The UK's biggest girl groups were left reeling after the departure of their fourth member last year.

Jade Thirlwall has admitted that she and her Little Mix colleagues needed therapy after Jesy Nelson left the group late last year.

Nelson, who recently released her first track as a solo artist, 'Boyz' featuring Nicki Minaj, departed the winning group manufactured on 'The X-Factor' last December after nearly 10 years. Since then, Little Mix has continued as a trio.

Speaking with Gay Times about their reaction to her departure, Jade Thirlwall admits that the Jesy Nelson exit meant that she, Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock went to therapy, both group and individual.

She said: "I think for anyone, when such a big change happens in your life, and you've been so used to a certain situation for so long, it's really hard.

"Getting through that and moving forward. I think for us as well, we were still promoting the album at the time and doing TV shows. We were just cracking on as it were, and I think we were in a bit of shock for a long time because we just had to keep going.

"It was hard. It would have been for anyone and we've got each other, we have group therapy, we have our own therapists, and you do what you can."

Since Nelson's departure, there has been very public beef shared between the former bandmates. Currently not on speaking terms, Nelson was allegedly warned of "blackfishing" by Pinnock before they parted ways. The saga was referenced during Nelson and Minaj's live stream during October.

Little Mix released the music video for their latest single, 'No', earlier this week, serving "glam mummy" realness. The deluxe version of their greatest hits album 'Between Us' is out now.