By JODY THOMPSON

Fierce: The Saturdays took to the stage in Newcastle last night all wearing tiny shorts - apart from a more bashful Rochelle Wiseman (far right)


They've never been afraid of wearing skimpy outfits onstage - but The Saturdays outdid themselves on stage in Newcastle last night.

The girl group were sporting the tiniest of shorts as they played a short set at a gig thrown by the city's radio station, Metro Radio Live.

But it seemed that Rochelle Wiseman was not having one of her more confident days and wore pale denim skintight jeans instead.


Work it: (L-R) Mollie King, Una Healy, Vanessa White, Frankie Sandford and Rochelle were playing a short set at Metro Radio Live at Newcastle Arena - a kind of urban indoor one-day pop festival


However, one person who had most definitely overcome her nerves was Nicola Roberts, who made her live solo debut last night, just days after saying she was dreading going on without her Girls Aloud bandmates.

Talking to MTV earlier this week, she'd revealed: 'I'm nervous and I'm dreading the night before. I know I'm going to be like losing half a stone in weight overnight, so I'm going to have to get myself into the zone.'

She added: 'There does feel like there is a little bit of extra pressure, because it is just me and it feels a little bit like, is that enough, is it enough to just look at that?'


Solo debut: Nicola Roberts got over her nerves to play her first ever live gig without Girls Aloud at the show


Dainty doll: The star threw some shapes as she performed and totally won the screaming crowd over


However, she seemed to quash her butterflies and impressed the crowd, singing debut solo single Beat Of My Drum in a tiny red and pink dress accessorised with a kooky headscarf and multicoloured strappy heels.

Other acts playing the bash included dubstep queen Katy B, Chipmunk, Sophie Ellis Bextor, The Feeling, The Wanted, rapper Example, hot new band The Overtones and Amy Winehouse's goddaughter Dionne Bromfield.

Meanwhile, Nicola has been explaining why she chose to take such a different direction musically with her new single.


Strutting her stuff: Mollie was wearing titchy high-waisted orange shorts and a low cut see-through blue vest top that showed off her black bra


Working with hot underground music producer Diplo, she explained: 'I tried to drum in to him that I wanted these quirky dollops of sound like M.I.A. (who he's worked with before) or Major Lazer (his Jamaican dancehall project).

'Don’t try and make this record come back like a commercial, just-for-radio song with 500 dance synths all over it ‘cause it’s not where I’m trying to go.'

Scouse beauty Nicola also says she feels like she's unleashed her singing voice properly for the first time too.


On song: Frankie belts out one of The Saturday's singles wearing tight striped shorts and a blue top with a distressed denim top half, as Una sports ripped denim and a low cut purple top showing off her red bra


She said: 'I was sick to death of singing the quiet, whispery parts. I was like, no, f*** this, I’m going to sing!'

Talking to MTV, Nicola said it was good that it was so different to Girls Aloud: 'It was important my first single was different to anything else around.

'I love that it’s a song everyone can sing and dance along to.


Earning her stripes: Rochelle has teamed her jeans with a leather jacket and a midriff-exposing tiger print top


Thighs the limit: Una strikes a pose at the Newcastle Arena


Nicola Roberts will be releasing her debut album ‘Cinderella’s Eyes’ in October.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror is reporting that Girls Aloud are heading back into the studio in January.

But apparently, the girls are ditching their former producers, hitmakers Xenomania.

A source said: 'At the moment the Girls are really excited about their new beginning, although they are scratching their heads over who will create signature hits for them.

'They’re excited they’re going to be making a fresh start together on this next adventure of their lives.

'In six months time it’ll be back to work as normal – they are itching to get back in the studio.'


An audience with...Sophie Ellis Bextor was also on the bill at the bash


The band are reportedly set to reform to celebrate their 10th anniversary next year at a special festival for the London 2012 Olympics at the O2 Arena.

Nicola though is onstage again for a hometown gig at Liverpool's Radio City Live tonight, before playing T4 On The Beach on 10 July.

Beat Of My Drum is then released on 18 July.

Meanwhile, MTV Music show On Set With Nicola Roberts is on at 2pm tomorrow.
And the next Metro Radio Live is on 7 July and features JLS and Olly Murs.







source: dailymail