Mel C says most of her ex-Spice Girl bandmates snubbed her when she celebrated her 29th birthday. Asked if they had sent her birthday greetings, Mel admits, “I won’t lie and say that they did. I got a lovely message from Emma, but I haven’t spoken to the others for ages.”

Simon Cowell tells the New York Post that he was ready for goofsters going to auditions just so they could make fools of themselves and get on national TV for a second season of ‘American Idol’. “One guy came in and he just had a look on his face and I knew what he was up to,” says Cowell. “He did this terrible audition, looked at me in anticipation and I said, ‘Actually, you’re very good.’ He went, ‘What?!’ I said, ‘I don’t think you understand. You actually have a talent.’ He said, ‘Are you serious?’ I said, ‘I’m totally serious. I don’t know why you’re playing the fool because you’re very, very good and I think you have a career.’ ” Cowell laughs. “He was completely and utterly stumped.”