Jade Thirlwall joins Nick Grimshaw to co-host this week’s Sidetracked with Annie and Nick on BBC Sounds and talks ‘sharting’ on stage, an unreleased song with Charli XCX and meeting Prince Harry.
Jade Thirlwall on how it feels to be ‘that bitch’ (An expression defined on Urban Dictionary as being ‘that one person everyone envies or wants to be’)
Musician Self Esteem recorded a question for Jade:
“How does it feel being that bitch?”
Jade: “It feels correct. It feels appropriate and it just feels right, I guess. So, thanks a lot, Self Esteem. Thanks for giving me some self esteem. Someone's got to do it, do you know what I mean?
Nick: “You are. At the moment, Jade, you are that bitch.”
Jade Thirlwall on ‘sharting’ on stage during a Little Mix show
Jade: “I did shit myself on stage once.
“It was on one of the Little Mix arena tours and I wasn't very well, I was really poorly and I had a Sunday roast before I went on stage. So, I was dancing with the devil a bit there - and at the beginning of the show we'd rise up on a man-lift – it would be like this big introduction - and I was with my security and I had to crouch down before we [were] lifted up. And I had, like, a nervous fart and I sharted! And then I turned around to the security. I went ‘I've shit myself’ and Warren went ‘ah like that's so funny.’ I was like, ‘no, Warren.’ And then [the music kicked in] and I just started rising onto the stage. And yeah - I did the whole show like that because I couldn't get changed!
“In that show we had a clear bridge over the arena and I was in a mini skirt!
“But the show must go on!”
Jade Thirlwall on an unreleased Little Mix / Charli XCX track
Jade: “We did one session a few years ago for Little Mix. I remember because I was really hungover and I felt really bad because I was really excited to [work] with her. You know, one of those nights out, it just escalates. You know, I'm not drinking, not drinking, and then you have a few, and then before you know it, it's messy.”
Nick: “But maybe on brand? Maybe you pioneered the brat summer?”
Jade: “Maybe. The song was quite good, actually. I mean, it didn't make the cut. I don't know why, for whatever reason. But I'd obviously love to work with Charlie.”
Jade Thirlwall on going to a Charli XCX party with a swollen foot
Jade: “I've been to a couple of Charli’s parties and they do go off!
“The last one I went to…I’d just got off the plane. I’d had a tattoo done on my foot the day before and I didn’t know you aren’t [really supposed] to fly [after having a tattoo]. I had a foot sleeve. So…on the flight to LA my foot swelled [up] and it looked like it was going to explode!
“Me and my best friend got off the plane and went straight to Charli’s party. I thought I've got to wear high heels for Charli - like I can't wear flat shoes! So, I stuffed my foot into a stiletto and it was bulging out! I was genuinely hobbling along and I turned up at the party … and everyone was there dancing and as the night went on my foot just got bigger and bigger. This is so gross, but it was like bleeding and it was so disgusting and people obviously kept standing on my feet! I remember leaving the party thinking I bet everyone thinks I'm such a loser!”
Jade Thirlwall on meeting Diana Ross
Jade: “[Diana] walked in the room and all of a sudden, I was like just like convulsing. I was like oh my god what do I say, and I did that thing where like I wanted to get a picture but you know when you can’t get it open and you’re panicking!? So, yeah, I was trying to take a picture and my mum kept going ‘she loves you, she dressed up as you for her birthday”….I was like shut up mum! You’re embarrassing me! But then she showed her a picture of me dressed up as her. So, it was a real moment and the whole time I was like, just don't bawl your eyes out in front of this person and make it super awkward.”
Jade Thirlwall on meeting Prince Harry and the other Little Mix girls trying to set them up
Jade: “We did the Royal Variety performance, and I was single at the time and all the girls were like, oh, [Prince] Harry - you could be in with a chance! I was like, oh god, here we go. They were being those sort of friends! And then you know he is going down the line and….I started getting nervous - I wasn't even [really] arsed, but [then I started thinking]….
Nick: “Hang on I might be the queen in a minute!”
Jade: “Suddenly I was like Princess Diaries in my brain - like just in case! I shook his hand and I think it was Jesse who [was saying ohhh ohhh]. [I was thinking]…not in front of the Prince of England! I’m all for wing women on a night out but not in that situation! He must have thought what a weirdo! I can't flirt anyways, so there was definitely nothing like that. But maybe I did a slight over-linger on the handshake just to catch a vibe. But there definitely wasn't one. I wish him well.”
