X Factor favourites Little Mix backed by Simon Cowell to be the next big girl group

'They could be bigger than the Spice Girls': X Factor favourites Little Mix backed by Simon Cowell to be the next big girl group

By Georgina Littlejohn

Last updated at 11:16 AM on 10th December 2011

They've wowed the judges and audiences and viewers alike with their staying power and have become one of this year's most talked about X Factor finalists.

And even if they don't walk away with the coveted crown on Sunday's final show, Little Mix are still set to take the charts by storm, thanks to Simon Cowell.

Reports today have suggested that the music mogul is to give the four girls a record contract worth millions in an attempt to make them stars on both sides of the Atlantic.

'They could be bigger than the Spice Girls': X Factor finalists Little Mix backed by Simon Cowell as the next big girl group

The Sun has claimed that Cowell will kick start their pop career with a joint tour with boy band One Direction, who have also found fame after finishing third on last year's show.

Speaking to the newspaper, a source close to Cowell said: 'Simon is thrilled by the quality of this year's finalists - but he's extra excited about Little Mix. He genuinely believes they could be bigger than the Spice Girls.

'He's had huge successes in his career but a massive girl band has not really been one of them.'

Current pop queens: The Spice Girls, seen here when they burst onto the scene in 1996, are the world's most successful girl group of all time

Girl power: The Spice Girls reformed in 2007 for a world tour, the London leg of which sold out in 38 seconds

Backing them all the way: Simon Cowell is set to sign Little Mix and thinks they will be as big as the Spice Girls

And last night, Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall said: 'We'd love to be as good as the Spice Girls.'

The Spice Girls - Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm, Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton and Geri Halliwell - shot to fame in 1996 when their debut single Wannabe went to number one in 30 countries and to this day remain the most successful girl group of all time.

Halliwell left in 1998 and three years later in 2001, the remaining members announced they were taking an indefinite hiatus, before all five reformed in 2007 for a year-long world tour.

The source added: 'The Spice Girls set the bar high but Simon thinks there's no reason Little Mix can't better them.

'They are young and they work phenomenally hard, so the sky's the limit. There hasn't been such love for a girl band in years.'

Cowell is set to watch this weekend's final via satellite in Los Angeles and has reportedly been telling his friends in the music industry to watch out for Little Mix who he said are 'going to be massive'.

Even the Spice Girls think so, as Emma Bunton, who was known as Baby Spice, said she was backing them to take the X Factor crown.

She said: 'I really, really hope they win. I think they're brilliant to watch and I think they could be really big.

'They work well together and they've got a great connection. I can see they are having fun and that's what it was like for the Spice Girls. I can see they've got that edge too.'

Time to heat things up: Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Perrie Edwards wrap up warm as they leave their London hotel today for rehearsals

Cheer up - you're the favourites! Jade Thirlwall looks a bit glum as she but band mate Jesy Nelson looked as though she couldn't wait to start rehearsing

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2072422/X-Factor-favourites-Little-Mix-backed-Simon-Cowell-big-girl-group.html#ixzz1gANX1LYs