The dramatic joint solicitors' statement was delayed by degrees, then devoured by the waiting press in a nail-biting finale to days of speculation.

Geri cited "differences" with the other four girls as her reason for leaving, a formula as traditional as anything in pop except that crucially it omitted the word "musical".

But speculation also suggested that Geri's departure does not herald a solo musical career and that her ambitions might lie in TV.

Geri was never one to boast of her singing or dancing abilities.

Geri with President Mandela

Her central talent has always been her outspoken personality, one that could make her name on the small screen.

The first rumblings that she was breaking out on her own came last weekend when she met Ginger Media Group chief Chris Evans.

It was painted as a "date" - but canny Geri could have been exploring a potential TV career, which would even fit in with her famous hair colour.

She has already had a taste of life on the small screen as a Turkish game show hostess in her struggling showgirl days.

With hindsight, the crucial Spice Girls' departure may emerge to have been manager Simon Fuller, not Geri at all.

Behind the scenes, he was the man with the master plan who brought the girls unprecedented millions in commercial sponsorship deals, but kept the biggest cut for himself.

He boasted he would take the Spice hype to the maximum, watch it burn out and leave all parties a hefty sum for their retirement.

Geri is rumoured to have led the girls' move to oust him last November and take on management of their own affairs.

Rick Sky: Split may cost Geri millions

But once the new Pepsi deal was negotiated and American tour signed up, they may have run out of ideas.

The split may prove costly for Geri when solicitors examine what happens to the band's money now.

"A costly move": Rick Sky

Music journalist Rick Sky says it could even cost her millions. Of course, the Spice Girls are unique in the annals of pop in at least one respect - their gender.

Never before has a girl band reached such dominance of the pop charts worldwide, then imploded just as the royalties rolled in.

The closest comparison is with Take That, the last pop band whose split at the height of their success merited a live television broadcast.

When Mark Owen broke the news that Take That were calling it a day in the spring of 1996, the heart-throb boy band had already endured months of chaos after the departure of Robbie Williams.

Rebel Robbie did not get a solicitor to declare his disaffection with Take That's clean cut image - simply larking about on the Glastonbury Festival stage after downing several bottles of champagne was enough.

The threat of a messy High Court hearing to sort out whether he was pushed or fell from the band was enough to make the remaining four throw in the towel.

But Gary, Mark, Howard and Jason did manage one last tour as a foursome for the fans, a precedent for the remaining feisty four Spice Girls as they face their crucial American dates.

Ironically, although songwriter Gary Barlow was always the one considered to have the musical talent and a solo career ahead of him, it has been Robbie - with his cheeky wildman image - who has enjoyed by far the greater success.

Even more humiliating, Mark - always voted top Take That heart-throb by the girl fans - sold so few solo albums he was ditched by his record company.