FEW X Factor acts escape their reality show origins; Little Mix are one of the exceptions.

Perrie, Jesy, Leigh-Anne and Jade looked and sounded great as they belted out covers of everything from Nicki Minaj’s Superbass and En Vogue’s Don’t Let Go to their own chart-toppers like Wings and DNA.

The largely female audience were on their feet from the start to the very end; screaming “we love you”, waving banners and dancing along.

The foursome put on quite a show. It was no wonder the Little Mixers were chanting more, more when the lights finally went down.

Support came from reconnected, then The Mend. The first, straight off the boyband production line, really got the audience going. They weren’t my cup of tea, but I don’t think they’re going for the 38-year-old male demographic. Maybe it was because one of them reminded me of Harry Potter’s Draco Malfoy.

Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists The Mend haven’t let being beaten to the final by a dancing dog dent their self-belief; but they were the only weak point of the night for me. Their mash up of I just died in your arms tonight/Written in the stars went down well with the crowd. While their individual voices weren’t bad, their harmonies fell short. If you want to know how to nail it boys, watch Little Mix from the wings.

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WAYNE SAVAGE