Little Mix members have secret plans to go solo as Jesy Nelson takes 'extended time off'
POP superstars Little Mix are going solo, The Sun can reveal — with Jesy Nelson also taking “extended time off” due to private medical reasons.
Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock have each been involved in secret plans to launch individual careers next year at the end of their existing deal.
They have been quietly meeting with new managers, agents and industry bosses.
Jesy is also in talks over plans for her own solo career which will resume as soon as she's feeling better.
Our revelations come as the band’s management last night announced Jesy’s break.
A spokesman added: “We will not be issuing any further comment currently.”
Jesy, 29, has been absent from the group for a fortnight, having pulled out of the final of their BBC TV show The Search plus their hosting slot on the MTV European Music Awards.
Meanwhile Perrie and Jade, both 27, are looking at solo music projects while 29-year-old Leigh-Anne is thought to be discussing TV ideas.
A source explained: “The girls have been open and honest with each other, and with their current management team.
“They have started discussions with some prospective managers and agents about what their solo careers might look like.
“Some of the girls might end up taking on solo projects with their current management team too.
“But this isn’t about ending the band, it’s about looking to the future.
“They still have a tour scheduled to start in April next year, and even if that is delayed because of Covid, as is quite likely, they will still complete it.
“That will happen either with or without Jesy, who is taking some time out for as long as she feels she needs or wants to.”
The source explained: “They’re talking about trying to emulate Take That, where each member has been able to drift out at times and work on their own projects, but come together at other times to tour and work as a group again.
“They love the band and all that they’ve achieved, and still get on very well as great friends.
“There is absolutely no fall-out between them and they’re all supportive of each other doing new things. It’s an exciting time.”
Little Mix have become one of the most successful acts of their generation since forming on The X Factor in 2011, selling more than 50 million records.
Six albums and six world tours have spawned four No 1 singles and 16 top tens, alongside two Brit Awards — and an estimated fortune of around £30million.
But the group have also faced strain after a well-documented fall-out with their former record label, Simon Cowell’s SyCo Music, in November 2018.
That saw them move to rivals RCA amid a bust-up between Cowell and the band’s managers, Modest Management.
After the incident, which erupted as they made their LM5 album, Cowell told The Sun the dispute “wasn’t down to money”, adding: “Basically, they said we’d done a terrible job.”
The X Factor judge said they remain on good terms and plan to meet up again.
He said: “I stand by the fact they are the hardest working bunch of girls I’ve ever worked with. They deserve everything they’ve got.”
Perrie later told The Sun: “We’re ready for a fresh start.”
Leigh-Anne said: “We were with Syco for seven years and had an incredible journey but it’s going to be nice to change it up.”
Little Mix won The X Factor at the height of its success in 2011, a year after boyband One Direction finished third.
Their hits include Wings, Black Magic and Shout Out To My Ex. Spin-offs include clothing ranges, perfume and beauty products.
Jesy won a National Television Award for her work on TV documentary Odd One Out about online bullying and struggles with body image.
A group with X appeal
LITTLE Mix went from solo wannabes on TV’s X Factor to the biggest international girl band since the Spice Girls. Here we take a look at some of their highlights from the last nine years.
X FACTOR: Little Mix were the first group to win the ITV show in 2011, with Tulisa as their mentor. All auditioned as solo acts but were put together by the judges.
FIRST SINGLE: Their cover of Damien Rice’s Cannonball spent a week at No 1 after they won the show.
FIRST ALBUM: A year later they released their first studio album DNA.
NUMBER ONES: Four of their singles have gone to the top spot, spending a total of eight weeks there.
SHOUT OUT TO THE EXES: Leigh-Anne’s exes include Ashford Town footballer Jordan Kiffin. She is now with Watford striker Andre Gray.
Perrie was with 1D’s Zayn Malik but is now dating Liverpool footie ace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Jade is dating Rizzle Kicks star Jordan Stephens, while Jesy is said to be seeing actor Sean Sagar.
EARLY CRACKS: A split was first rumoured in 2017 after Perrie posted a photo with Jesy cropped out. She later said Jesy just did not like the pic.
SIMON COWELL: Signed to his label Syco as part of their X Factor win but left in 2018.
TOURING: They have completed six international tours, Their last, LM5 in 2019, consisted of 40 European gigs and took more than £16million.
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