Mel B says she never planned to remarry before finding love with Rory McPhee

Mel B has opened up about how her love story with husband Rory McPhee began—with a firm warning.

The Spice Girls star, 50, revealed that when the pair first started dating in 2018, she made it clear she had no intentions of settling down again after two previous marriages.

“When Rory and I got together, I said: ‘I’m not your girlfriend. I’m never getting married again and I’m never going to have kids. So if I were you, I would look somewhere else — but we could have fun,’” she told The Times.

At the time, Mel—whose real name is Melanie Brown—viewed the relationship as something lighthearted rather than long-term. 

However, what began as “fun” soon evolved into something deeper.

The couple eventually fell in love and tied the knot at St Paul's Cathedral last summer, marking a new chapter for the singer after her previous marriages to Jimmy Gulzar and Stephen Belafonte.

Mel explained that their long-standing connection played a key role in their relationship. 

The two had known each other for decades and grew up in the same village in northern England.

“I’ve known Rory all my life, long before I was a Spice Girl. He’s a family friend,” she said, adding that their shared background, humor, and accent helped strengthen their bond.

Despite their compatibility, Mel admitted her family was initially surprised by the match. 

“All my aunties and uncles were like: ‘Quiet, safe Rory?’” she recalled, before praising him as “a very sweet guy.”

McPhee, for his part, previously shared that proposing to Mel was a nerve-wracking experience. 

He admitted to feeling so anxious that he struggled to deliver the speech he had carefully prepared.

“I was so nervous, my lips were trembling… I just babbled,” he said, while Mel reassured him that the moment was heartfelt, recalling how he told her she was his best friend and that he wanted to spend their lives together.