LITTLE MIX

ANNOUNCE THEY’RE TAKING A BREAK AFTER A DECADE OF HITS

With their arms around each other and beaming widely, the Little Mix girls are the proudest of best friends. As Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall hit the red carpet last week in support of their bandmate Leigh- Anne Pinnock at the premiere of her film debut, Boxing Day, they couldn’t have looked closer.

It turned out to be a poignant evening out for the trio as, less than 48 hours later, they announced they’re taking “a break” and going their separate ways – for now.

The band – who were put together on The X Factor, which they won in 2011 – released a joint statement confirming they would be pursuing individual projects. However, they insisted this was not the end. “We feel the time is right to take a break so we can recharge and work on some other projects,” they said. “We wanted to let you all know that after the Confetti tour in April/May next year we are going to be taking a break from Little Mix. It’s been 10 amazing years, a wonderful non-stop adventure...

TOUCHING STATEMENT

“We’re not splitting up – Little Mix are here to stay. We have plans for more music, tours and performances in the future. We’ve made so many incredible memories with you all, and we can’t wait to make so many more. We can’t thank you enough for your love and never- ending support since the beginning.

“We’re sisters and we’ll always have each other and you, the fans, in our lives. Little Mix is forever, see you on tour!”

It’s been a year of change for the band; two recently become mothers after Perrie, 28, and her Liverpool footballer boyfriend Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain became parents to son Axel in August while Leigh- Anne, 30, and her fiancé Andre Gray, a Queens Park Rangers striker, announced their twins’ arrival just days later.

Speculation that Little Mix would be taking a hiatus had reached fever pitch in recent months after original member Jesy Nelson left the group last December, saying being part of the group had “taken a toll on my mental health”. The 30-year-old has subsequently launched a successful solo career, although she recently admitted that she and her former bandmates were no longer in touch.

‘We’re sisters and we’ll always have each other and you in our lives’

Little Mix arrive at L o n d o n ’s Curzon Mayfair for the Boxing Day premiere (above). Performing as a trio on The Graham Norton Show last week (far left) and as a foursome on The X Factor in 2011 (left)