Jade Thirlwall has taken a big swipe at The X Factor, the programme that shot her to fame nine years ago, just as Little Mix's own talent show makes its debut.
After its start date was pushed back significantly due to the coronavirus pandemic, The Search will finally get going on BBC1 on Saturday, September 26.
The brand new show will see Little Mix, who themselves know a thing or two about winning a talent show, having triumphed on The X Factor back in 2011, look for a band to support them on their Confetti tour next year.
The original prize was to open their summer tour but that went the same way as nearly every other live gig when it was cancelled because of coronavirus.
And just as The Search, hosted by Chris Ramsey, gets ready to make its highly anticipated premiere, South Shields singer Jade has had a dig at The X Factor, saying its falling ratings were down to a 'lack of authenticity'.
She told New magazine: "I think the problem is when it's like a script. When they're like, 'This is going to be a sob story', then they'll stop the song halfway through and ask if they have something else.
"We got so used to seeing that, it lost its authenticity. The minute it doesn't seem real, you switch off."
Jade's X Factor dig comes in the same week she admitted Little Mix had little control over their career in the early days following their win on the ITV show.
She told Radio Times: ""At the beginning we were so scared of p***ing anyone off and damaging our career, so we did what we were told.
"We didn't even realise we had a choice, it was pitched as not having one, so you sign what you are told to and you go along with it.
"As the years went on, we started to realise we didn't like that."
