The Spice Girls played their first show in London for nine years at the O2 arena last night.

Critics and fans agreed the girls were bigger, brighter and better than they were the first time round.

The show was the first of 17 in London, which along with two nights in Manchester, are expected to earn the girls £2m each.

The entire 45 date world tour could net each member of the group ten times that amount.

Tickets for the gig, which cost up to £75, sold out in just 38 seconds when they went on sale in October.

Last night Mel B burst onstage in front of 18,000 sell out crowd and yelled: "Thank God we're home".

Geri Halliwell said: "What a crowd! We love you London!"

Despite her ankle injury Emma Bunton got through the night thanks to pain killers and an elasticated support.

David Beckham was in the crowd to watch wife Victoria withe their sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz.

Other celebrity guests in the audience included R&B singer Rihanna and Gordon Ramsay.

  • The Spice Girls'O2 set list

Spice Up Your Life

Stop

Say You'll Be There

Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)

The Lady Is A Vamp

Too Much

2 Become 1

Who Do You Think You Are

Are You Gonna Go My Way (Mel B solo)

Maybe (Emma solo)

Viva Forever

Holler

It's Raining Men (Geri solo)

I Turn To You (Mel C solo)

Let Love Lead The Way

Mama

Celebrate/Dance And Shout/That's The Way I Like It/We Are Family (70s medley)

Goodbye

If You Can't Dance

Wannabe

Spice Up Your Life