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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Emmeline Saunders & Sophie McCoid

Jesy Nelson missing from Little Mix The Search with mystery illness

Jesy Nelson has pulled out of presenting tonight's Little Mix: The Search final after being struck down by a mystery illness.

Jesy, 29, will also miss Sunday night's MTV European Music Awards alongside her bandmates, who are set to host the virtual ceremony.

A rep for the band said: "Jesy is unwell and will not be appearing on tonight's final of Little Mix The Search.

"She will also not be hosting or performing at tomorrow's MTV EMAs."

Little Mix The Search host Chris Ramsey addressed Jesy's condition on tonight's show.

He said: "Unfortunately Jesy is unwell tonight, so won't be joining us but she will be rooting for all of the groups from home."

No further information was given about Jesy's condition - reports Mirror Online.

Jesy had appeared in The Search's semi-final on Friday night, which had been delayed from last Saturday thanks to Boris Johnson's late-running lockdown announcement.

She performed a mix of Little Mix hits with her bandmates in the studio at the opening of the show, including 2020 single Holiday and their 2016 hit Touch.

It comes just weeks after Jesy broke down in tears during the band's live radio performance - their first since the lifting of the first lockdown.

Jesy later told fans she'd suffered a panic attack and was comforted by Jade as she shook in fear.

She said: "So my nerves got the better of me today.

"I had a panic attack right before we were about to sing this for live lounge today and like a pro @perrieedwards jumped in for my part last minute and smashed it.

"This is what we originally did in rehearsals."

Radio 1 presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star Clara Amfo later praised the band for their 'sisterhood' as they came together to support Jesy.

An emotional Clara told listeners: "I just want to say, big up to Little Mix. I think we can all agree that Little Mix must be protected at all costs.

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"Yesterday you may have noticed, that the gap between hearing the latest single and the cover was a little longer than usual, and Jesy's been very open and very honest about why that was."

Clara went on to explain what happened and how the girls came together and showed complete unity.

She said: "I just want to stress, and what I really think they need to be bigged-up for, is that those four women are as thick as thieves.

"What I saw yesterday was a great example of real sisterhood and them just showing why they're such a great band."

"They really came through for each other and they switched up the arrangement in a matter of minutes, and they sang beautifully.

"I really respect Jesy for being transparent about what she's going through, because as music fans, and as people that consume pop culture, I think we still have this element of thinking that people's lives are perfect just because they're really well-known or might make a lot of money and be famous.

"I think we can wrongly assume that everything's just okay all the time, and sometimes it's not. So, big up to Jesy for being so honest, and big up to them as a unit for coming through like champs yesterday."

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