Little Mix

Jesy Nelson leaves Little Mix: 'The constant pressure is very hard'

She explained: "I find the constant pressure of being in a girl group and living up to expectations very hard."

Writing on Instagram, the 29-year-old said being in the band had been "the most incredible time" but it was now time to "embark on a new chapter".

Her former bandmates said it was "an incredibly sad time for all of us but we are fully supportive of Jesy".

The news comes a month after Nelson said she was taking an "extended" break from the pop group for "private medical reasons".

Little Mix: Jesy Nelson takes break for medical reasons

A statement didn't give any further details about the 29-year-old's condition.

It comes after Nelson recently missed the final of the girl group's BBC One talent show, and their hosting of the MTV European Music Awards.

Little Mix's latest album entered the UK chart at number two on Friday.

All six of the studio albums they have released since forming on The X Factor in 2011 have gone into the top five, and they have had four UK number one singles.

Little Mix The Search: BBC talent show halted by positive Covid tests

Saturday's broadcast of Little Mix The Search has been postponed as a result.

Its producers said they hoped to be back on air by the following Saturday, 24 October.

They have not revealed who has tested positive or how many, but did confirm that none of the four members of the UK girl band had contracted the virus.

Those who have tested positive "are now self-isolating following the latest government guidelines," a statement said.

Coronavirus: Little Mix and Tom Jones in Together At Home concert

A host of big names performed from home on the US broadcast earlier, before more British stars were added to the line-up for a UK edition on BBC One.

The event aimed to celebrate healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards said NHS staff and other key workers "all deserve such a huge thank you".

The girl group were among the UK acts who took part in the British version of the concert on Sunday, along with Rag 'N' Bone Man, George the Poet and The Kingdom Choir.

Little Mix director defends 'raunchy' video

Some fans said it had gone too far in comments below the recording but the director, Director X, has told Newsbeat the criticism wasn't his issue and wasn't Little Mix's either.

The were also rumours that Little Mix's Jesy Nelson was edited to look thinner.

"I was happy to see the fans say that Jesy is just terrific the way she is and get upset about it," he said.

Not long after the video was released, Little Mix published a "making of" video which appeared to prove the rumours not to be true.

Kings of Leon and Little Mix to play Radio 1's Big Weekend in Hull

Kings of Leon, Little Mix and Stormzy will all perform on 27 and 28 May.

Radio 1 Breakfast Show host Nick Grimshaw announced the news.

"I'm super excited for Big Weekend as it kicks off festival season and always has a mega line-up of the best live music," he said.

"Looking forward to seeing you in Hull for Radio 1's Big Weekend at the end of the May," said Kings of Leon.

"Huge thanks to Radio 1 for leading the charge in helping us get our music to our fans, its going to be a great show, can't wait."

MTV Europe Music Awards turns its trophies purple in memory of Prince

The Canadian singer, who wasn't at the show in the Netherlands, beat Adele to best song for his track Sorry.

Justin Bieber also picked up the biggest fans' title - the third year in a row he's collected it - after a vote on Twitter and Instagram and won in the best Canadian act category.

The ceremony in Rotterdam paid tribute to Prince with purple trophies.

The star died aged 57 in April after being found collapsed in a lift at his home in Minnesota.

Justin Bieber thanked his fans on Twitter.

Justin Bieber didn't have it all his own way though.

Little Mix 'expected' Zayn Malik rumours about new single Shout Out To My Ex

The girl group premiered Shout Out To My Ex on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show after performing it on The X Factor.

Perrie told host Nick Grimshaw: "I mean, we did expect it, didn't we? The song speaks for itself.

"Who doesn't relate to this song? It relates to everyone. Jes always says it's like a happy, heartbreak song."

Perrie and Zayn got together in 2012 shortly after Little Mix won The X Factor and announced their engagement in August 2013.

They split up last year after Zayn left One Direction.

It followed allegations that he'd cheated on Perrie.