As Celebrity Masterchef's Melanie Blatt returns to TV to take part in the new series of Race Across The World with her mum, OK! Is taking a look at what she has been up to in her professional and family life.

Melanie has had a jam-packed career so far, from singing in girl group All Saints, featuring on X Factor, wowing the judges on Celebrity MasterChef and now competing in the biggest and most ruthless journeys across 24 countries.

Taking it back to the 90s, Melanie was one of the founding members of All Saints along with Nicole and Natalie Appleton and Shaznay Lewis. The girl group released their first single I Know Where It’s At in 1997 and shot to fame after they released Never Ever.

The well-known song sold over 1.2 million copies and topped the charts in the UK, while their album was certified platinum five times. After a few years on top, the group went their separate ways in 2001.

Bandmate Shaznay gave fans an insight into their split when appearing on Alan Carr’s chat show as she said: “We just weren't getting on anymore and we kind of hated each other, so we just thought… let's stop. Which was the right thing to do, I think”.

Since then, the band have rekindled several times, however, things came crumbling down once again when they cancelled a planned UK tour. Melanie told I-D magazine in 2012 then she didn’t think they got the band back together for the “right reasons” and that she “did it for the money”.

Outside of the band, the girls have gone on to have their own solo careers with Melanie being the first member of the band to record her own music.

Since then, Melanie turned away from singling and found a career in acting and TV presenting. The TV star has appeared in Leigh Francis' sketch show Bo' Selecta, The F Word, Angela and Friends, The Hot Desk, and I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here.

Melanie has also featured as a judge on The X Factor New Zealand between 2013 and 2015.

Melanie has not only had a successful career but she is a proud mum to her lookalike daughter Lilyella, who was born in 1998. Lilyella is the spitting image of her famous mum and Melanie often shares glimpses of her daughter online.

Speaking about her latest adventure on Race Across The World, Melanie said the reason she did it was: “For the experience”.

She continued: “To be out of my comfort zone, to do something that I wouldn't necessarily choose to do on my own. I’m definitely up for challenges and pushing myself… And this is what mum does all the time!”

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