FORMER X Factor champ Joe McElderry has been sharing his wisdom with one of the Little Mix girls. Joe – who won the competition back in 2009 – grew up with Little Mix member Jade Thirlwall in South Shields, and revealed to the Sunday Sun how he caught up with her over Christmas to talk about what she can expect this year. “I am good friends with Jade and we grew up together. They will have an amazing year now and I wish them many years of success,” said Joe. “I met up with Jade at Christmas and I think she is just, like, ‘Oh my God, I cannot believe what is going on’. I was the same at that stage of the show.” Joe said the that fact two X Factor winners had been created in the region was a credit to fans in the North who really support their stars. “People from the North East really get behind you. I am sure the girls feel the same,” said Joe. “You cannot do it without the public support. I was saying how I remember when I was on the show and the community support was just brilliant. “When I came and did the home-coming gig here at the Sage, the support is like no other. “They really get behind their own people.”