Geri Halliwell's joy over adding Spice to X Factor

Geri Halliwell's joy over adding Spice to X Factor

The over-the-moon star, 39, was spotted laden down with shopping bags, from must-have labels including Maje, as it was confirmed that she is the ONLY star in talks to replace Kelly Rowland, 31, who quit the panel last month.

Wearing a leather jacket, black top, sunglasses and clutching her mobile to her ear, Geri couldn't keep a huge grin off her face.

Bosses have told her: “It’s your job to lose.” Geri is appearing as a “guest judge” at the ITV1 show’s first filmed audition in Liverpool tomorrow.

But last night show sources said it is actually a “trial run” for the permanent position. If she proves herself, Geri will land a £400,000 contract and take over full time from the Boot Camp stages later this summer.

A senior show source said: “Geri is not just a guest judge â€" she is our judge-in-waiting.

“We want her to do it and she wants to do it.

“We will be watching her like a hawk at Liverpool and fingers crossed it will go well and she’ll be signed. We’re not talking to anyone else.”

Geri is understood to already be telling pals she is the new judge and is said to be “bursting at the seams with excitement”.

X Factor chiefs had been thrown into a panic after their preferred judge Dannii Minogue, 40, turned down a £1million offer to return.