Spice Girls have dropped out of their scheduled performance on 'The X Factor' alongside contestants 5 After Midnight.
Mel B, Geri Horner, Emma Bunton
The girl group - now branded as GEM to incorporate remaining members Geri Horner, Emma Bunton, and Mel B - were due to duet with the singing competition finalists on Saturday (10.12.16) and kick off their highly anticipated comeback, but failed to make their "schedules work" for the show.
An insider revealed to The Sun newspaper: "The girls were very keen to make it happen and negotiations went on throughout the week.
"But at the end of the day they couldn't make the schedules work. Mel B was in town for the filming of 'Lip Sync Battle', but she has to get to New York to start rehearsals for 'Chicago' on Broadway.
"They did everything they could to make the schedules work at the end of the day but it just couldn't happen.
"It won't be long now though until the Spice Girls are back on stage again - there's an exciting 2017 again."
'X Factor' bosses are now reportedly scrabbling to find a replacement for the 'Wannabe' hitmakers - who were previously completed by Mel C and Victoria Beckham before the pair refused to take part in the reunion - and are turning to the likes of previous winner Louisa Johnson and band Clean Bandit to step in.
Meanwhile, fellow finalist Matt Terry will be singing his duet with his mentor and former Pussycat Doll member Nicole Scherzinger, whilst Saara Aalto will take to the stage with Adam Lambert.
'The X Factor' final kicks off this Saturday (10.12.16), with the winner crowned on during Sunday's (11.12.16) results show.
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