Fingers crossed for Mel B and her birth of her baby so X Factor can go ahead

New X Factor Australia judge Mel B is keen on a Spice Girls reunion. Picture: Brianne Makin Source: The Daily Telegraph

Guess whose hands ... Mel B, the former Spice Girl whom is now a judge on Australia's version of The X Factor, teases fans with the question: "This who my guest judge is,here are her hands on my boobies!! Guess who she is". Pic: Twitter Source: Supplied

CHANNEL 7 is hoping its star X Factor judge Mel B has a safe birth and healthy baby next month - in order for the local multimillion dollar show to go ahead as planned.

Seven is looking for a home near the Harbour - either freestanding or a large apartment in the eastern suburbs - to house what will be Mel B's family of five during their three-month stay.

The one-time Scary Spice, who is now based in LA, will start filming live shows within weeks of the talent quest's August debut and has already filmed key segments which cannot be changed to cover any later absences.

But the talent quest could be derailed if something goes wrong with the pregnancy and birth - and fingers are crossed that it won't - before the live shows in September.

The mother-of-two and her husband Stephen Belafonte are expecting their first child together in mid-August and plan to move to Sydney for the series shortly after.

"She is planning to come over here and front her live shows after the prerecorded audition, bootcamp and mentoring episodes air in the first two to three weeks," a production source said.

" Seven is still looking for the right home for them at this stage, and it's still not known whether she will bring her nanny or hire one locally."

Mel B got to know other judges Guy Sebastian, Ronan Keating and new mum Natalie Bassingthwaighte during early filming in June.

We hear a creche is to be set up at the Moore Park studios.

"Mel's little daughter Angel and Nat's daughter Harper have already bonded during the audition filming so it's expected there will be a childminding service for them on set when the live shows start," a Seven spokeswoman confirmed.