Mel B beaten in final - Nov 28 2007
Spice Girl Melanie Brown has lost in the final of US TV show Dancing With The Stars.

The Leeds-born star scored top marks from the judges with her final performance of the Mamba, but lost out in the viewer's vote to Brazilian racing driver Helio Castroneves.

Earlier, the Spice Girl said that to win, and to be embraced by America, would have meant "everything" to her.

Castroneves took home the mirror ball trophy in the American version of Strictly Come Dancing. The other finalist, US singer Marie Osmond, was eliminated at the start of the show.

Mel B and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy came second overall - winning on judge's points, 85 to 84, but losing out on viewer's votes. No details of the votes, which counted for 50 per cent, were revealed.

After hearing she had lost, Mel B said she had "enjoyed all of it".

During the two-hour live final, Scary Spice had said that winning would mean "everything" to her.

"To be embraced by America, would be... I would actually be speechless.

"Coming in second or third is not an option for me. I like to start something and finish it right on top."

Chmerkovskiy, her dancing partner, described Mel B as "queen of the floor".

Emma Bunton said she had seen her fellow Spice Girl perform and thought she was "brilliant".

Spice Girls cheer on Dancing star Mel B - Nov 27 2007
Spice Girl Mel B was the judges’ favourite in the final of US TV show Dancing With The Stars.

The pop star was one of three celebrities still in the running in the American version of Strictly Come Dancing last night (Monday).

Watched by all four other Spice Girls, Mel scored 55 out of 60 points in the final against US singer Marie Osmond and racing driver Helio Castroneves.

She danced the Cha Cha Cha with partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Judge Len Goodman said her place in the final was "justly deserved".

Bruno Tonioli said: "Melanie, I cannot believe what an accomplished dancer you have become in these past few months. Technically you have improved incredibly and your visual impact... I tell you, stunning."

The third judge, Carrie Ann Inaba, said Mel looked "really good" and the routine was "fun", but she was expecting a bit more excitement.

Mel and Maksim did a freestyle dance for their second routine. Scary Spice was awarded 28 points for her first routine and 27 for the second.

Her rivals, Osmond and Castroneves, scored totals of 46 and 54 respectively for their performances.

One couple will be eliminated at the start of tonight’s live results show on ABC before the two finalists perform one final routine. The winner will be decided by a mixture of judges’ points and votes cast by the public.

Mel B makes dancing final - Nov 26 2007
Mel B is set to compete in the final of US TV show Dancing With The Stars.

The Leeds-born Spice Girl is one of three celebrities still in the running to take the crown in the American version of Strictly Come Dancing.

She will perform her best ballroom moves against US singer Marie Osmond and Brazilian racing driver Helio Castroneves.

The results show will be screened tomorrow, with Celine Dion due to perform.

The last series of Dancing With The Stars was watched by 23 million viewers.

In that show, Olympic speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno beat ’N Sync crooner Joey Fatone and boxer Laila Ali, who was voted off midway through the last episode.

The ABC programme averaged about 20 million weekly viewers for each of its twice-weekly episodes in the 2006-07 season.