Mel B 'splits from husband Stephen Belafonte'

The Sunday Mirror reported that the film producer has spoken to lawyers in Los Angeles about a divorce, following a three-year marriage with the former Spice Girl, whose real name is Melanie Brown.

Mel B is splitting from her husband Stephen Belafonte (PA)

Belafonte told the paper that there have been a number of problems lately, adding that he does not know what is happening.

"They've not been happy for a long time and there's been rowing. But she's making plans to come back to the UK on a more permanent basis. Stephen hasn't been mentioned as joining her and has been consulting lawyers," a friend of the singer said.

The couple, who are both 35, wed in 2007, only six months after Mel B split up from actor Eddie Murphy, who is the father of Brown's daughter Angel.

However, the pair have been putting on a brave face recently and were recently spotted kissing during a lunch date.

The source went on to say that both Belafonte and Brown are jealous people, with problems arising when one is getting more attention than the other, while they also want to know where each other is during the day.

Brown, who was originally from Leeds, is due to star in a new show, The Mel B Project, which is set to be screened in the US next month.

Mel B is returning to the UK after splitting up from husband Stephen Belafonte following a series of rows.