Simon Cowell has not held back in his latest swipe at girl band Little Mix.
The four-piece were once his protégés after they became the first group to win The X Factor in 2011 but their association ended last year when Little Mix left Cowell's Syco label.
They didn't seem to leave with the blessing of the music mogul and Cowell has been dismissive of the group since then but this is the most public swipe he has made.
Little Mix, who consists of Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwell, have incensed Cowell further by launching their own TV talent show, in which they will be searching for the next chart-topping group.
This seems to be in competition with Cowell's next project, X Factor: Bands, which launches on ITV on December 9 and in which he will hope he has the midas touch again and finds the next One Direction.
Cowell wasted no time in getting in a jibe about the girl band's new competition during the auditions for his new X Factor concept.
The Sun has reported that one band hopeful that was not deemed good enough to progress in his show, suggested that they might have better luck applying with Little Mix.
Cowell reportedly said: "Little Mix are doing a show next year. You should apply. Tell them I sent you."
A source said about the jibe: "It was obviously a real dig at the girls’ show. there is a proper feud.”
Little Mix: The Search will be arriving on BBC1 early next year and will provide direct competition for ITV's talent searches.
Meanwhile, Little Mix ’s Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards shut down rift rumours between the band and revealed they begin writing their next album soon.
The singers firmly denied any rumours of a rift between them and band mates Jesy Nelson and Leigh-Anne Pinnock.
During an exclusive chat with Mirror Online at Radio 1’s Teen Awards, the girls also revealed they are heading back to the studio next week to start recording some new music.
Jade, 26, said they were sad to have finishing touring but added: “We go back into the studio next week to start writing our next album so we can’t wait to do that.”
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