Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix (2026) s01e02 Episode Script

[drum beating]
[facilitator] So this drumbeat represents
the heartbeat of your baby.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Now, clear your mind.
[doctor] This condition is called
twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.
If we do nothing, 90 to 95% of the time
unfortunately both babies don't make it.
[obstetrician] It will be two baby girls.
[both cheering, chuckling]
[Jesy]
I can't imagine not having these babies.
-[Zion] They're gonna be fine.
-Yeah.
I'm Jesy.
[Tulisa] I could see it building up,
and I knew something was wrong.
[parent] My girl.
[crowd chanting] Little mix!
Oh, this is a joke!
Jesy Nelson has quit
the girl group Little Mix.
After nine fucking years, she's gone.
Oh, my God.
I'm in shock right now.
Not even just shock, I'm in pain.
Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson's
being accused of so-called blackfishing.
[photographer]
Jesy, you make it look worse for yourself.
[crowd] Little Mix! Little Mix!
[bowls resonating]
[facilitator] So, how you both feeling?
I'm a bit like… [groans]
But, like,
this will be really good for me,
because I have to have a C-section
because I'm having twins.
And I am very fearful
of any kind of operation.
Think it's the fear of the unknown,
-not being in control.
-Yeah.
[Zion]
I'm so glad you're doing this though.
I'm just sitting, and I thought
the frequency is high in this room.
[all chuckling]
[facilitator] How do you know each other?
What's the story? Tell me.
-I wanna know everything.
-We've known each other
-since we were little. So…
-[facilitator] Yeah.
And we've grown up together.
We used to go to a theatre school,
-the same theatre school.
-Okay. All right.
And I remember
saying to the dance teacher,
"Who's that little girl? She's so good!"
And that's how we met.
I feel like it is so special
that we're doing it together
and we can be in this season together
at the same time.
Because we do literally
do everything together, like…
-And it's so nice.
-So, it was so… It was so, so lucky.
You have been through
every single high and low in my life.
And you know what it is? I think
when you get in the industry as well,
there's so many people that, like,
excuse my language,
-fuck you over…
-Yeah, I can imagine.
…who aren't genuine.
And so many people, I think,
can go in the industry
and actually lose
a lot of their real people
-and create… gain a lot of fake friends.
-Yeah.
And that's the one thing
I'm so grateful for.
That I've never ever lost that.
-This is a really random question, sorry.
-Yeah, go on.
I've noticed you've got,
like, a baby there.
Yeah.
Can you teach me how to hold a baby?
So, you want to hold
behind the back of baby's head.
-Behind the back of the head.
-Yeah.
And then support baby into the palm
of your hand with the trunk of the body.
-Like this?
-And then bring baby to your chest.
And then you can hold baby
in your arms as well.
-Like this?
-Yeah, perfect. Yeah.
Perfect.
-And then you'll find…
-It's so weird seeing you like that.
I think it's just so strange,
because for so many years
you've been like,
-"I don't want kids. I don't want a baby."
-I know.
But you are the most natural mother
I've ever seen.
When Jesy became pregnant,
I feel like
she's just stepped into this era
where she doesn't need to, like, look
a certain way for her babies to love her.
She doesn't have to be "Jesy Nelson".
She can just be their mum.
Go to Papa.
[shushes]
-That's it.
-[Jesy laughs]
-Look. See, natural. Yeah, natural.
-He's a natural.
That's really good.
I don't think you've ever been, like,
as settled as you are now.
No, yeah. And also, like, my career
was my main focus in life,
and I very quickly realised that
that wasn't making me happy at all.
I'm not trying to, like, you know,
say The X Factor was just so bad,
but it definitely came with, you know,
a big, big dark cloud over it.
And I don't think anything
could've prepared her for that.
[crew person] Floor manager.
[crowd clamours]
[crew person] Good, okay. So, everybody…
Was I like that, or was I like that?
I tell you what, I give credit to all
the acts that have ever done that show.
[crew person] Three, four, five.
One, two, three, four, five.
It's live. This is live.
I have never experienced
the intense energy that you get
at an X Factor live performance.
And I wasn't even performing.
Little Mix, we need to go.
It is horrendously heavy.
Three, two, one.
Welcome to The X Factor. We are live.
Sixteen extremely nervous but very
excited acts are waiting backstage
to perform live to the nation
for the very first time.
It doesn't get any bigger.
The first time we performed,
I cannot tell you how terrifying it is.
[crowd cheers]
-Boy, you got my heartbeat ♪
-Heartbeat ♪
Runnin' away ♪
It's really scary, but also, like,
the best feeling I've ever felt.
Boy, you got my heartbeat runnin' away ♪
Beatin' like a drum
And it's comin' your way ♪
Can't you hear that… ♪
When you're in a band,
there's just like a power.
Base ♪
[crowd cheering]
[Barlow] Okay, guys. It's week one.
You are already the best girl band
that's ever been on The X Factor.
[crowd cheers]
Girls, I want you to do so well.
You're such hard workers.
I love you. Brilliant performance tonight.
It's the best feeling in the world.
Like, we never expected any of this.
Eliot always used to say
when one person walks into a room
compared to four girls,
the reaction is completely different.
-Oh, my god.
-We have waited so long for that.
That was the best.
And it's so true.
[harmonising]
I'm Eliot Kennedy. I'm talent development
producer for The X Factor.
We spent quite a lot of time in the house
teaching them
and, you know, working out the harmonies.
I think I was aware quite quickly
that Jesy…
had more going on,
from an insecurity point of view,
than the other girls.
I think she was more self-conscious.
She eats, like, the world
and never puts on any weight.
I just sniff a bit of chocolate cake,
and I put on a stone.
If you've got those insecurities
and people are just
pouring gasoline on that fire,
it can be incredibly destructive.
I remember, I think it was one of the boys
that was in the boy band,
pulled out his laptop and was like,
"Oh, let's watch our performances."
And I just literally remember
every single comment
just being about me
and what I looked like.
Just the worst things
you could say about someone
was in the comments section about me.
The next day I remember getting woken up
really early in the morning…
and I just had this big film crew
in my face.
And they said, "We want you to talk
about what happened yesterday."
I just wanted the ground to swallow me up.
Like, I was mortified.
People were writing a few nasty comments.
And, I don't know,
it just got to me a little bit.
And obviously,
when you've got your own insecurities
and you know them yourself, and then
when people go and tell you… [sniffles]
…and write them on websites
for everyone to see,
it just makes you feel really rubbish.
It's a TV show and everyone knew
what we were there for.
And we had to make it amazing
every Saturday.
[sniffles]
[Kennedy]
The production company had support on hand
if the stress was too much.
There was a structure there.
But knowing afterwards
the stuff she's dealt with…
It's not an easy thing to realise this
'cause I can't help
but take a bit of responsibility.
I was part of the machine
that was making her feel that way.
It's such a bitter-sweet feeling
when I look back on it.
Because that moment, just being that,
like, open and honest and vulnerable
actually made so many people
also then relate to us.
But it didn't help me.
Like, it just made me worse.
[electronic voice] Doors closing.
[Jesy] We are now going for our scan.
Featuring Zion the Pineapple.
[chuckles]
Waddling along,
as I get fatter each day.
No, but you look really pregnant though.
-Do I?
-Yeah.
[machines beeping]
[Jesy] Unfortunately,
the symptoms have got worse.
They have to perform the procedure,
which, um, is obviously
not what we wanted to happen.
Um…
But it's necessary,
because it's gonna give our babies,
like, the best chance of surviving.
[Zion] Hmm.
Um, so, yeah. We're just waiting to go in.
Um…
And we're just hoping and praying
for the best really.
It's all gonna go well.
Yeah, I feel gutted.
I feel absolutely gutted.
'Cause I really was hoping that
we wouldn't even be in this position.
Yeah.
But, um, yeah,
we just wanted to update you guys,
keep you in the loop
of what's going on, so…
Yeah, just pray for us please, guys.
Pray for us please.
Mm-hmm. Thank you. [kisses]
[clears throat]
Bloody hell.
[sighs] Um…
Okay, where to start.
[line ringing]
Hey, my baby.
-Dr Ruwan just called me.
-Yeah?
He basically said, um, we have to stay in.
-Okay.
-So, unless it's, like…
back to being normal again,
we won't be going home.
Bloody hell.
-That's fine though.
-Yeah.
We're having fun now, aren't we?
[both chuckle]
It's not as fun without you though.
Yeah, I'll be back soon.
Have you had your brekkie?
-Yeah. The toast was a bit cold.
-[laughs]
Like eating cardboard.
-All right. Love you.
-Love you.
-Love you. Bye.
-Bye.
[kisses]
[sighs]
I think she's really scared.
The operation went successfully.
But the anxiety that it's caused and…
I guess, the intrusive thoughts
of not seeing our twins
and them not being born successfully,
that's what's doing it at the moment.
What I'm really trying to do is
help her think more positively about it.
'Cause that's all really she can do
and we both can do.
[chuckles] These will bring her some joy.
I just try and make her laugh
as much as possible. Any opportunity.
It just takes the edge off.
[producer] When did you first meet her?
One of my good friends, um,
he is dating Jes's best friend.
They went out on a night out,
and Rick said "Oh, hey.
Do you want to come out?" kind of thing.
First time I ever saw Jes was literally
perhaps just walking down the street.
[imitating camera shutters clicking]
-Right, please just…
-Wait, wait, wait.
-[paparazzo] That works.
-Come on.
[Zion] And I was like,
"Oh, my god, what's going on?"
'Cause that's not my world,
just getting stopped for pictures.
-Jesy! Jesy! Jesy!
-Jesy! Jesy!
[Zion] And I was just looking,
thinking, "Who the hell is that?"
Quite star-struck.
[paparazzo] Come, Jesy.
You make it look worse for yourself.
Take the umbrella down,
you don't have to do it.
[Zion] Her heart is so pure.
And when I saw
how that was being manipulated
in the media and in public perception,
I think the way she's been
painted out to be is not who she is.
The reality was
I knew it was, like, wrong.
So, it made me wanna fight for her.
[phone chimes]
[phone chimes]
[Jesy] When I was in
a really shitty time in my life,
he was the one person
who would always check in on me
and, like, send me really lovely messages.
Like when he didn't even know
I needed it the most.
[Zion] I think one of the pivotal moments,
which is so strange,
but I randomly started listening to
"Who You Are" by Jessie J.
["Who You Are" playing]
I just sent that to her randomly,
and just said, like, "When you're
feeling down, like, just listen to this."
She, like, said, "Oh, my God.
Like, that used to be my favourite song.
I can't believe
you've just sent that to me."
I stare at my reflection in the mirror ♪
[Zion]
Something changed in our relationship.
We connected over that song in a way.
Even though it was just through
social media, we connected.
[friend] And I remember we went out.
And the way she was talking about him,
I looked at her,
and I said, "You like him, don't you?
You really like him."
She's like,
"No! I don't. I don't. I don't."
Like, she wouldn't give into it.
She didn't believe that
that could happen for her.
I do always worry because she's got money,
she's got a nice home,
she's still got quite a lot
for someone so young.
So I do worry with any boy she meets.
Are their intentions genuine?
[friend] She really started to believe
people don't just want me for me.
"They want me because I'm who I am
and I've got the life that I have,
and people want a piece of that."
But Zion was just so different.
Well, the first thing I have is
of us in Jamaica.
Do you wanna see?
The first ever one.
This is the first ever one.
Wanna step down?
[instructor] Put your legs up, up, up!
-[Jesy yelps]
-[Zion chuckles]
[Jesy chattering]
[Zion] You know when you just have
those, like, boundaries in the early days?
We probably crossed, like,
99% of them just on that trip.
And I think after that trip,
it was more than a friendship.
That's when I knew I love her.
[Jesy chuckles]
Zion has really shown her
he loves her for her.
I don't think she's ever felt that
from a boyfriend before.
All the other girls,
they always just talk about having kids,
and they were like,
"Are you sure you don't want kids?"
And I was like, "No." I was adamant.
And then I met Zion,
and everything changed.
He is the person that makes me feel
like everything's gonna be okay.
He's so calm, and he's so positive,
and he's so gentle and kind.
He is, like…
He's my best friend.
[grunts]
[Jesy] What would I do without you, eh?
[shakily] He genuinely, like,
is the only person that can, like…
When I'm feeling like this
or I'm hysterical, he can, like…
-[fingers snap]
-…flip how my brain thinks.
-So, I'm actually quite good at this now.
-You are good at it.
So when our daughters need help
putting on their tights…
[Jesy chuckles] Aw.
I just know that he's, like,
gonna be the most incredible dad.
[producer] How have these downs
impacted you and Jesy's relationship?
Oh.
It's… To be honest,
it's strengthened our relationship.
What an amazing job they're doing.
-Strongest girls in all the world.
-Yeah.
[Zion] Maybe it's given us
a certain different perspective
or certain values
we've learnt from it all,
certain level of appreciation
that may be invaluable.
-Hey. You look absolutely beautiful.
-Oh, shut up.
-You don't want me to zoom in?
-No, don't you dare.
[Zion chuckles]
-I don't look healthy. I've got a head…
-Yes, it's healthy.
Hair full of grey.
I look like a mole rat.
-No, you don't.
-I've got wrinkles for days
because I haven't been able to
have Botox for nearly…
-I don't know how long.
-No, you don't.
And on top of that,
I've got a little round chubby face.
-You know what I think?
-What?
I think you're out of your bloody mind.
-You look bloody stunning.
-No, I don't.
You're so corny.
I thought you was getting ready
for the shoot with Vogue.
You're an idiot.
-I just can't wait until they're here.
-Me too.
And they're literally on us.
You haven't sung to my belly yet.
I want them to know your singing voice.
-Why don't you sing them, "Power", from--
-Bloody…
No, absolutely not.
She had this big hair and big laugh
and this massive voice.
-Hold me tight and don't let go ♪
-Jesy, on your own.
Don't let go ♪
I was aware she was in pain.
I'd see her crying every now and again.
Don't let go ♪
Unison.
But I feel like the girls
did rally around her.
Little Mix.
There was a real support for each other.
[crowd cheering]
I didn't think, in the beginning,
they were gonna win
because of the girl group curse.
But then one performance,
you could feel the turn in the energy,
and I was like, "Hang on. Hang on.
We could have some winners here."
What's it gonna be? ♪
'Cuz I can't pretend ♪
Don't you want to be… ♪
[Jesy] And I feel like from that moment…
Don't let go ♪
Felt like it went…
[crowd]
Little Mix! Little Mix! Little Mix!
[cheering]
Those are your fans, girls.
Little Mix…
Who are you here to see tonight?
…are the only girl group to have made it
this far in the history of The X Factor.
The thing that you've done
is you appeal to everyone.
And apparently,
you're now bookie's favourite.
I know! It's crazy.
[Jade] It's so weird
having people scream your name
and how they take photos
and autographs and stuff.
[crowd]
Little Mix! Little Mix! Little Mix!
The win!
[Jesy] Never ever in my wildest dreams
did I ever think
that this could be possible.
I love you so much.
It just goes to show that hard work
and if you believe in yourself,
that dreams can come true.
[crowd]
Little Mix! Little Mix! Little Mix!
[interviewer]
Do you think Jesy was built for fame?
[sighs]
[fans cheering]
[Tulisa] I don't know
if they were aware of the risks.
'Cause when you want something so bad,
you are always blind to the negatives.
[Kennedy]
You're just not equipped, you know?
It's like you've started
climbing a mountain
without mountaineering equipment.
And you might get so far,
but you get so far
that you can literally fall off.
[Jesy] We worked with a PR person,
and he pulled me into a room,
and he said to me,
"Is there anything you're not telling me
about your childhood?"
I was like, "No."
[parent] Jesy.
[Jesy] I didn't let on about anything
that had happened in my childhood.
[Jan] Where's my Jesy?
[Jesy] He was like, "We've got a story
coming out about your dad."
No.
And I just remember thinking,
"How the fuck do you
even prepare for this?"
The girls obviously
had no clue whatsoever.
They were really worried.
Because they thought, "That's probably now
gonna get us kicked off the show
because people are gonna judge Jesy
off of that.
So we're probably gonna
end up going home."
How am I going to potentially now
lose my dream
because of something that my dad did
when he was young?
And I got so much hate when it came out.
[Tulisa] Mid sound check,
Jesy just started
to literally break down on the stage.
I could see it building up,
and I knew something was wrong.
-[Jesy] I don't know what I'm doing.
-Just relax.
When you've got a huge
major scandal going on,
it is extremely hard to stay focused.
And things go wrong
No matter what I do ♪
I definitely felt distant from the girls.
I definitely felt that
they felt disappointed
that I hadn't told them about that.
From the minute they knew that
about my dad, the press,
it was like they'd found
their vulnerable one.
The one that they were,
like, gonna target now.
And it never stopped from that day.
It just got worse and worse.
[crowd applauding, cheering]
[host] Please welcome Little Mix!
[crowd cheering]
Sometimes I feel like saying
"Lord, I just don't care" ♪
I remember her being super, super stressed
and upset around that period.
Now and then
It seems like life is just too much ♪
[Tulisa] As someone that's had
a lot of scandals in my life,
there was no scandal
that you can't overcome.
Like, that was my attitude.
And also,
I was a bit of a "fuck 'em" judge.
Excuse my French,
but, you know, fuck 'em all.
Who cares?
Who gives a shit what people think?
Just go out there
and show them what you're about.
You've got the love ♪
She's so incredibly resilient and strong.
She's got the whole world watching her
and all these eyes on her
and everybody having an opinion.
But…
Jesy turns pain into power.
The winner of The X Factor 2011…
is…
Little Mix!
[crowd cheering]
[Kennedy] As hard as that was
in spite of all of that stuff,
in the face of adversity, she succeeded.
Oh, my God.
This is never gonna sink in. Seriously…
We cannot thank the public enough
for picking up their phone and voting.
I'm so thrilled for you. All right.
And if there is a poster child for that,
then it'd be Jesy.
Ladies and gentlemen,
give it up for Little Mix!
[Jesy] I'm so grateful because I would not
have the life that I have now
without the whole X Factor journey.
But when I look back on it,
even though I'd, like, dealt with the shit
that I was getting on X Factor,
it still never could have prepared me
for what was about to catapult me
into what actually was gonna be my life.
I don't even know where to start.
What's that?
Do I think they're prepared?
No. No, not at all.
-Do we need this?
-Just get it in case.
What is it?
-Rolling!
-Action.
We just always thought
we were gonna get number one.
You are officially number three.
We went through
the biggest drop in Radio 1.
It's so embarrassing.
I'm just in so much pain.
Give me the pain. Give me the stress.
I wish I was the one
who had to suffer that.
It's all happening in that room right now.
[nurse] Timer started.