Mel B's father has passed away

In a statement posted to her Instagram account, Mel wrote: "It is with great sadness after a 5yr battle to multiple myeloma cancer our loving father Martin Brown passed away age 63 peacefully yesterday.

"Both of us his children were by his side and would like to say thank you to St Gemma's and all the doctors and nurses for there amazing care and support over the years.

"Please respect our privacy and let us as a united family grieve. With love and respect. Melanie and Danielle Brown x Be Free Dad (sic)"

Mel is said to have had a fractious relationship with her mother and sister in the past after they reportedly fell out over her relationship with her then-boyfriend Stephen Belafonte, who she later married.

However, it seems they have put their differences aside and recently spent some quality time together in London while Mel was in the British capital to film a TV show.

Asked how her and her mother got on, Mel said: "Yes, she came down yesterday, saw the kids and watched the show. Then we hung out and went for dinner with the kids."

And Mel says she is also back in contact with her sister Danielle too.

Asked if they have been able to reconnect, she added: "Yes. Family is family. There's no point talking about that."

It comes after Mel's mother Andrea once claimed she only found out via social media that Mel was pregnant with her daughter Madison in 2011.

She said at the time: "I only found out she was pregnant because of Twitter and I found out on Twitter that she'd had the baby too."