PREVIEW: Little Mix The Search

Little Mix are creating six different bands to follow in their footsteps and become the next global superstars - the winning band will join them on their next UK tour.

In the first episode of the series, Little Mix make their debut as mentors as they put together a boyband.

The talented hopefuls are auditioned individually, before being put through their paces alongside their competitors. Only the most impressive will make it through to the final line-up, to battle it out for the prize in the performance shows.

BBC Q&A

What’s your ambition for the series? 

Leigh-Anne: To find the next best big group and be the best mentors that we can be. 

Perrie: We wanted the show to be different and unique, and feel fresh and young. We also hoped we would find amazing talent, as if we haven't got amazing talent it doesn’t work. Luckily the talent was so good. The show is everything we wanted it to be. 

How is LMTS different to other talent shows?

Jesy: I think it’s more current and fresh. It’s nice to see mentors who can relate to everything, who are living proof that a show like this can make you successful.

Leigh-Anne: The format is completely different to any other talent show. Us girls have been through it, we've been in their shoes and auditioned before. We’ve been successful - we’ve lived it. We can help them and guide them, and hopefully they can follow in our footsteps in terms of success.

Jade: It’s really authentic. We’ve lived the experience ourselves. As mentors we're hands on and want to support them during and after the show. It’s a new way of doing things and we don’t follow the stereotypical rules of a talent TV show. We want to really support the acts, and I think that will really resonate with the audience watching.  How do you hope fans will react when they tune into Little Mix The Search?

Jesy: I hope they love it as much as we love it. I hope they think the talent is good. I feel confident they will!  Jade: I think they’ll be quite overwhelmed at how much talent there is on the show. We’ve had so many incredible singers and artists. It will give people an insight into our friendship as a group. It will be nice for people to see us open up more. People don’t see that side of us all the time.

How was filming the audition stages of the show?

Leigh-Anne: It was really fun. It was actually amazing to know all these incredible singers wanted to be on our show. We were really happy with the talent we found.

Jade: It was really bizarre being on the other side of it and having to judge people. It was very emotional knowing you’ve had to let someone down. At the time when you get a no it can feel the worst thing ever. It was emotionally draining going home knowing you’ve let someone down. But at the same time, it’s amazing when you find insanely talented people so it's rewarding at the same time.

What are you looking for in the contestants of LMTS?

Perrie: We’re looking for someone who has that dynamic they can bring to the group. A friendly personality, but their talent needs to be off the scale. We’re looking for the full package.  Jade: It isn’t just enough to be an amazing singer. You need authenticity, people love to love the person behind the music. Someone that has something very interesting about them. I love the people that come to the show knowing what sort of artists they are. That confidence and awareness is appealing to me. 

You’ve filmed the auditions already, are you happy with your line up?

Perrie: Completely! The whole time we were doing the auditions, we kept looking at each other and saying we can’t believe these people have auditioned for our TV show. 

Have there been any moments that have really stood out to you so far?

Leigh-Anne: Every now and again you get that one audition that sticks out. My favourite audition was two boys; they are brothers and an r'n'b rap group. It was really emotional. Sometimes people just connect with you, and it was a nice moment. 

Perrie: Certain people when they auditioned made me cry. When you have that connection vocally, it really moves you. We all feel something unique, and we all react differently.

Jade: When we chose the final bands line up. Seeing their journey from their first audition to on stage, we were blown away by how well they gelled. I love that feeling you get when something really special happening in front of you, it’s really exciting. 

How was it being on the other side, and judging rather than auditioning?

Jade: With great power comes great responsibility. We all felt it at the beginning with our first nos, it was so hard to say it. As we got into it we realised there was only a certain amount of spaces and we had to decide if people were ready. It's exciting to give someone a platform. 

Jesy: I really enjoyed it because I felt we could give a lot of advice that they genuinely took on board. They know we’ve been in that position, which I think helps put them at ease. Do you have any regrets from auditions? Anyone upon reflection you wish you’d put through? 

Leigh-Anne: Yes I do have some regrets. It's annoying when you watch it back and think 'why did I say no to them'. There are also people that the other girls didn’t put through which I'm sad about. Perrie: I went into this saying I just wanted to be true to myself. There were times when people would fight hard for their place and I'd think - go on then! I wish I’d been more stern but it’s hard when you see how much they want it. Certain people won me over, but deep down I knew it wasn't right.