Mel B has praised Eddie Murphy as a 'proper father'

Mel B has praised Eddie Murphy as a "proper father".

The Spice Girls singer has 18-year-old Angel with the 64-year-old actor and their co-parenting relationship has only grown stronger in recent years, despite previous difficulties.

Mel - who also has Phoenix, 26, with first husband Jimmy Gulzar and Madison, 13, with former spouse Stephen Belafonte - told Us Weekly magazine: “I think being in the kind of [situation] that I was in, it was hard for me to step out and have that relationship [with Eddie] flourish.

"I managed to do it bit by bit.”

The 49-year-old star's friendship with Eddie - who also has Eric, 35, with Paulette McNealy, Bria, 35, Myles, 32, Shayne, 30, Zola, 25, and Bella, 23, with Nicole Murphy, Christian, 34, with Tamara Hood and Izzy, eight, and Max, six, with wife, Paige Butcher - has "flourished even more" in recent years since she returned to her native England and embarked on a relationship with now-fiance Rory McPhee.

She added: “Angel is coming over [to Eddie's house]. They spend time together. They go on holiday together. He has [10] kids and he’s a proper father."