MIX FIX
Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock ‘mentored’ by Repair Shop’s Jay Blades as she battled racism
THE Repair Shop's Jay Blades has revealed he "mentored" Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock as she battled racism after shooting to fame.
The 51-year-old star teased that he and the 29-year-old singer are also "working on something together" during an appearance on Lorraine today.
5
Speaking to host Lorraine Kelly, Jay reflected on his difficult younger years being a victim of racism, and how he overcame it to help others in his position.
He namedropped Leigh-Anne ahead of her BBC documentary on race airing this evening - admitting he is thrilled she is speaking out.
The TV favourite shared: "When you mentor and you give back to people without looking to receive, sometimes it comes back again.
"Leigh-Anne is one of those young people who I've mentored along the way; when you get them coming back and giving out to people saying, 'This is what I've been through, this is what you should be doing, we need to make a change' it's absolutely beautiful."
5
5
The pregnant star made Brit Awards history with her Little Mix bandmates on Tuesday when they became the first female group to win Best British Band.
And Jay proudly reflected on her success later in the interview, gushing: "She's doing brilliant.
"We are going to announce something soon - we are working together on something."
Jay has opened up about his experiences of racism in his new book - including a harrowing recollection of "laughing" police officers shouting slurs while beating him up when he was just 14 years old.
5
5
Brit Awards 2021: Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Perrie Edwards cradle their bumps in all white on red carpet
Most read in News TV
Meanwhile, Leigh-Anne has spoken out about being made to feel "lost and invisible" in her girl group because of the colour of her skin.
In a preview for Leigh-Anne: Race, Pop & Power, the mother-to-be has a teary conversation with her mum Deborah, who is half Bajan, and her dad John, who is half Jamaican about wondering if she was only put in the band to be the "token black girl".
She also suggested she was repeatedly missed off Capital FM's Sexiest Female lists because of her race when she noticed that all three of her bandmates always landed a spot.
Topics