Little Mix EXCLUSIVE: Group are forced to CANCEL Australia and New Zealand tour dates

Little Mix have been forced to cancel their upcoming tour dates in Australia and New Zealand, which were set to take place in December.

A source told MailOnline that Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards were left ‘gutted’ by the decision but were faced with the tough choice after taking on new commitments including a BBC TV show. 

The December arena tour dates were originally meant to take place in July, but were pushed back to the end of the year just one month before the tour was due to start, and have now been cancelled altogether.

Little Mix EXCLUSIVE: The group have cancelled their tour in Australia and New Zealand so they can focus on recording their new album

The rescheduled tour was due to start on December 7 in Perth before ending in Auckland on December 17, the conclusion to the live dates to promote the group’s fifth album LM5.  

The girls recently signed on to host new BBC show, Little Mix The Search, which will kick of next year, and completing their tour would leave them with no time to record their sixth album.  

The source explained: ‘Auditions begin early next year with commitments throughout Spring, leaving no time for the band to record their upcoming sixth album.  

Difficult choice: A spokesperson confirmed to MailOnline that the group had cancelled their tour and ‘sincerely apologise to all their Australian and New Zealand fans’

‘They had to choose between touring Australia or recording a new album, and after a lot of thought they decided that it would be better to record new music, and tour Australia later.

‘They are gutted to cancel the Australian dates and let down the fans there, but hope they understand that this was their only window to record new music for 2020.’

It is understood that Little Mix are devastated by the decision, but hope that their fans will understand and look forward to their new music.

Apology: Little Mix later apologised to their fans as they shared a Twitter statement

Apology: Little Mix later apologised to their fans as they shared a Twitter statement 

Fans hit back at the decision on social media though, with one fan tweeting: ‘So first they postponed our shows and then they cancelled, IDGAF who hey work under, they’re gonna lose fans by doing this.’ 

‘Imao, this is the second time Little Mix cancelled on Australia. They changed the dates to end of year instead of coming in July so they could focus on promoting. and now they wanna cancel to focus on new music?? like do you not care about your fans??’ agreed another. 

While fans will be issued with a refund for the tickets, tweeters pointed out that many will lose out as they had already spent money on travel and accommodation.

Anger: Fans hit back at the decision on social media, with one fan tweeting: 'So first they postponed our shows and then they cancelled, they're gonna lose fans by doing this'

Anger: Fans hit back at the decision on social media, with one fan tweeting: ‘So first they postponed our shows and then they cancelled, they’re gonna lose fans by doing this’

‘I love you girls but how disrespectful to the fans… people spent money on tickets, hotel, flights…that’s so so messed up’ read one tweet.  

‘I love these girls and spent around $800 on vip tickets and not to even see them is completely heartbreaking.’ 

Little Mix’s fifth album, LM5, was released in November 2018 and reached number three in the UK album chart.  The girls will now use the time in December to record their sixth album.   

A spokesperson for the band confirmed to MailOnline that the group had cancelled their tour.  A statement read: ‘Little Mix are sad to announce that they are unfortunately cancelling their Australian and New Zealand tour this December due to new recording commitments. 

‘The band sincerely apologise to all their Australian and New Zealand fans for disappointing them. Please contact your point of purchase for a full refund on tickets.’

LM5: The Tour kicked off on September 16 in Madrid, Spain and was due to conclude on 17 December 2019 in Auckland, New Zealand, after 46 concerts. 

The tour will now conclude on November 22 at London’s O2 Arena. 

It’s not the first time the group have cancelled tour legs. Back in 2014 during their Salute Tour, the North American dates were cancelled three months after going on sale as the band said they wanted to concentrate on recording their third album. 

Clashing schedule: The group will record their sixth album in December, as their commitment to new show Little Mix The Search in early 2020 has left them with no time to record

Clashing schedule: The group will record their sixth album in December, as their commitment to new show Little Mix The Search in early 2020 has left them with no time to record

Earlier this month, the band confirmed reports they are to launch a Saturday night TV show which will rival Simon Cowell’s X Factor.

The BBC One show, Little Mix The Search, will see talented singers become members of all-female, all-male or mixed bands and then compete.

The winning group will then join the mega-selling girl band on their summer tour in 2020, setting the show apart from Simon’s show, which does not offer a similar perk.

The girls will become mentors to the competitors, who can enter as a duo, a three or a four-piece.

The group previously launched four albums with Cowell’s label Syco but parted ways to work on their fifth album with RCA. 

One to watch: Earlier this month, the band confirmed reports they are to launch a Saturday night TV show which will rival Simon Cowell's X Factor

One to watch: Earlier this month, the band confirmed reports they are to launch a Saturday night TV show which will rival Simon Cowell’s X Factor

Their announcement comes after Jesy’s Odd One Out documentary broke BBC Three records.

The programme, which emotionally explores the Little Mix star’s horrific trolling ordeal and suicide attempt, also became the top show on BBC iPlayer after its release with 1.87 million requests within seven days – 64 per cent being 16-34-year-olds.

Odd One Out also aired on BBC One at 9pm on Thursday 12 September with a whooping consolidated 3.3 million viewers and a 55 per cent growth in show watchers compared to initial overnight ratings. 

Emotional: Their announcement comes after Jesy's Odd One Out documentary broke BBC Three records. The programme explores the Little Mix star's horrific trolling ordeal

Emotional: Their announcement comes after Jesy’s Odd One Out documentary broke BBC Three records. The programme explores the Little Mix star’s horrific trolling ordeal

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