Little Mix star reveals The Search mentoring struggles during lockdown

Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall has revealed the struggles of mentoring The Search contestants during coronavirus lockdown.

It was announced last year the X Factor-winning girlband will be fronting their own reality series for the BBC, Little Mix: The Search, in which they endeavour to create the best new pop group in the country.

However, plans for the series have halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown, and Jade tells Metro.co.uk that it’s been ‘quite hard’ to mentor new groups in this troubling time.

‘The contestants have been incredible, they’ve all got like WhatsApp groups going and checking in on each other, rehearsing over Zoom,’ Jade said.

‘It’s been really interesting. Because we’ve had to learn to do that ourselves, in terms of getting along and seeing the bigger picture, it’s making groups and seeing the energy. It’s quite hard getting the groups to gel.’

The Touch star added: ‘[Little Mix] just gelled straight away. We’re not naive enough to think that’s going to happen with another group we put together, we really need to get it right and look out for them and help them all.’

But the pop siren is also heading out on her own during lockdown – fronting her own show for MTV, Served! (exclamation point!), where she’ll be chatting with celebrities over Zoom (of course) and plying them with cocktails and even cooking food.

‘To be fair I’m no presenter, which is probably part of the fun of it,’ Jade admitted.

‘It’s very apparent that I’m not a presenter in that sense! Getting a bit tipsy with a few cocktails, I’m chatting to my friends, I don’t wanna make it too scripted.’

Joining her for the series will be Drag Race icons Alyssa Edwards and Courtney Act, alongside cult icon Kim Woodburn, as well as some very secret, A-List guests. Just don’t ask Jade to cook for you when this is all over.

‘I didn’t realise how stressful it would be having to cook and interview someone at the same time,’ Jade laughed.

‘I’m not gonna lie to you, I wouldn’t say this show was for any kind of food lovers, because I can’t guarantee the end result of the meals will be that edible.

‘There was one episode where I had to grill sausages and they were a bit raw, so I couldn’t eat them.’

Sounds delicious, hun, we can’t wait.

Served! with Jade Thirlwall debuts 28 May on MTV.