Mel C: I'm all about singing live

Melanie C has revealed she is still "absolutely driven" by performing on stage.

The Spice Girl, 38, insisted she has no plans to hang up her microphone - and praised boybands One Direction and The Wanted for cracking the tough US market.

Mum-of-one Mel said: "I still perform a lot, I'm really lucky... it's something that's a very important part of my life and I'm absolutely driven by performing live.

"I think it's that connection with your audience, to have a great band, a great live band behind you, to give a great vocal, and just really give it loads."

The patriotic star - who helped kick off Music is GREAT Week with Jessie J at an intimate London gig - added: "Being part of the Spice Girls, we really proudly took the British flag across the world, and artists are still doing that today - One Direction and The Wanted are doing amazingly in America, they're cracking it over there, the hardest market to crack.

"And we've got fantastic women like Adele and Jessie J who are going to be around forever, so let's celebrate."

:: Music Is GREAT Britain, a DVD and download of iconic live moments, is out now. All net profits will go to Save The Children.