Little Mix say they’re ‘working on something really exciting’ after Jesy Nelson exit

Little Mix has teased that they are ‘working on something really exciting’ as they celebrated their first number one single since Jesy Nelson left the band.

On Friday night, the group’s track Sweet Melody, from their latest album Confetti, leapt eight places to secure the top spot in the Official Singles Chart.

Celebrating the achievement, Jade Thirlwall said that it is even more ‘special’ as it is the band’s first milestone as a trio.

Talking to The Sun, Jade, 28, said: ‘It’s also special because it’s our first No1 as a trio. Starting off 2021 with a No1 is amazing.’

With Perrie Edwards adding: ‘This No1 is so special because the fans really fought for it. They’ve been downloading and streaming all week and we love that.’

Teasing what’s next for the trio after fourth member Jesy, 29, revealed she had left the band in December, Leigh-Anne Pinnock said new music was on its way.

She told the publication: ‘We have new music coming very soon. We’re working on something really exciting that will be out this spring, and can’t wait for you all to hear it.’

Little Mix were celebrating on Friday night after their single, Sweet Melody, made number one in the Official Singles Chart. 

Sweet Melody is the band’s fifth number one single overall and the first since their 2016 track Shout Out To My Ex.

And to celebrate the news, Little Mix wowed in sparkly gold sheer bodysuits as they posed for a fun snap together. 

Talking about their number one position, their first milestone since Jesy left the band, they said: ‘We literally can’t thank the fans enough. We see them every day fighting to get this song to Number 1. 

‘The fact this song has been out since October and now it’s got to Number 1 just shows how dedicated they are. We can’t wait to eventually get back on the road again and see them all – and give them a big hug when we’re allowed.’ 

It comes after eagle-eyed fans took to Twitter earlier in the day after Perrie Edwards accidentally leaked the band’s position in a now-deleted snap.  

Perrie, 27, took to Instagram to share a huge bouquet of flowers gifted by boyfriend Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The now-deleted snap had the caption ‘No 1 babyyy’, while the song played in the background on Friday. 

Perrie also showed off the note from the footballer, 27, which read: ‘#1 Love From Alex xx’, before swiftly deleting the video. 

With the charts not announced until 6pm on Friday evening, Perrie was soon trending on Twitter over the accidental blunder. 

One wrote: ‘DID PERRIE JUST CONFIRM SWEET MELODY IS NUMBER ONE BEFORE THE CHARTS EVEN ANNOUNCED IT?’

Another added: ‘Perrie Edwards aka the QUEEN of leaking things’.

A third Little Mix fan chimed: ‘perrie managing to leak the chart position is such a perrie move’, while a fourth added: ‘Omg Alex is the cutest also we love perrie leaking things before they’re announced. My girllll.’

Earlier this month, the band shared their first video as a trio after Jesy Nelson, 29, left the band for her mental health last month. 

Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 29, Jade Thirlwall, 27, and Perrie, took to Instagram to share a brief clip of themselves welcoming in the New Year. 

With confetti falling around them, the glamorous Shout Out To My Ex hitmakers looked elated as they yelled in unison: ‘Happy New Year!’ 

A caption accompanying the seconds-long footage posted to their band’s official Instagram account read: ‘We can’t wait to see you all again very soon. Ps Sweet Melody is the perfect song for the top of your New Year playlists.’ 

Adding confetti to their video is perhaps not much of a coincidence, as Confetti is the title of their six and most recent album, released on November 6 – just five weeks before Jesy announced her departure from the band. 

Confirming her Little Mix departure in a message to fans on December 14th, Jesy admitted the pressure of being in the band for almost a decade had affected her mental health. 

Taking to Instagram, she wrote: ‘To all my Mixers, the past nine years in Little Mix has been the most incredible time of my life. We have achieved things I never thought possible. From winning our first Brit Award to our sold out shows at the O2. 

‘Making friends and fans all over the world I can’t thank you all enough from the bottom of my heart for making me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. You have always been there to support and encourage me and I will never ever forget it.

‘The truth is recently being in the band has really taken a toll on my mental health. I find the constant pressure of being in a girl group and living up to expectations very hard.

‘There comes a time in life when we need to reinvest in taking care of ourselves rather than focusing on making other people happy, and I feel like now is the time to begin that process.

She added: ‘So after much consideration and with a heavy heart, I’m announcing I’m leaving Little Mix.’ 

She added: ‘I need to spend some time with the people I love, doing things that make me happy. I’m ready to embark on a new chapter in my life – I’m not sure what it’s going to look like right now, but I hope you’ll still be there to support.

‘I want to say thank you to everyone involved in our journey. All the hard work and dedication that went into making us a success.

‘To every single fan who came to see us in concert, who listened to our songs and sung their hearts out, sent me messages and supported me along the way I want you to know I love you all so much and I could never have done this without you and I appreciate it endlessly.

‘Most of all I want to say thank you to Jade, Perrie and Leigh-Anne for creating some of the most amazing memories I’ll never forget. I hope that you’ll continue to fulfil all of your dreams and keep on making music that people love. Love Jesy x.’