‘I saw Jade sing at a 60th birthday once and she was really good’

It’s coming up for 15 years since mega girl band Little Mix began their X Factor journey to stardom.

Jade and Perrie both from South Shields won The X Factor in 2011 in the girl group Little Mix. | Getty Images

placeholder image — Jade and Perrie both from South Shields won The X Factor in 2011 in the girl group Little Mix. | Getty Images

The group, which starred South Shields girls Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards, auditioned as individual singers before being put together as a group by the judges in the summer of 2011.

And while they were rank outsiders with odds of 66-1 when the show first began, that all changed as the show progressed.

Bookies slashed their odds to 15-8 and hopes rose that they could follow in the footsteps of 2009 winner Joe McElderry, of Westoe.

The Shields Gazette went out on to the streets to ask South Tyneside shoppers what they made of the four-piece band which also starred Jesy Nelson and Leigh-Anne Pinnock.

Here’s a look back at your thoughts 15 years ago.

Mum-of-three Doreen Pearson, a South Tyneside District Hospital kitchen worker, of Simonside, was shopping with her two-year-old daughter Daisy.

Doreen Pearson and daughter Daisy stopped to chat while they were out shopping. | sg

The 37-year-old said: “My kids absolutely love the X Factor and I think Little Mix are really good. I think they’ll win. I voted for Joe a lot, so I’ll vote for them as well.

“I think they’re doing so well because places like South Shields really get behind their own.

Lesley Lindsay predicted Little Mix would be a big hit with teenagers. | sg

Lesley Lindsay, 40, a civil servant, from Westoe, said: “I’m more of a Strictly Come Dancing fan so I haven’t seen that much of them, but from what I have seen, I think they can do it. Since the Spice Girls there hasn’t really been a big British girl group, so I think there’s a place for them.

“I can imagine that teenage girls and boys would really like them.”

Mark Thirkell was very impressed with Jade's voice when he heard her sing. | sg

Mark Thirkell, a forklift truck driver from Westoe, said: “I think they can do it – Joe did it so why can’t they? I saw Jade sing at a 60th birthday once and she was really good. She has a brilliant voice. I think South Shields will get behind them and I’d really like to see them win.”

Yvette Smith, 31, a care worker of Tyne Dock, was out with her two-year-old daughter, Jenny Manley.

Yvette Smith, pictured with daughter Jenny Manley, thought Little Mix were brilliant. | sg

The mum-of-two said: “I think they’re brilliant, they should win. I think they’re really good and they’ve been getting better every week.

“I really like to see them do a slower song though, so they can show off their voices because they’re all brilliant singers.

“I think they’ve got a big chance of winning and I hope South Shields gets behind them.”

Stephen Magneron, 20, unemployed, of Boldon, said: “I think Amelia Lily is going to win, I don’t really care for Little Mix.

“I don’t really like their voices, I much prefer Amelia’s. I’d like to see them do well as they’re from South Shields but I don’t think they’ve got what it takes to win.”

Kris Banks, 20, a joinery student at South Tyneside College, of Whiteleas, wasn’t putting his faith in the girls either.

He said: “Marcus will win. Little Mix are good but they’re not good enough.”

Share your memories of following Little Mix through that epic year, by emailing [email protected]