter Lilley at the time of the Anna Cox scandal.

He immediately denied that he was having an affair with the Soho hostess claiming: ‘Anna is a dear friend of mine and has been helping my campaign.

‘But there is no question of us having an affair. I have never made love to her.’

He was quoted as saying: ‘That may well be me kissing her in the picture, but I see nothing wrong with that. I am sure my wife will not be the slightest bit concerned.’

Within days of being caught out by the Sun, Piers and his wife appeared on the doorstep of their family home and passionately kissed for the benefit of the assembled Press.

Despite the controversy, he retained his Beckenham seat at the election. 

He claimed that he had been the victim of an elaborate ‘sting’  and claimed that Cox had been recruited by the Sun from a Soho hostess bar.

Until the story broke in the Sun, Anna’s family had not known she was working in a strip club as a £100-a-night hostess.

The girl who had left school with ten GCSEs told them she was a waitress.

‘I’m not old enough to vote  –  but I’m old enough to know when I’ve been used,’ Ms Cox was quoted as saying at the time.

But despite the controversy over the pictures Piers then befriended Ms Cox and hired her as his assistant and began an affair.

He took Ms Cox to the Tory conference in Blackpool that year and they were videoed in another tabloid sting – set up by Merchant’s former colleague Anthony Gilberthorpe.

Gilberthorpe had been paid £25,000 by the Mirror, whose journalists had wired the flat with concealed video recorders to capture the couple’s cavortings.

He also invited the couple to stay in his York flat, secretly filmed them in bed and released that, too.

Pictures from their bedroom romp made the front page of the Sunday Mirror for a further two weeks.

Mrs Merchant still stood by her husband, insisting that Ms Cox was a family friend with whom she was happy for her husband to spend his nights.

But Piers later admitted to the Mail that he had slept with Ms Cox up to two months before the Tory conference.

In a detailed explanation of the affair, Piers told how he had broken the news of his infidelity to his wife in a mobile phone call onboard a packed commuter train.

And he was later forced to apologise for having lied to the public and his party about the affair when confronted.

Piers said: ‘As the story was breaking I made a statement which was deliberately misleading.

‘To counter the allegations, I issued a statement saying categorically: “Piers Merchant and Anna Cox are NOT having an affair.”

‘Strictly speaking, because of the tense, that was true. We were not having an affair – we were sitting at home with my wife and family. I admit it was deceptive. I was trying to be too clever, and I regret that.’

In 2004 Piers was caught out again cheating on his wife with 41-year-old property consultant Caroline Bew in yet another tabloid sting.

Piers quit as an MP 48 hours later under pressure from new Tory leader William Hague.

Ina statement he said: ‘This is entirely my own decision. I have been put under no pressure from anyone else to do this.

‘I have always tried to work as effectively as possible for all my constituents.

‘I have informed my agent and Conservative Association chairman but have not yet had the opportunity to discuss the matter.

‘I hope my quick decision will reduce damage to the local association.’

DAVID AND VICTORIA BECKHAM

In 2004, David Beckham’s former personal assistant Rebecca Loos made shocking claims of a affair with the football star – in the now defunct newspaper, News of the World.

David has always denied the affair, adding that the allegations were ‘ludicrous’.

In a documentary about his family last year, the athlete did not admit any guilty or anything remotely inappropriate but said the stories were ‘horrible’ and left him ‘feeling sick every day’.

At the time he had been living in Spain, playing for Real Madrid, while Victoria was back in the UK looking after their eldest two children.

However, his love with the ex-Spice Girl has stood the test of time, and the pair are now stronger than ever.

The couple were also determined to shake off rumours when allegations of infidelity first surfaced in 2004.

Shortly after the story came out on April 4 of that year, they sported smiles for the cameras as they were spotted stepping out of Claridge’s to celebrate Victoria’s birthday dinner.

The couple put on a united front as they held onto one another and looked into each other’s eyes.

Meanwhile, at their first red carpet after the allegations, Victoria appeared to leave no room for confusion about the couple’s spark as she confidently draped a possessive hand over him, sporting a sultry dress featuring a corset-style bodice.

The pair were all over one another as they showed the world their marriage wasn’t to be rocked by the rumours.

VERNON KAY AND TESS DALY

This show of unity wasn’t littered with loved-up looks or PDA, but still got the message across loud and clear. 

In 2010, Vernon Kay and his wife Tess Daly made their first public appearance together since news of his ‘sex text’ scandal broke as they co-hosted The Prince’s Trust Celebrate Success awards.

Vernon had admitted he made ‘foolish decisions’ after it was revealed he exchanged racy messages via text and Twitter with glamour model Rhian Sugden and four other women.

He publicly apologised to his wife and family via his Radio 1 show.

The timing of the revelations could nothave been worse for Tess, who wasreleasing a book on parenting.

As they co-hosted the awards, Vernon appeared sheepish, hovering behind his wife and stayed stony-faced while she managed a smile for the paparazzi.

In 2020, Vernon claimed he and Tess have ‘moved on’ from his ‘sexting scandal’ ten years ago in an interview with the Mirror.

COCO AND ICE T

This couple’s seemingly unbreakable bond was rocked by a scandal after photos hit the internet showing Coco cuddling up with another man in 2012.

But Ice-T appeared to have forgiven his wife and the pair put on a united front on a Las Vegas outing just weeks later, in some very eager-looking photos.

It seems the performer may have travelled to the Nevada city to be by his wife’s side – and perhaps keep an eye on her – after she was snapped getting cosy with rapper AP.9.

The trouble in paradise appeared to be behind the pair, however, as they enjoyed a workout followed by a shopping trip.

The couple looked like they were getting on great as they shared a giggle while pumping iron in the fitness centre at the Planet Hollywood hotel.

PADDY AND JANE ASHDOWN

In the 90s, famed politician Paddy Ashdown – who passed away in 2018 – was caught in a scandal.

In 1988 he was elected as the first leader of the Liberal Democrats. Yet, while party leader he managed to survive an expose by The Sun, who branded him ‘Paddy Pantsdown’ over a five-month affair he had with his secretary. 

Ashdown had the five-month relationship in 1985 but in 1992 the News of the World discovered the story. He managed to secure an injunction against the paper before handing it to The Sun – who branded him ‘Paddy Pantsdown’. 

Following the scandal, he changed the message on his answering machine to ‘Hello, this is Paddy Ashdown. Please leave a message after the high moral tone.’ 

Shortly after the story broke, Paddy and his wife Jane took to the quinitissential photoshoot outside their London home.

The pair can be seen hugging outside the steps. Paddy later said that were it not for his wife, he would have gotten ‘into all sorts of trouble’.

 

 

The Brit Awards 2024 were filled with many memorable moments this year as the stars returned to the 02 Arena for the biggest night in music.

Raye was the big winner on the night, scooping six gongs as she made an emotional appearance on stage.

This year’s ceremony was hosted by Clara Amfo, Maya Jama and Roman Kemp who took the helm on the big night.

There were plenty of big moments including Roman’s savage dig at Christian Horner, Raye’s appearance on stage with her grandma and Kylie Minogue’s hilarious ‘shoey’ drinking moment.

Here MailOnline takes a look at all the viral moment from the Brit Awards 2024:

Roman Kemp makes savage dig at Christian Horner 

Roman Kemp made a dig at the Christian Horner scandal which is currently dominating the headlines, during the BRIT Awards on Saturday night.

The Capital Radio host was part of the presenting team, alongside Maya Jama and Clara Amfo, for the star-studded ceremony at London’s O2 which was broadcast on ITV.

Roman made a cheeky quip about Red Bull boss Christian during the live show, which took place just hours after Horner put on a united front at the Bahrain Grand Prix with his wife Geri Halliwell.

Whilst milling around the guests at the ceremony, Roman quipped: ‘It’s busier here than at team Red Bull’s press office.’ 

It comes amid allegations relating to the leak of hundreds of WhatsApp messages which appeared to be written by Horner to a female colleague.

The messages came on Thursday, just 24 hours after Horner was cleared to continue as Red Bull head following an internal probe into ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by the F1 team’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH.  

Horner, who has always denied the claims, said previously: ‘I have the support of an incredible family, an incredible wife, an incredible team and everybody within that team.

‘And my focus is going on racing, winning racing and doing the best I can. It was a day about starting the season in he best possible way. My focus is on this team, my family, my wife and racing.’

Emotional Raye brings her grandmother up on stage

Raye called her grandmother Agatha Dawson to the stage with her as she collected Album Of The Year at the Brits on Saturday – and viewers at home were left in tears.

Looking at her grandmother, the singer, 26, said through tears: ‘I want to thank my grandma for her prayers. My grandma is awake until 3AM praying for me and my beautiful sisters. I love you so much.’

Raye, who wore a stunning white gown, then looked to the audience and revealed: ‘My middle name is Agatha and this Agatha Dawson, ladies and gentlemen.’

She stood back and allowed Agatha, who looked beautiful in traditional Ghanaian kente cloth, to bask in the rapturous applause that filled all corners of the O2.

The Escapism singer continued: ‘I’m so sorry, I want to thank all of the writers. I’m ugly crying on national television. I love music. All I wanted to be was an artist and now I’m an artist with an Album of the Year. Thank you so much, come on grandma, let’s go.’

Emotional fans took to X, formerly Twitter, and said: ‘Not me sitting here crying for raye no one deserves it more than her!!! and shoutout to grandma in the kente!!!’

‘Me telling my grandkids about Raye bringing her grandmother Agatha onto the #BritAwards stage to accept album of the year: [GIF of a man saying ‘pretty amazing’].’ 

‘Raye bringing her grandma up on stage for her album of the year win and then full on crying has me emotional.’

Roman Kemp ‘insults’ Green Day while hosting 

Viewers were left less than impressed by another Roman quip on Saturday night.

The presenter called Green Day ‘the America Busted’ igniting the fury of fans of the hugely successful US band.

Tré Cool and Billie Joe Armstrong of the American pop punk band attended the award ceremony to present the Best British Group award, with Roman introducing them.

‘To present our next award for British group are two genuine rock gods,’ he said.

‘They have sold over 75 million records and released 14 albums – they are very much the American Busted. Please welcome from Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong and Tré Cool.’

Viewers weren’t impressed with the joke, with one tweeting: ‘I think Green Day being called ‘the American Busted’ might be the most insulting thing I’ve ever heard. Ever. #BritAwards.’ 

Another asked: ‘Did he just call Green Day the American Busted #BritAwards.’

Kylie Minogue does a ‘shoey’ on national TV

She spends most of her time living in the UK, but Kylie Minogue proved she still calls Australia home during the 2024 Brit Awards on Saturday night. 

The 55-year-old music icon, who won the BRITs’ Global Icon award, stunned fans by agreeing to participate in the Aussie ritual of drinking alcohol out of a shoe during the awards ceremony in London. 

Host Roman Kemp convinced Kylie to drink her signature rosé wine from her high heels during an interview with the pop star at her table, saying it would be ‘amiss’ for the pair to not ‘go with an Aussie tradition’. 

‘So will Kylie Minogue do a shoey with me at the Brits? If I ask for your shoe, can I do that?’ Kemp, asked. 

Kylie appeared hesitant at first, asking the crowd: ‘Do I do this?’ before Kemp held out a pair of black stilettos and filled them with alcohol.

Proving she’s a good sport, the All The Lovers hitmaker clinked stilettos with the host and drank the entire shoe in one gulp. 

Later in the evening, Kylie closed the show with an energetic medley of her most famous hits with viewers rightly branding her a ‘legend’ after she last performed at the ceremony in 2008. 

She looked sensational as she flaunted her age-defying figure in a skimpy white bodysuit which boasted sheer panels.

Falsely accused sub-postmistress hits out on stage 

A former sub-postmistress, who was wrongly accused of stealing £36,000 during the Post Office Horizon scandal, took to the stage at the BRIT Awards on Saturday to accuse the government of lying about paying back postmasters.

Jo Hamilton, whose shocking story was told in ITV’s Mr Bates vs The Post Office, presented the first award on the biggest night in British music.

The wronged subpostmistress was joined onstage by Monica Dolan, the actress who played her character in the hit drama which delved into the scandal.

The 66-year-old told the large crowd at London’s O2 Arena: ‘I want to thank everyone in the country for the love and the support they have given the postmasters. 

‘Please can you keep on supporting us because, despite what the Government says, they’re not paying the postmasters.’

The audience, who loudly cheered the mother-of-two as she started speaking, then booed after they heard her claims about the Government’s reluctance to remunerate victims of the scandal.

MailOnline has contacted the Department of Business and Trade for comment.

Mrs Hamilton was falsely accused of taking the money from the Post Office branch she ran in South Warnborough, Hampshire. 

She eventually pleaded guilty to false accounting in fear of going to jail and was prosecuted in 2006.

The subpostmistress and her husband were forced to remortgage their house twice, borrow money from friends and take £6,000 in donations from the village in order to pay back what was lost.

Calvin Harris ‘drinks Harry Styles’ bathwater’ in Saltburn reference

Roman Kemp made Calvin Harris drink a ‘bottle of Harry Styles’ bath water’ in one funny moment.

In a reference to the film Saltburn Roman sat with DJ Calvin and his wife Vick Hope at their table where he said he wanted to do some shots with him.

He said it was a ‘non alcoholic’ drink and didn’t give anymore details until after when he brought out a bottle labelled ‘Harry Styles’ bath water’. 

Roman said: ‘I know, it is alcohol free, it is at one with the body. I have a mocktail for you. Are you ready for this one?’ 

They both downed the shots, then Roman quipped: ‘It is a little be salty.’ 

He then picked up the bottle and held it up to the camera. 

Roman told Calvin: ‘I call it the Saltburn. It is a special brew.’ 

Roman said ahead of hosting the show: ‘This is a real pinch me moment! Hosting the BRIT Awards – what an honour. 

‘I remember watching the BRITs on TV when I was growing up so to be asked to host this year’s awards, is a dream come true. 

‘It’s going to be a privilege to share the stage with so many talented artists and to celebrate the incredible achievements of all the nominees and winners this year. See you there.’

Ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell joined her beleaguered husband Christian Horner at the Bahrain Grand Prix today in a show of solidarity after leaked text messages rocked Formula One.   

Red Bull F1 boss Christian Horner initially broke cover at the Grand Prix on Saturday morning with no sign of his wife Geri Halliwell after his wife found out the texts were leaked as she was flying in a private jet.

Yet the couple walked hand-in-hand in the Paddock ahead of the season opener in Bahrain. Halliwell appeared red-eyed as she put on a brave face, smiling while her husband clenched her hand.  

Earlier this week, Halliwell, 51, and her husband, 50, had breathed a collective sigh of relief on Wednesday when Red Bull cleared Horner of inappropriate behaviour allegations which were made by a female employee.

But 24 hours later, flirtatious WhatsApp messages apparently exchanged between Horner and the female complainant were leaked to 149 F1 figures while Halliwell was on a flight to see her husband ahead of this weekend’s season opener in Bahrain.

Red Bull workers are reportedly afraid that more messages may be leaked.

Halliwell, who married the Red Bull team principal in 2015, went ‘into meltdown’ when she touched down in the Gulf state on a private jet on Thursday and discovered the bombshell messages had been plastered all over social media.

This morning, she was nowhere to be seen as her husband Christian Horner was pictured in black sunglasses and a Red Bull outfit.

However, Red Bull confirmed to Mail Sport on Saturday that the former Spice Girl will be on the grid and she was seen at around 1.20pm with her F1 boss husband.

Geri Halliwell is holding ‘crisis talks’ over Christian Horner’s leaked text messages and did not want to meet her husband in Bahrain until she was talked into it by his family, sources claimed last night.

She jetted over to Bahrain from the UK in a private jet on Friday.

On Saturday morning, Horner was seen alone in his Red Bull get-up while carrying a brown leather bag at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. 

Halliwell is understood to have known about and approved of the woman working for her husband’s team.

Friends of the star told Mail+ they are ‘deeply concerned’ about her and said the singer appeared ‘fragile’ when they saw her some weeks ago. 

A source told The Mirror last night: ‘Geri has been locked in crisis talks with her team this week about how to manage all of this.’ 

While Horner is said to have ‘played down’ the drama to his wife, ‘she can’t bear the fact it is now all out in the open’.

The source said that Halliwell, who shares seven-year-old son Monty with Horner, ‘feels like a fool’, adding: ‘It has really taken its toll on her and she told pals this week she would not be in Bahrain.’ 

The source said that Halliwell, who shares seven-year-old son Monty with Horner, ‘feels like a fool’, adding: ‘It has really taken its toll on her and she told pals this week she would not be in Bahrain.’

It’s understood that the singer was adamant on not meeting her husband but Horner’s mother has been pleading with her to publicly back him in a show of solidarity. 

In stark contrast, her own team is said to be urging her to keep her distance as they fear her brand and reputation could be tarnished. The source claimed that Halliwell is ‘torn’ between both camps. 

The Sun reports that Halliwell knew of the female employee at the centre of the drama, with Red Bull insiders claiming that she even approved of the woman working for her husband’s team.

A source close to the Spice Girl told the newspaper this was ‘humiliation on an international scale’. They said: ‘Of course, to leave Christian — and walk away from the blissful life they’ve built for themselves — would be the ultimate act of girl power.

‘But as anyone with kids knows — not to mention a hinterland of love and connection — that is easier said than done.’

It’s also reported that Halliwell has cut herself off from the Spice Girls, who were set to be reunited soon to discuss tour dates for a comeback.

The girl band, minus Victoria Beckham, were set to mark their 30-year anniversary with some shows this year but sources say this is now unlikely. 

An F1 source also said that Red Bull workers are fearing there may be more leaked messages to come, which would overshadow world champion Max Verstappen’s bid to win the Bahrain Grand Prix.

It’s believed that the drama has put the couple’s marriage ‘in question for the first time’.

Halliwell has not yet been seen in the paddock since arriving in Bahrain – where Red Bull’s Verstappen attempted to take the spotlight off Horner by taking pole position in qualifying. 

The world champion was 0.228 seconds quicker than Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in second, while Mercedes’ George Russell came third and his team-mate Lewis Hamilton had to settle for ninth.

As it stands, Halliwell is planning to be at today’s Grand Prix in a public show of solidarity. 

The plan is that she will be at Horner’s side on the pre-race grid, alongside his major ally on the Red Bull board, Thai billionaire Chalerm Yoovidhya, who owns 51 per cent of the energy drinks company. 

One insider told Mail Sport ahead of the GP: ‘She [Halliwell] took off before the email landed. I don’t know whether she will be at the race but it will be mayhem if she is.

‘It would be nuts. She may even be flying home.’

As she arrived, her husband was pulled from the pit wall into a meeting with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. 

The couple had breathed a collective sigh of relief on Wednesday when Red Bull cleared Horner of misconduct and inappropriate behaviour allegations following a probe into his alleged relationship with the employee.

But the complainant fired back on Thursday, as a source close to her told MailOnline that she was ‘very unhappy’ at Red Bull’s decision to clear the F1 boss.

A relative of the female employee said: ‘My reaction to all this is that it is disgusting. In the words of Red Bull, Christian Horner has been cleared but I think many people look at that answer and can’t quite fathom out the truth behind it. 

‘It’s obviously not going to rest now because of these leaks. I wasn’t aware of the messages prior to them being picked up by the media and I have no idea at all who is responsible for the leak.

‘You always believe your own, don’t you? I haven’t read the text messages but there was never any relationship between her and Christian – God, no. She doesn’t discuss that sort of stuff with us.

‘If you work for a person like him, you live with many pieces of information that are not to be disclosed. She certainly hasn’t spoken to me about it.’

The source went on: ‘We speak every day and she’s very unhappy – of course. In her way of thinking it’s all very one-sided and she’s been crucified.

‘Are the Red Bull investigation team independent? Who knows? They’ve made comparisons in the newspapers about Christian being grilled for 12 hours or so…well how many hours was she grilled for? They don’t ask that question, but it is a lot more than that.’ 

On Thursday, a series of WhatsApp texts and photographs were released to dozens of journalists and key figures in sport, throwing the allegations back into the public into the spotlight once again.

Horner has vowed to fight on and was pictured in his Red Bull gear ahead of practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix yesterday.

It comes as friends close to Halliwell, who stood by her husband of nine years resolutely throughout the internal probe, revealed she is ‘having the meltdown to end all meltdowns over the leaks’.

The mother-of-two has been left ‘feeling humiliated’ after the messages were spread ‘so widely out there’, a friend added.

Hundreds of intimate WhatsApp exchanges purportedly between Horner and the colleague were released via an anonymous email account.

Horner was only cleared by Red Bull’s Salzburg-based parent company – and told he could stay on as team principal of the world-championship on a £8million-a-year-salary – 24 hours before the texts dropped.

Halliwell had told friends that she was ‘relieved and elated’ that the claims against her partner, with whom she shares seven-year-old son Monty, had finally been dropped.

Friends of the Spice Girl told the Mail she thought the drama had ‘finally gone away’ but have warned the appearance of the intimate messages – to which there are 79 screenshots – could ‘destroy’ her.

One said: ‘All along Christian promised there was nothing in it.’

Another said he now fears for how the star, who has been left mortified at the embarrassing fall out, will be able to comprehend such a public humiliation.

He said: ‘Geri has been living in this happy, happy bubble for so many years now, she thought she had her prince and her knight in shining armour but now this.

‘She thought that it had all gone away, she was delighted and over the moon when she learned Christian had been cleared.

‘Geri was pilloried when she got together with Christian because he had just had another baby with another woman but she has worked hard to rid that image of herself and Christian, and in particular that she is a homewrecker.

‘Now it has all come crashing down. The tears stopped when the judgment came in on Wednesday, now they absolutely will have started again. 

‘This will destroy her. All along Christian promised there was nothing in it.’

One source close to the star said that she ‘wasn’t sure what to believe’ throughout the saga but was determined to get through it with their marriage unscathed.

‘Geri is no fish wife but she finally got the man she wanted and she won’t want to let him go. This could end up being a big dilemma for her,’ the source said.

The tranche of messages were sent to FIA president Mohammad Ben Sulayem and F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali. All the team principals were copied in, along with star driver Max Verstappen’s father Jos.

Earlier this month Halliwell had briefly unfollowed world champion Verstappen on Instagram after the allegations against Horner first came to light. Sources close to the star said on Thursday night that this was an ’emotional reaction’ which she thought would go unnoticed.

Reigning world champion Verstappen was quizzed ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix over whether Red Bull’s probe into Horner had impacted or altered the team’s preparations for the season.

The Dutchman, insisting that his focus has not been altered, replied: ‘It doesn’t. I’m very focused on just the performance of the car and myself.

‘Hopefully it will be resolved very soon. It’s a whole team effort that everyone has to stick together and work to more success, so that’s why it’s important to get everything resolved very soon.

‘(Horner) is very important otherwise he wouldn’t have been in that position for such a long time.’

The intense spotlight on Horner in recent weeks had already started to take a strain on the couple’s home life – which they split between their farmhouse, and stables, in Oxfordshire and a home in North London. 

A source close to the pair said the last few weeks had been ‘hell for Christian and his family’ and he had always branded the claims as being ‘nuts’.

‘Geri is devastated and has been struggling to eat and sleep. Her family and fellow Spice Girls are worried about her,’ the source said last week ahead of Horner being cleared.

‘I hear Christian is trying to pep her up to stay positive, but she has gone to ground in the way she did after she left the Spice Girls. She’s not speaking to anyone.’ 

Shortly after the leak, Horner released a statement which read: ‘I will not comment on anonymous speculation, but to reiterate I have always denied the allegations.

‘I respected the integrity of the independent investigation and fully cooperated with it every step of the way. 

‘It was a thorough and fair investigation conducted by an independent specialist barrister, and it has concluded dismissing the complaint made. I remain fully focused on the start of the season.’

Announcing its conclusion on Wednesday, the company said: ‘The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete, and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed. 

The complainant has a right of appeal. Red Bull is confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial. ‘

Horner, who has won 13 world championships since heading the team as a 31-year-old in 2005, had previously thanked his ‘very supportive wife’ for her backing during the accusations.

Halliwell and Horner mixed in social circles before they struck up a romance, having first met each other at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2009.

‘[Geri] was a guest of [former CEO of the Formula One Group] Bernie Ecclestone’s in Monaco one year and came down the pit lane,’ Horner previously told The Telegraph. ‘I remember [McLaren boss] Ron Dennis was standing next to me and Eddie Jordan was there as well.

‘She gave Ron a kiss on the cheek, and she gave Eddie a kiss on the cheek. So I thought, ‘OK, I’m on for a kiss on the cheek here!’ And I went to give her one and she shoved her hand out at me.’

Their relationship, however, got off to a rocky start, coming under fire after the Red Bull chief left his long-term partner Beverley Allen six months after she gave birth to their daughter Olivia.

While the couple took a short break to see if Horner could rescue his relationship with the mother of his child, just nine months later he announced his engagement to Ginger Spice in an advertisement in the The Times in 2014.

It said: ‘The engagement is announced between Christian, son of Mr and Mrs G.M. Horner and Geraldine, daughter of the late Mr L.F. Halliwell and Mrs A Parkinson.’

The former Spice Girl and Red Bull boss tied the knot at St Mary’s Church in Woburn, Bedfordshire, in 2015.

Halliwell’s A-line lace bridal gown was designed by British designer Phillipa Lepley.

Her nine-year-old daughter, Bluebell, whom she had with screenwriter Sacha Gervasi in 2005, also attended the wedding.

Guests included Geri’s former Spice Girls co-star Emma Bunton, radio presenter and singer Myleene Klass, and TV presenter Amanda Holden.

Christian’s parents were reportedly left devastated when the sporting professional left Ms Allen to be with the chart-topping star and therefore chose not to see the duo tie the knot.

A source close to the couple previously said: ‘Geri and Christian are disappointed that his parents aren’t coming.’

Horner has won 13 world championships since heading the team as a 31-year-old in 2005. He was then the youngest team principal on the grid, yet is now its longest-serving.

While touring with the world’s biggest girl group, Geri Halliwell-Horner was known for pushing the fashion boundaries.

From that iconic Union Jack mini-dress at the 1997 BRIT Awards – made from a tea towel, to her US flag corset at the MTV Video Music Awards later that year, Geri made headlines with her outlandish ensembles.

But in recent years, the Spice Girl, 51, has drastically overhauled her image – adopting an all-white uniform.

Whether she is stepping onto the red carpet or mucking out horse stables, Geri’s outfits follow a strict colourless scheme.

After her husband Christian Horner was cleared following an investigation into misconduct, MailOnline takes a look back at Geri’s fashion transformation since marrying the Red Bull boss.

Geri was famed for her colours and prints while touring, with her Union Jack dress becoming so iconic that Rolling Stones rocker Ronnie Wood even gifted her a painting of it for her 48th birthday.

In 2012, she even released a clothing line for high-street retailer Next – with all garments paying homage to the classic look. 

Another of her memorable ensembles was her United States flag corset which she sported for the 1997 MTV Music Awards, held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. 

Geri’s outrageous ensemble turned heads at the awards ceremony as she stepped out in the corset bodysuit – which had the stars of the flag on the bra cups. She paired the tiny all-in-one with a huge white fur coat and platform red, white and blue boots.

During her time with the Spice Girls, Geri donned a host of vibrant outfits, from a tiny blue fringed dress, to patterned skin-tight ensembles. 

And in the years that followed Geri kept up her love of colour, stepping onto red carpet after red carpet in an array of out-there get-ups – including a sheer ruffled red gown which exposed her whole bottom at the 2008 children’s BAFTAs.

But after her marriage to the Red Bull chief in 2015, Geri’s style appeared to feature less and less colour – eventually consisting of almost-all white garments.

Geri and Christian tied the knot at St Mary’s Church in Woburn, Bedfordshire, six years after they first met at the British Grand Prix in 2009. 

Christian left his partner Beverley just six months after the birth of their daughter Olivia in 2014 and set up home with Geri. 

In November 2014 they announced their engagement in The Times newspaper. 

Two years after getting married in 2017, the pair welcomed their first child together, named Montague George Hector Horner. 

Geri and Christian share two homes in the English countryside, in Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire, with one boasting a farm with three donkeys, goats and stables to fit 14 horses.

As she embraced a new lifestyle in the countryside, Geri decided to make over her image in an attempt to banish the ‘homewrecker’ tag and present their relationship as wholesome.

A source told Mail Plus that Geri has been ‘ultra cautious with her image, trying so hard to shake off her brassy Ginger Spice past and transform herself into a wholesome Oxfordshire housewife’. 

With that, came a clear style transformation as Geri began adopting a wardrobe of solely chic neutral tones, and avoiding colour almost completely.

Speaking to The Sun in 2021, Geri revealed why she made the switch to all-white ensembles.

‘Everything becomes really simple,’ she said. ‘I like the colour and it’s like wearing a school uniform as an adult.

‘It matches with everything and I literally don’t have to think in the mornings. It’s great for busy people – it kind of looks like you’ve made an effort when you haven’t.’

Whether she was watching the tennis at Wimbledon, attending charity events, or even mucking out on the farm, Geri sported white clothing.

With her husband and children, Geri has carved out an idyllic country life at their Cotswolds estate. Now in her fifties, she goes by the name Halliwell-Horner and is fully committed to Christian.

But their veil of perfection was rocked in February when a female colleague of Christian made allegations of ‘coercive behaviour’.

Christian has strongly denied allegations about his conduct and later won the fight of his life after being following an investigation into the Red Bull team principal.

In a statement, the team’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH in Salzburg, said: ‘The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete, and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed.

‘The complainant has a right of appeal. Red Bull is confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial.

‘The investigation report is confidential and contains the private information of the parties and third parties who assisted in the investigation, and therefore we will not be commenting further out of respect for all concerned. Red Bull will continue striving to meet the highest workplace standards.’

Former popstar Geri, mother of their seven-year-old son Monty, has stood resolutely by him throughout the ordeal. She is said to be ‘devastated’ by the jolt to their lives, which they split between their farmhouse (and stables) in Oxfordshire and a home in North London.

A source told Mail Plus: ‘When they started out, they had so much negative press because Geri was portrayed as a home-wrecker.

‘But they have worked very, very hard to turn that corner and change how they are perceived.’ 

The allegations were made by a close colleague, with Red Bull GmbH in Salzburg, confirming an internal investigation on February 5.

They appointed a London KC to lead the inquiry. He heard 60 hours of evidence, including at least eight hours from Horner in a single day, before producing the crucial 150-page report that went before the wider company’s board on Wednesday.

Horner was awaiting their adjudication as he took his private jet on the 3,000-mile trip from the UK to Bahrain for the opening race of the season this Saturday.

He was said to be in good spirits as the day developed, hoping his name would be cleared on landing in the Gulf kingdom this afternoon. He did not turn up at the paddock.

Geri Halliwell has landed in Bahrain on a private jet to meet Christian Horner – having taken off before the ‘leaked texts’ email – as the Red Bull chief was hauled in for crisis talks with F1 bosses. 

Mail Sport understands the former Spice Girl left the UK yesterday before the delivery of an incendiary email that claims to expose flirtatious WhatsApp exchanges between her husband and a female employee. 

She touched down in the Middle East last night and is said to have gone ‘into meltdown’ over the messages. 

Horner, 50, was cleared to continue as Red Bull team principal on Wednesday following an internal probe into claims of ‘coercive behaviour’, which he has always denied. 

But just 24 hours later, texts apparently exchanged between him and the complainant were sent from an anonymous email to 149 F1 figures – leading friends to warn that his marriage to Geri was ‘in question for the first time’. 

Halliwell, who flew over for the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix tomorrow, has not yet been seen in the paddock. 

As it stands, Geri is planning to be at Saturday’s grand prix in a public show of solidarity. The plan is that she will be at Horner’s side on the pre-race grid, alongside his major ally on the Red Bull board, Thai billionaire Chalerm Yoovidhya, who owns 51 per cent of the energy drinks company. 

One insider told Mail Sport: ‘She took off before the email landed. I don’t know whether she will be at the race but it will be mayhem if she is.

‘It would be nuts. She may even be flying home.’

As she arrived, her husband has pulled from the pit wall into a meeting with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. 

The couple had breathed a collective sigh of relief on Wednesday when Red Bull cleared Horner of misconduct and inappropriate behaviour allegations following a probe into his alleged relationship with the employee.

But on Thursday, a series of WhatsApp texts and photographs were released to dozens of journalists and key figures in sport, throwing the scandal back into the public into the spotlight once again.

Horner vowed to fight on within hours of the scandal deepening, and was today pictured in his Red Bull gear ahead of practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix, which begins tomorrow. 

It comes as friends close to Halliwell, who stood by her husband of nine years resolutely throughout the internal probe, revealed she is ‘having the meltdown to end all meltdowns over the leaks’.

The mother-of-two has been left ‘feeling humiliated’ after the messages were spread ‘so widely out there’, a friend added.

Hundreds of intimate WhatsApp exchanges purportedly between Horner and the colleague were released via an anonymous email account.

Horner was only cleared by Red Bull’s Salzburg-based parent company – and told he could stay on as team principal of the world-championship on a £8million-a-year-salary – 24 hours before the texts dropped.

Halliwell had told friends that she was ‘relieved and elated’ that the claims against her partner, with whom she shares seven-year-old son Monty, had finally been dropped.

Friends of the Spice Girl told the Mail she thought the scandal had ‘finally gone away’ but have warned the appearance of the intimate messages – to which there are 79 screenshots – could ‘destroy’ her.

One said: ‘All along Christian promised there was nothing in it.’

Another said he now fears for how the star, who has been left mortified at the embarrassing fall out, will be able to comprehend such a public humiliation.

He said: ‘Geri has been living in this happy, happy bubble for so many years now, she thought she had her prince and her knight in shining armour but now this.

‘She thought that it had all gone away, she was delighted and over the moon when she learned Christian had been cleared.

‘Geri was pilloried when she got together with Christian because he had just had another baby with another woman but she has worked hard to rid that image of herself and Christian, and in particular that she is a homewrecker.

‘Now it has all come crashing down. The tears stopped when the judgment came in on Wednesday, now they absolutely will have started again. 

‘This will destroy her. All along Christian promised there was nothing in it.’

One source close to the star said that she ‘wasn’t sure what to believe’ throughout the saga but was determined to get through it with their marriage unscathed.

‘Geri is no fish wife but she finally got the man she wanted and she won’t want to let him go. This could end up being a big dilemma for her,’ the source said.

The tranche of messages were sent to FIA president Mohammad Ben Sulayem and F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali. All the team principals were copied in, along with star driver Max Verstappen’s father Jos.

Earlier this month Halliwell had briefly unfollowed world champion Verstappen on Instagram after the allegations against Horner first came to light. Sources close to the star said last night that this was an ’emotional reaction’ which she thought would go unnoticed.

Reigning world champion Verstappen was quizzed ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix yesterday over whether Red Bull’s probe into Horner had impacted or altered the team’s preparations for the season.

The Dutchman, insisting that his focus has not been altered, replied: ‘It doesn’t. I’m very focused on just the performance of the car and myself.

‘Hopefully it will be resolved very soon. It’s a whole team effort that everyone has to stick together and work to more success, so that’s why it’s important to get everything resolved very soon.

‘(Horner) is very important otherwise he wouldn’t have been in that position for such a long time.’

The intense spotlight on Horner in recent weeks had already started to take a strain on the couple’s home life – which they split between their farmhouse, and stables, in Oxfordshire and a home in North London. 

A source close to the pair said last night the last few weeks had been ‘hell for Christian and his family’ and he had always branded the claims as being ‘nuts’.

‘Geri is devastated and has been struggling to eat and sleep. Her family and fellow Spice Girls are worried about her,’ the source said last week ahead of Horner being cleared.

‘I hear Christian is trying to pep her up to stay positive, but she has gone to ground in the way she did after she left the Spice Girls. She’s not speaking to anyone.’ 

Shortly after the leak yesterday, Horner released a statement which read: ‘I will not comment on anonymous speculation, but to reiterate I have always denied the allegations.

‘I respected the integrity of the independent investigation and fully cooperated with it every step of the way. 

‘It was a thorough and fair investigation conducted by an independent specialist barrister, and it has concluded dismissing the complaint made. I remain fully focused on the start of the season.’

Announcing its conclusion on Wednesday, the company said: ‘The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete, and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed. 

The complainant has a right of appeal. Red Bull is confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial. ‘

Horner, who has won 13 world championships since heading the team as a 31-year-old in 2005, had previously thanked his ‘very supportive wife’ for her backing during the accusations.

Halliwell and Horner mixed in social circles before they struck up a romance, having first met each other at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2009.

‘[Geri] was a guest of [former CEO of the Formula One Group] Bernie Ecclestone’s in Monaco one year and came down the pit lane,’ Horner previously told The Telegraph. ‘I remember [McLaren boss] Ron Dennis was standing next to me and Eddie Jordan was there as well.

‘She gave Ron a kiss on the cheek, and she gave Eddie a kiss on the cheek. So I thought, ‘OK, I’m on for a kiss on the cheek here!’ And I went to give her one and she shoved her hand out at me.’

Their relationship, however, got off to a rocky start, coming under fire after the Red Bull chief left his long-term partner Beverley Allen six months after she gave birth to their daughter Olivia.

While the couple took a short break to see if Horner could rescue his relationship with the mother of his child, just nine months later he announced his engagement to Ginger Spice in an advertisement in the The Times in 2014.

It said: ‘The engagement is announced between Christian, son of Mr and Mrs G.M. Horner and Geraldine, daughter of the late Mr L.F. Halliwell and Mrs A Parkinson.’

The former Spice Girl and Red Bull boss tied the knot at St Mary’s Church in Woburn, Bedfordshire, in 2015.

Halliwell’s A-line lace bridal gown was designed by British designer Phillipa Lepley.

Her nine-year-old daughter, Bluebell, whom she had with screenwriter Sacha Gervasi in 2005, also attended the wedding.

Guests included Geri’s former Spice Girls co-star Emma Bunton, radio presenter and singer Myleene Klass, and TV presenter Amanda Holden.

Christian’s parents were reportedly left devastated when the sporting professional left Ms Allen to be with the chart-topping star and therefore chose not to see the duo tie the knot.

A source close to the couple previously said: ‘Geri and Christian are disappointed that his parents aren’t coming.’

Horner has won 13 world championships since heading the team as a 31-year-old in 2005. He was then the youngest team principal on the grid, yet is now its longest-serving.

Geri Horner shows off her signature elegant style as she wears an all-white outfit at the Formula One Aramco British Grand Prix at Silverstone

By Owen Tonks for Mailonline

published: 12:31 EDT, Jul 8, 2023 | Updated: 12:45 EDT, Jul 8, 2023