Geri reveals 'poignant' motivation behind Olympic opening ceremony performance

Geri Halliwell has revealed the emotional secret behind her Olympics closing ceremony performance.

The Spice Girls star said the concert was ‘poignant’ for her - as it was performed on her late father’s birthday.

She told Hello! magazine: "Sadly he died six months before the Spice Girls, when I was 21. So doing the Olympics on his birthday was so sweet and poignant for me.

"It was a wake-up call, dealing with that pain and loss, then turning it into drive."

Geri, aka Ginger Spice, joined the four other Spice Girls in a reunion concert for the Olympic closing ceremony last Sunday and turned 40 during rehearsals.

She has said that the whole group helped make the day special for her despite their previous differences.

"The girls were very sweet and made me feel special. There was a cake, lovely presents - an elegant, pretty necklace - and singing of course.

"No matter what's happened in the past, we love and accept each other. I always laugh most when I'm around them."

The singer also revealed that she has her eye on a new man, but refused to elaborate: "I'm not going into details.

"Right now there's nothing serious. I was a late starter on the romantic front. I didn't start dating until I was in my 30s.

"I quite like having somebody to cuddle. I like that intimacy, it would be wonderful."