Jade Thirlwall said there will be a Little Mix reunion "if it's the last thing I do" as she promoted her debut solo album on Oxford Street on Tuesday, stepping out in a camouflage co‑ord and telling fans the timing was unimportant.
The 32‑year‑old, who rose to fame with Little Mix on The X Factor in 2011, visited a pop‑up newspaper stand to publicise That's Showbiz Baby! wearing a semi‑sheer top with ties down the front and matching flares paired with pointed heels. There was no police presence at the promotional outing; police had been called to a secret gig she performed in Newcastle the previous week after more than 1,000 fans caused traffic disruption when she played from a truck near the Angel of the North.
Speaking to Capital Buzz, Thirlwall said: "There will be a Little Mix reunion if it’s the last thing I do. You know it doesn’t matter how long that takes." Her comments come as she seeks to balance a rising solo profile with hopes of reuniting with former bandmates Perrie Edwards and Leigh‑Anne Pinnock; Jesy Nelson left the group in 2020 and Little Mix announced a hiatus in 2022.
That's Showbiz Baby!, released this week, compiles Thirlwall's solo material including previously released singles such as "Angel of My Dreams", "Midnight Cowboy", "Fantasy" and "Plastic Box." The record arrives ahead of her first solo tour, scheduled to begin in October and cover venues across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Thirlwall said the album "has been years in the making" and that performing it live this year was "a dream come true." Her solo singles have amassed a combined 215 million streams to date, and she won Best Pop Act at the 2025 BRIT Awards.
The Newcastle popup event that drew large crowds came after Thirlwall gave fans short notice of the appearance. Organisers said more than 1,000 supporters attended, prompting calls to police because of congestion in the area; officers attended the scene. By contrast, the Oxford Street promotional stop passed without a visible police response.
Thirlwall has spoken openly about personal challenges while building her solo career. In an interview with The Guardian published recently, she said she faces a "daily battle" not to use Ozempic, a weight‑loss drug, because of a history of eating disorders. "I don't judge people that do, but because I have a history of eating disorders, I don't know where taking something like that would end for me," she said.
Little Mix became one of the United Kingdom's most successful girl groups after their 2011 X Factor debut, achieving multiple charting singles and albums during a run that included members Edwards, Pinnock, Thirlwall and Nelson. The group paused activity in 2022 following Nelson's 2020 departure; members have pursued solo projects since then.
Thirlwall's promotional appearances and forthcoming tour mark a sustained push to establish a solo identity while signalling an ongoing willingness to reunite with former bandmates. Her album release and public statements leave open the prospect of a future group reunion, though she did not specify a timetable or whether any reunion would involve Nelson, who is now a mother.