Jade Thirlwall Forges Close Bond with Emma Thompson After Graham Norton Show

Former Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall has revealed a blossoming new friendship with acting legend Dame Emma Thompson, following her recent appearance on The Graham Norton Show. The singer, 32, sent her fanbase into a frenzy last week with the announcement of a deluxe edition of her debut solo album, swiftly followed by the powerful release of her new single, 'Church'.

Backstage Bonding on the BBC Sofa

Thirlwall took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a series of candid snaps from her time on the popular BBC talk show, where she performed her latest track. Among the photos were several heartwarming backstage pictures with fellow guest Emma Thompson, with the pair beaming for the camera. The images quickly sparked speculation of a close new bond between the music and film stars.

Alongside the post, Jade wrote: 'Lovedddd bringing the Church music video to life on @thegrahamnortonshowofficial this weekend. Also can't believe Rowan Atkinson has officially seen my Mr Bean costume.' Other notable guests on the famous red sofa that evening included Timothée Chalamet, Rowan Atkinson, and Edward Enninful.

The Encore: Expanding a Chart-Topping Debut

The deluxe album, titled THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY! The Encore, represents a significant expansion of her first solo project. It features an impressive eight additional songs to the original tracklist. This includes seven brand new tracks, headlined by the powerhouse single 'Church' and the socially conscious anthem 'This Is What We Dance For'.

The grand finale of the extended album is Jade's highly praised cover of the Madonna classic 'Frozen'. The original edition of That's Showbiz Baby was released in September, where it debuted at number three on the UK charts, securing the biggest opening week for any debut album in 2025.

A Meteoric Solo Career Continues

Jade Thirlwall's journey as a solo artist has been marked by a string of remarkable successes. She kicked off her post-Little Mix career with the debut single 'Angel Of My Dreams', which has now amassed over 107 million streams. In a historic moment, she became the first former girl group member to win a BRIT Award, taking home the gong for Best Pop Act at the 2025 ceremony in March.

Her solo tour, which began in October with dates across the UK and Ireland, is set to continue its momentum. Plans are in place to head to the US and Canada next year, before wrapping up in Europe with concerts in cities like Brussels, Amsterdam, and Paris, concluding in Hamburg on 18 March.

Last month, her influence was further recognised when she was honoured with the Musician Award at Harper's Bazaar's prestigious Women Of The Year ceremony. In the magazine's December/January issue, she revealed receiving support from famous pals including Mel C and Lily Allen, who praised the topics she sings about.

The full tracklist for THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY! The Encore is as follows: