X Factor judge Mel B’s husband has publicly denied hitting his wife after her return to The X Factor sparked speculation about the cause of her mystery illness.

The former Spice Girl, 39, was absent from the ITV show on Saturday night but was back on Sunday after being released from hospital.

Some fans said she appeared to have scratches on her body and a bruised cheek.

Her husband, film producer Stephen Belafonte, denied the “disgusting” speculation in a message on Twitter.

“I don’t usually respond to Twitter messages but I will respond to comments of hitting my wife which I think are quite disgusting... untrue!” he wrote. “Mel was very ill. A bunch of doctors helped her get better. If fans can’t just relax before being negative they are not real fans of Mel B.”

The singer did not appear to be wearing her wedding ring when she returned to the second part of The X Factor results show on Sunday evening.

Tulisa Contostavlos replaced Mel on Saturday’s show.

On her return, Mel thanked the medical staff who cared for her during the illness.

She said: “I really missed being here but thanks to all the doctors and nurses who took care of me and got me here tonight.”

Asked by host Dermot O’Leary if she was feeling better, she replied: “Yes-ish.”

It had been reported that Mel’s chauffeur drove her to hospital after the former singer suffered agonising stomach pains on her way to X Factor rehearsals.

Speculation about her condition increased when her estranged sister put out a “desperate” request for information.

She wrote: “This is ridiculous and cruel! Evil! How can no one tell me and my family where my sister is and what is going on?

“Just a simple call to say she gonna be OK is all it takes!”

Mother-of-three Mel – full name Melanie Brown – recently spoke to Hello! about her marriage.

“I’ve been in lots of relationships, but it makes me cross when people assume Stephen and I have an open relationship. Never, ever, ever,” she said.

“We knew each other incredibly well – good and bad – by the time we got together. He can irritate the pants off me, but I love him absolutely and I trust him with my life.

“He’s the first man I’ve ever trusted, he’s my rock and he’s the beginning and the end of who I am.”

Previously known as Scary Spice, Mel said the couple were considering having another child.

“We’ve been talking about it for two years. I’m 40 next year, I want to have one more baby,” she said.