Geri Halliwell is back on the market after dumping her toyboy lover Ivan ‘Flipz’ Velez.

The 36-year-old Spice Girl phoned her dancer boyfriend, 29, three weeks ago to tell him the bad news, which has apparently left him devastated.

The pair met while Geri was on the Spice world tour and began dating in April. They spent most of the summer together in Los Angeles with Geri’s daughter Bluebell.

According to a friend of the pair, Flipz now wants to try and convince his ex to change her mind and get back together.

“She called Flipz when she returned to the UK from LA and confessed that things just weren’t working for her,” the friend told Closer magazine.

“Geri said she’d hoped it would be an amazing love-of-her-life romance, but that the spark just wasn’t there. She couldn’t deal with the distance between them and thought it was best to end it before he got even more hurt.

“As far as Flipz was concerned they were strong together and had a bright future. They’d talked about kids and marriage. But I guess in her eyes, it just wasn’t meant to be,” the pal continued.

Despite splitting with Flipz it seems Ginger is keen to find someone to have a family with.

“Geri has been trying not to be too desperate to settle down and meet the man of her dreams – but she can’t help it.

“She has Bluebell, but wants to have more children. Geri is annoyingly picky about men and she gets impatient waiting for the right one to come along. It doesn’t help that she’s high maintenance – she scares a lot of men off.”

Geri is now thought to be finding comfort in the company of her good friend David Walliams, who she dated briefly last year and who remains very close to Bluebell

Hey Guys Hope those of you who went to the bluewater signing yesturday had a good time! I’ve added a mixture of HQ and MQ images of The ‘Ugenia Lavender’ signing and the lights switch on into the gallery. More updates coming soon

Gallery Link - 2008 Events - ‘Ugenia Lavender’ Book Signing Waterstones - Bluewater,Kent - 6th November

Gallery Link - 2008 Events - Christmas Lights Switch On - Bluewater,Kent - 6th November

She used to be Ginger Spice, but purple was the colour when pop star-turned children’s author Geri Halliwell stepped out this evening.

Switching on the Christmas lights at the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent, she arrived warmly wrapped up in a black minidress, furry coat and beret. In fact she could almost have passed for chic - save her odd choice of bright purple tights.Perhaps Geri was taking her style lead from her children’s book character Ugenia Lavender - or maybe her tights were a subtle way to promote it.

Most likely the former Spice Girl’s style statement was purely an attempt to  brighten up her otherwise sombre ensemble - nevertheless, it seems an odd choice for someone so famously figure-conscious.

Coloured tights are notoriously unflattering, even fashionistas who have hailed it the style of the season agree it’s something to be left to the supermodels.

The fashion faux pas did not seem to deter eager young fans who happily posed for photos with the russet-haired star.

After switching on the shopping centre Christmas lights, Geri made a personal appearance at the Bluewater’s Waterstones store to promote her latest Ugenia Lavender book.

The former pop star turned to writing children’s books after the birth of her daughter Bluebell Madonna, now two.

Geri wasn’ the only celebrity launching the Christmas shopping season this evening. Boy band McFly braved the cold in London to switch on the cobweb-like Christmas lights on Regent Street.

A FORMER Spice Girl turned children’s author has exclusively backed the Kentish Times Christmas Toy Appeal.

‘Ginger Spice’ Geri Halliwell, 36, has thrown her weight behind our second annual campaign that last year saw hundreds of toys donated to children’s wards in Bromley, Bexley, Woolwich and Dartford.
And the mum to two-year-old Bluebell Madonna has generously vowed to donate bagfuls of toys herself.

She said: “I have got a massive bag of toys that I was just about to throw away, perfectly good toys, and it would be such a shame to throw them away and would be very happy to give them to the Toy Appeal.

“I don’t believe in waste at all, I try to recycle everything. I have learned the more you give, the more the world gives back to you. It feels good to give, no matter how small the gift.

“I have an abundance of toys that my kid has just grown out of, so I am glad they will go to good use.”
She added: “It is so important to be grateful for what you have, we are all so lucky really. So many people have nothing at all.
“My message to all children in hospital this Christmas is just get well soon and you are being very brave - just keep it up. I wish you all a merry Christmas.”

Ms Halliwell is due to read extracts from the latest of her children’s books Ugenia Lavender: The One and Only before turning on the Christmas lights at Bluewater in Greenhithe tonight.

Ms Halliwell, sold over 55 million CDs during the 1990s when the Spice Girls stormed the charts with their feisty brand of ‘girl power’.Since leaving the group, she has enjoyed a successful reunion tour but is now focusing on her writing and role as a UN Goodwill Ambassador.

She added: “I try to speak to people’s hearts and minds. I am not a political animal, I just care but I wouldn’t claim to be a role model, I am just doing the best I can.”
During her visit to Bluewater she will read from the new book in the Winter Wonderland at 4pm and sign copies at the Waterstone’s bookstall before the Christmas light switch-on at 6pm.

Hey everyone,Im really sorry for the lack of updates the past week I’ve been super busy and I have other sites to update as well. I’ll be back uploading lots of stuff tomorrow/friday hopefully.Thanks for your patience

Dont forget the competition to win A Signed Copy of ‘Ugenia Lavender and The Temple of Gloom’ is still open.You can enter here

Adele has revealed that she still hasn’t forgiven Geri Halliwell for walking out on the Spice Girls.

The Chasing Pavements singer was a huge fan of Ginger, but was devastated when she left the band in May 1998.

‘Geri was my favourite Spice Girl, but she left and broke my heart, so I’m a Scary Spice girl now,’ she says.

‘When I was young, I was planning to go to their show at Wembley as Geri. But just before I went, she left.

‘I had to go as Mel C, and I was never that sporty. I haven’t forgiven Geri for that.’

GERI Halliwell has proved she’s got a great bedside manner.

The Spice Girl settled down to read Little Red Riding Hood to sleepy children for Nick Jr’s Once Upon A Bedtime month.

The mum-of-one is the first celeb to become a storyteller on tonight’s A Bedtime Story with Arnie and Barnie.

Geri said: “I regularly read to my daughter Bluebell - it helps to settle her into a nightly routine, plus improves her imagination, vocabulary and listening skills.

“I especially enjoy inventing new stories and ideas with her.”

Watch Geri’s bedtime story in our exclusive clip: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article1886748.ece

Donna Air, Duncan James, Jenny Frost, Jasmine Guinness and Gary Lucy will also tell popular tales to the channel’s young audience.1The new series starts on Monday, November 3 at 7.15pm on Nick Jr.