It seems Rachel is in full promotional mode, in a new interview with “The Sun” Rachel discusses her role as a sex symbol, and comments on the continued rumor that she will have a cameo on ‘Eastenders’, and the impending 20th anniversary of S Club 7 (which she could see happening!)

Ahead of her stint in the Celebrity MasterChef kitchen, which starts on BBC1 on Wednesday, the 39-year-old tells The Sun: “It’s lovely that people still view me as a sex symbol.

“But I definitely feel like I’ve got more confident and sexier as I’ve got older.

“Your body is always changing, which is great, but you know more what you want out of life, too, and that inner confidence gives you more sexiness.

It makes you feel more confident and that’s where it comes from. I can’t believe I’ll be 40 next year, I don’t feel it.”

Rachel beat beauties including Kelly Brook, Jennifer Lopez and Cheryl to FHM’s Sexiest Women of All Time crown in 2014.

To celebrate, she stripped off for the sizzling shoot above, wearing only a black bra and lacy knickers, just two months after announcing her pregnancy to her second daughter.

Rachel is so proud of the raunchy snaps that she is planning on showing them to any future grandchildren.

She says: “I’ll definitely show off my FHM covers when I’m a grandma, I’m sure.”

It is not just pop’s former golden girl who is proud of the pictures — her male fans on social media still remind her about those days.

She says: “I get messages from people commenting on things like that. It’s mad, social media. It’s such a different world to when S Club 7 was going.”

Rachel has always taken pride in her natural looks and keeps in shape by “walking loads” and running around in the park with her two girls, Amelie, six, and three-year-old Minnie.

But she has not ruled out going under the knife in future.

She says: “Plastic surgery is great if you want it, it’s such a personal choice. It’s great people can have the opportunity.

“I haven’t thought about surgery now, but who knows further down the line? I don’t rule it out for when I’m older.”

Rachel’s sex appeal was ramped up a few notches in 2008 when she appeared in the skimpy sequins of Strictly Come Dancing, finishing runner-up to Casualty actor Tom Chambers.

No matter how far her cooking gets her this week, it is unlikely to be the last time we will see Rachel on our screens.

She has confirmed she is in talks to join EastEnders, saying: “There have been a few times where there have been talks about it over the years. You know what it’s like with things, it’s all about timing and all that kind of thing. But, yeah, there’s definitely been talk about it and it could happen. My mum will be beside herself if it happens.”

“That’s the thing about this business — amazing opportunities come along, so who knows?”

For now, Rachel is still best known for her time in S Club 7, alongside Tina Barrett, Paul Cattermole, Jo O’Meara, Hannah Spearritt, Bradley McIntosh and Jon Lee.

The band scored four No1 singles, more than 13million album sales worldwide, a hit TV show and spin-off group S Club Juniors.

After they split in 2003, Rachel carved out her own solo career before the band reunited in 2014 for Children In Need and an arena tour. But with the band’s 20th anniversary next year, the S Club party may not be over just yet.

Rachel says: “It was so fun when we did the reunion tour a few years ago, it was absolutely brilliant and it was so lovely to see everyone again.

“Nostalgia is a big thing to people and we really felt that. It was perfect for what we wanted to get out of it for the fans.

“The hardcore fans want a 20-year reunion and I could see that happening. It will be something we’ll have to talk about.”

In the meantime, much to the horror of husband Alex, Rachel will be busy showing off her cooking skills on national telly and trying to impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace. Her fellow hopefuls include Vic Reeves, Olympic swimmer Rebecca Addlington, Paul Daniels’ widow Debbie McGee and Outnumbered’s Tyger Drew-Honey.

Speaking about the show, she admits: “I am not a good cook. When I told my family about it there was complete silence before they said, ‘Are you mad?’

“My husband and I are massive foodies and I love the show, we’re such huge fans. I thought it was a great opportunity.

“I’m definitely not the cook of the house, so I went into it as a massive challenge and a way to get out of my comfort zone.

“It is brilliant but bloody scary — it’s like you’re back at school.”