Amber Riley revealed that she then put her foot down cheerfulness writers created a sex scene for her character Mercedes Jones.

“There was supposed to be an episode where she lost her virginity to Sam [Chord Overstreet] and I told it [executive producer] Brad [Falchuk]“Absolutely not,” Riley, 38, revealed during the Thursday, February 29, episode of “And you REALLY missed that“podcast.

“He gave me the blue pages [where it] was written and I said, ‘No,'” she added of the surprising storyline.

Riley’s former costars Jenna Ushkowitz And Kevin McHalewho are the hosts of the cheerfulness recap podcast, laughed in shock when they learned the behind-the-scenes scoop happened over time that they had no idea about.

“[Brad] said, “Okay, well, what if instead of…” because it seemed like a complete scene and I said, “I’m not doing it.” He said, “Well, what if we just know, you guys hold hands and we walk into the room and then close the door?”

Riley recalled being unimpressed by the alternative angle directed at her, and said she dismissed that idea as well. “I was like, ‘No.’

McHale, 35, praised Riley for her actions at the time, saying: “Amazing. Respect.”

Riley continued to elaborate on the storyline situation, explaining that this was something she couldn’t get behind.

“I said, ‘I’m not doing it. I never say ‘no’ to you. I don’t argue about anything… But this?!?’”

The actress went on to say that there were several reasons why she wasn’t a fan of that particular direction the show wanted her character to go.

“It just would have been so awkward, and I feel like it would have been awkward,” she said. “I also just feel like, yeah, this wasn’t what my character would have done. I just didn’t have that feeling.”

In season 5 of cheerfulnessMercedes had stated that she was not ready to have sex and wanted to wait for marriage, and Riley felt that her character should “stick to her guns.”

The hosts applauded her and talked about the importance of choosing your battles when working on sets, to which Riley replied, “I chose it.”

Despite that one screenplay, Riley said looking back now, she loved acting alongside Overstreet, now 35, and has no other bad memories when it came to the sitcom script.

“Agree [was] sweet,” she opened. ‘He’s just so sweet. It was very similar to his character. He looks like boy Bambi.”

However, the actress did admit that she was initially nervous about having an on-screen relationship with Overstreet.

“It was my first relationship on TV,” she clarified. “I was always the kind of person who was generally very career-oriented and driven. In general I didn’t go out much, so it was difficult to experience that on television. It was so awkward at first, and then you don’t know what the other person is thinking and feeling. And because you’re also a bigger girl on television, you’re not always shown in the best light in relationships, and you’re like, ‘Where is this going?’ So ultimately we had to have those kinds of conversations about where the story was going to go because, you know, with our characters, we were very sensitive but protective about those characters, because [they] means so much to so many people. So you want to protect that a little bit, and I think they’ve done a great job. I think they really did a great job [with] even shows high school relationships [because] they are not that deep. They’re very superficial, you know what I mean? People don’t really stay together after high school, and they become different people and they grow and all that stuff.

cheerfulness first premiered on Fox in 2009 and aired until 2015. Riley appeared on the series as a main cast member for every season except season 5, where she was a guest star.

George and Amal Clooney were a long way from their English country home and all the better for it on Wednesday after the £15million property succumbed to yet more flooding.

The couple looked every inch a superstar couple as they stepped out in the south of France, where they reportedly own a property in the Provence countryside.

The Ocean's Eleven star, 62, looked dashing in jeans and a padded jacket paired with a cap and sunglasses, while the Lebanese-British lawyer, 46, made a statement in flared jeans with a slash that reached the pipe reached.

The couple enjoyed a walk and a drive through an idyllic area on the Cote d'Azur after reportedly moving house.

And the mild weather on the country's south coast may have been the tonic after their riverside estate in Berkshire was lashed by heavy rain, leaving the surrounding fields almost completely submerged.

After walking hand in hand down the road, the couple, who share twins Ella and Alexander, 6, hopped into George's £69k Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 Coupé to fill up with petrol before heading off in style.

Amal looked typically chic in her jeans, which she paired with flats, a tight black T-shirt and a leather jacket alongside stylish sunglasses.

George, meanwhile, rocked off-duty star style, complete with a dark polo shirt, padded jacket, light wash jeans and suede Chelsea boots.

Their appearance follows speculation that George and Amal have now moved permanently to the Cote d'Azur and no longer spend time at their Thames country house in Sonning, Berkshire.

The couple is said to have lived at the 18th century Domaine du Canadel for several months.

And according to locals, they haven't been seen in the Grade II listed building in Britain – which they bought in 2014 and spent millions renovating – for two years.

The Berkshire manor has endured a series of severe floods due to its proximity to the Thames.

Aerial photographs taken last November show that the manicured gardens on the estate are beginning to succumb to flooding

It happened just under a year after heavy rain caused muddy water to flood the gardens – and marks at least the sixth time the house has been plagued by burst banks since the couple tore down the stately post in 2014.

The Clooneys were hit by flooding in January when the tennis court, veranda and most of the previously lush lawn were submerged by the filthy waters of the nearby river.

Storm Christoph saw water seeping onto the lawn in January 2021, but the deluge stopped close to the house itself.

But February 2020's Storm Dennis left the Hollywood star's tennis courts, his summer home's veranda and most of his lawn completely flooded.

In 2018, the lawn was flooded with water after two inches of rain fell over the April bank holiday weekend.

And in 2016 there was weeks of heavy rain, with the Thames overflowing its banks and flowing into the garden, threatening to invade the house shortly after its multi-million pound renovation.

Meanwhile, their idyllic French estate is surrounded by 25 hectares of vineyards and features a swimming pool, tennis court, pétanque court, olive grove and ornamental lake.

The Clooneys, who married in Venice six years ago, also have a luxury home on the shores of Lake Como in Italy.

George purchased Villa Oleandra from the Heinz family in 2002 and spends most summers at the property, which features a basketball court, movie theater and a garage full of vintage motorcycles.

It has hosted a range of stars including Jennifer Aniston and Matt Damon, as well as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Parts of Clooney's film Ocean's Twelve were also filmed there. There were reports that Clooney would sell it, but he says these are untrue.

In addition to their real estate, George recently surprised his wife Amal on her 46th birthday with a Saint Bernard puppy named Nelson

Nelson is not the first Saint Bernard the family has owned. Four years ago, George brought along puppy Rosie, named after his late aunt, actress and singer Rosemary Clooney.

He is also known for rescuing animals, who eventually travel the world with him. He previously owned cocker spaniel Einstein, who died in 2017, and the couple have since rescued basset hound Millie and Louie, another spaniel.

LEWIS HAMILTON says he is determined to end his time at Mercedes with a bang and believes he is fitter and hungrier than ever.

Hamilton surprised F1 by announcing that he would leave Mercedes after eleven years to join Ferrari in 2025.

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He broke the shock news to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff over breakfast at the Austrian's Oxford home last month.

Hamilton, 39, will now end his contract with Mercedes and says he is still committed to helping them get back on the top step of the podium.

He said: “I feel the most motivated and focused I have ever been. Every year you come back and you think, 'I'm fitter than ever' and all these things.

“However, I really feel like I've put more work, more time and more focus into preparing for this year.

'I never thought I would be as hungry at this point in my life as I am now.

And to finish at the top with the team would be a dream.

“We've been through a lot together, so to end on a high would be the greatest honor and help them get back to the top.”

Hamilton said at Silverstone ahead of the team's shakedown with teammate George Russell: 'It was obviously emotional.

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“It's very surreal to be here. I came here in 2013, 11 years with the team, this is the start of my 12th.

“The focus throughout winter training is to get the team back to where we once were.

“We have had a number of difficult years, which have really formed a basis for us.

“It's a privilege to work with people and see the work they are doing this winter.

“This is the most exciting part of the year. To know everything under the hood, what George and I will be able to experience on the track. It's exciting.”

Meanwhile, Wolff says his team has “a mountain to climb” after winning just once in the past two years.

After designing two blind cars, Wolff is now hopeful that their latest creation will put them back on the top step of the podium.

He added: “We know we have a mountain to climb to fight right at the front. There are no miracles in this sport.

“But our ambition and determination are strong. Since we set out this new course, development has made good progress.

“We had several items on our priority list for this car. We will soon see whether we have taken the step we had in mind.

'As the saying goes, if it stings, it sticks. I believe that the last two years have been necessary to adjust, recalibrate and reinvent ourselves in certain areas.

“That carrot-and-branch approach is never easy. But we have made progress and look forward to taking the next step next one step with the W15.

“It won't be a linear path, but if we stumble, we will get back up and keep climbing.”

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LEWIS HAMILTON has spoken about his decision to leave Mercedes after unveiling the team's challenger for the 2024 season.

Hamilton stunned F1 when he announced that he would leave Mercedes after eleven years to join Ferrari in 2025.

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He told the shocking news to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff last month during a breakfast at the Austrian's home in Oxford.

Hamilton, 39, will now end his contract with Mercedes and says he is still committed to helping them get back on the top step of the podium.

Hamilton said at Silverstone ahead of the team's shakedown with teammate George Russell: 'It was obviously emotional.

“It's very surreal to be here. I came here in 2013, 11 years with the team, this is the start of my 12th.

“The focus throughout winter training is on getting the team back to where we once were.

“We have had a number of difficult years, which have really formed a basis for us.

“It's a privilege to work with people and see the work they are doing this winter.

“This is the most exciting part of the year. To know everything under the hood, what George and I will be able to experience on the track. It's exciting.”

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Mercedes unveiled their 2024 challenger on Wednesday, with Wolff admitting they “have a mountain to climb”.

Hamilton and Russell took part in a special filming day to give the W15 car its first test drive on the Silverstone circuit.

It comes after the team has won just one race in the past two years as Red Bull's Max Verstappen has dominated the sport.

After designing two blind cars, Wolff is now hopeful that their latest creation will put them back on the top step of the podium.

He said: “We know we have a mountain to climb to fight right at the front. There are no miracles in this sport.

“But our ambition and determination are strong. Since we set out this new course, development has made good progress.

“We had several items on our priority list for this car. We will soon see whether we have taken the step we had in mind.

'As the saying goes, if it stings, it sticks. I believe that the last two years have been necessary to adjust, recalibrate and reinvent ourselves in certain areas.

“That carrot-and-branch approach is never easy. But we have made progress and look forward to taking the next step with the W15. It won't be a linear path, but if we stumble, we will get back up and keep climbing.”

The season starts in two weeks in Bahrain, which will be Hamilton's last before he makes the switch to Ferrari.

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Unlike their rivals who made their drivers all immediately available, Mercedes opted for a digital-only launch, meaning Wolff and their drivers were unavailable for questions.

Their focus was therefore solely on the recovery and the team's ambitions for this season.

In an otherwise dull press release, Hamilton is quoted as saying: 'The lessons of the past two years have helped us find our direction.

“It has allowed us to find our north star. It will still be a work in progress, but we will face the challenges that arise with our heads held high and an open mind and work on them diligently.”

Russell said: “We have learned and grown as a team over the last two seasons.

“It hasn't been smooth sailing, but I truly believe the journey we have been on will make us stronger in the long run.

“The entire team has worked extremely hard and we hope to have taken a step forward with the W15.”

It's the end of an era and the biggest driver move in Formula 1 history.

After twelve seasons, six world championships and 82 race victories, Lewis Hamilton leaves Mercedes for Ferrari.

It is a day that many thought would never come. Hamilton himself said last year that he expected to stay at Mercedes “until my last days”, and there was “no place I would rather be.”

But the lure of a shock move to Ferrari, announced on Thursday for 2025, proved too strong for the seven-time champion seeking a record-breaking eighth world title.

It's the kind of action that F1 fans – and the figures at the top of the sport itself – could only have dreamed of. Working with Hamilton, F1's most famous and successful driver, and Ferrari, F1's most famous and successful team, is a blockbuster.

Ferrari is likely to enter the 2025 season with the strongest line-up in F1, with Hamilton racing alongside Charles Leclerc, the young star. As 'super-team' line-ups go, barring the unlikely prospect of Hamilton teaming up with Max Verstappen, it's hard to imagine bigger.

Regardless of the outcome, this will be one of the defining stories in F1 for years to come, as 39-year-old Hamilton attempts to write the latest – and possibly final – chapter of his glittering F1 career in Ferrari's famous red cars. .

But why leave Mercedes on the eve of the new season, for a team that hasn't won a championship in fifteen years?

A loss of confidence in Mercedes?

Hamilton and Mercedes formed one of the greatest teams the sport has ever seen.

Six of Hamilton's seven world titles came between 2014 and 2020, his only defeat in that period coming to teammate Nico Rosberg in 2016. Together, Hamilton and Mercedes dominated F1, fending off the threat of Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel, once hailed as the combination that could do that. ended years of silver success in 2017-2020.

Hamilton came within one correct decision of race control at the 2021 final in Abu Dhabi after breaking Michael Schumacher's record and winning an eighth world title, but Verstappen passed him on the final lap restart to deny him the crown .

The controversy put Hamilton on a redemption arc. Fueled by that sadness, 2022 became the season in which he had to reclaim what should have been his – only for Mercedes to build a car that simply wasn't up to the task. Hamilton knew from the moment he first drove the W13 that it was not good enough to win a title. It wasn't even good enough to win a race, forcing him to go the first season of his F1 career without a single win.

The battle lasted until last year. Hamilton often became frustrated with the limitations of his car, forcing him to endure another winless season as Verstappen and Red Bull dominated proceedings. After the final race of the year in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton summed up his mood as “not great” and cast doubt on anyone taking on Red Bull in 2024: “You can guess where they'll be next year.”

Mercedes had already started overhauling its 2024 car after ditching its radical 'zeropod' concept midway through last year. Expectations were met, but the team was more confident that the car coming out of Brackley this year would not have the same 'hateful' qualities, to quote technical director James Allison, and that this would give Hamilton a better chance of success to get. .

Hamilton will not get an extended run in the Mercedes car until pre-season testing begins in Bahrain later this month. A first taster will take place during a shakedown at Silverstone when the car is launched on February 14, and Hamilton will have driven a model in the simulator that could give an indication of what to expect. But the W15 car's potential won't be truly understood until he actually drives it.

The decision to jump ship now suggests doubts about Mercedes' ability to change course and return to the top from where it once looked down on F1 competition. If Hamilton was completely convinced that Mercedes was the place to win the eighth title he craves, he would not consider going elsewhere, especially given the emotional ties he has with the team.

It will give Hamilton and Mercedes a 'long farewell' until 2024, a final year together to try to succeed. But there will also be the clumsiness of the team's planning for the post-Hamilton era without his involvement, which will gradually phase him out of the top meetings.

What Ferrari has to offer

This is the big question mark about the move. Mercedes have shown little sign of being able to seriously challenge for a championship over the past two years, but neither have Ferrari.

The team started strongly under the new set of F1 regulations in 2022, going head-to-head with Red Bull before falling behind over race distances. Although it was the only team besides Red Bull to win a race last year, courtesy of Carlos Sainz in Singapore, Ferrari's biggest battle was with Mercedes. It ultimately lost the race for second place in the championship by three points.

Like Mercedes, Ferrari has promised an overhaul of its car this year, which will consist of 95 percent new components. It will lay the foundation for Hamilton's first Ferrari F1 car in 2025, the last under current rules before the design rules change significantly again for 2026. That is the year that offers the best chance of ending the dominance of Verstappen and Red Bull.

Hamilton's age must also be taken into account. He will be 40 by the time he joins Ferrari, and although he is still in top condition and has not expressed any doubts about his long-term future, he is not in a position to invest in a long-term project like many of its younger generations. counterparts.

It means there should be immediate success once Hamilton joins in 2025, but his impending arrival will only help build momentum at Maranello. The team is on a recruitment drive and the appeal of teaming up with Hamilton can only help the team attract top technical talent that can aid its bid to win another championship.

On a purely competitive level, the switch from Mercedes to Ferrari seems like a lateral move. But there is one thing Ferrari has offered Hamilton that Mercedes – and frankly no other team – cannot.

The romance behind the move

Ferrari has always had a mythical atmosphere in F1. It is deeply rooted in the history of the sport. You think of F1, and you think of Ferrari.

No team has so much prestige and ability. Even in the fallow periods without a championship, such as the current one dating back to 2008, it has remained a team that the majority of drivers dream of racing one day. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff even acknowledged in 2019 that “it is probably in every driver's mind to drive for Ferrari one day.”

Or as Vettel once put it: “Everyone is a Ferrari fan. Even if they say not, they are Ferrari fans.”

There is a certain amount of romance behind the move. Hamilton has owned Ferrari road cars and has a close friendship with John Elkann, Ferrari's president. Hamilton is also reunited with Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur. Hamilton drove for Vasseur's ART Grand Prix team when he made his way to F1, and they have remained in close contact ever since.

Hamilton has always had great respect for the history of F1. He is passionate about his roots and his history, which means the weight of Ferrari will not rest on him. It's a team that so many of F1's biggest names have driven for at some stage of their careers.

To succeed with Ferrari is in many ways the ultimate story in F1 – and could be huge for Hamilton's own legacy. If his last hurray in F1 were with Ferrari, potentially winning a record-breaking eighth world championship, this would certainly be the ultimate way to end his legendary career.

The alternative? Ferrari fails to deliver a car good enough for Hamilton to return to the top. The strategic abuses and mistakes that have happened all too often in recent years are a source of frustration. There is no eighth world championship.

Even in that scenario, Hamilton can still fulfill the dream that so many F1 drivers cherish, and that few actually realize, of racing for Ferrari. It will take some getting used to seeing him in those famous red overalls, but it is now becoming reality.

It's worth remembering that when Hamilton left McLaren for Mercedes in 2013, when the company had only one race win to his name since his return to F1, there were major doubts about this decision. It turned out to be a masterstroke. He hopes that his judgment has once again proven correct.

(Lewis Hamilton main image: Dan Istitene, Bryn Lennon / Getty Images; Design: John Bradford/The athletics)

Lewis Hamilton has electrified Formula 1 by signing a deal worth more than £40 million to complete his career at Ferrari.

Last night it was even confirmed that the seven-time world champion will join the world's most famous sports brand from 2025, even if the drama at football's transfer deadline.

When he heard the news, there were hollow faces and distraught faces at Mercedes, the team where Hamilton, 39, has won six of his seven world championships. They didn't see this coming. Mail Sport understands that his team boss Toto Wolff was shocked to hear about the news on Tuesday.

Hamilton had claimed he would end his career with the Silver Arrows. He said he would be a brand ambassador there for the rest of his life. Not so.

It has been an opposing preoccupation of Hamilton's life to one day drive for Ferrari, a dream that dates back to after his debut in Grand Prix racing that began in 2007.

As this newspaper reported in May last year, he was in talks with Ferrari to join them. Yet Hamilton, Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur and Wolff publicly disdained this idea.

The landmark deal was brokered during secret negotiations with Ferrari President John Elkann, the chosen heir to the Fiat dynasty embellished in large part by his grandfather, the late Gianni Agnelli, playboy superstar and supreme multi-billionaire industrialist of the post-war Italy.

In a statement issued last night, Ferrari said: 'Scuderia Ferrari is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton will join the team in 2025 on a multi-year contract.'

Hamilton added: “I have had eleven great years with this team and I am so proud of what we have achieved together.

'Mercedes has been part of my life since I was thirteen years old. It's a place where I grew up, so the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. But for me the time has come to take this step and I am looking forward to taking on a new challenge.

“I will be forever grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family, especially Toto for his friendship and leadership, and I want to end together on a high.” I am 100% committed to delivering the best possible performance this season and making my final year with the Silver Arrows one to remember.”

Team principal Toto Wolff added: 'In terms of the combination of team and driver, our relationship with Lewis has become the most successful the sport has ever seen, and that is something we can look back on with pride; Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes' motorsport history. However, we knew that at some point our collaboration would naturally end, and that day has now arrived.

“We accept Lewis's decision to seek a new challenge, and our opportunities for the future are exciting to think about.” But for now we have one more season to go and we are focusing on racing to deliver a strong 2024.”

The news is undoubtedly the biggest transfer in F1 history, even eclipsing Hamilton's move from McLaren to Mercedes in 2012/2013. He will partner Charles Leclerc, the young prince from Monaco, who has just signed a deal to stay at the Scuderia until 2029 with a salary worth up to £35 million, including bonuses.

Leclerc's current partner Carlos Sainz, who will be at Ferrari next season but not beyond, faces a suddenly uncertain future. His contract negotiations stalled in December last year – and we now know why.

At Mercedes, gloom. They have the excellent George Russell, but who will they work with next year? Maybe his friend from Williams, Alex Albon. But Mercedes has a huge job to do to turn themselves back into the automatic, successful machine they once were.

Hamilton's decision is a small indication of their ability to reinvigorate themselves. He clearly doesn't believe Mercedes can conjure up a winning program in the context of his career – or at least he doubts it.

Like his 103 other record victories, he has not won a race since losing the title to Max Verstappen in that controversial race in Abu Dhabi in 2021.

Meanwhile, F1 experts have offered a more considered take on the huge news.

Martin Brundle said: “I'm so looking forward to this. We've been asking him about it for years and he seemed glued to Merc for life and was always reluctant to move. Hamilton and Leclerc in scarlet red, that's a story.'

David Croft added: 'Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari! Always thought it would happen one day, but eventually it will happen and it seems as early as 2025.

“A seismic move, just like when Lewis joined Mercedes, and just like then I don't see the negative sides. But wow, undoubtedly the biggest transfer on transfer deadline day!'

Former driver Karun Chandhok explained that the romance of one last world title with Ferrari was too good to turn down.

'I tried to understand: 'Where is the logic in a Ferrari move?' Maybe there isn't… Lewis has more money than he could ever spend, hasn't won a race in more than two years, and maybe his heart yearned for a new challenge.

'Winning an 8th title in a Ferrari would be an incredible legacy!'

LEWIS HAMILTON's move to Ferrari will be confirmed within hours, leaving Mercedes with a seat open for 2025.

The seven-time world champion will end his eleven-year spell with Mercedes at the end of the 2024 season.

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He will join Charles Leclerc at Ferrari next season, while Carlos Sainz is set to leave the Italian team.

Mercedes must now scout another driver to replace the F1 legend, with several names already among the candidates.

SunSport looks at FIVE potential candidates who could replace him and partner George Russell at the Silver Arrows.

Oscar Piastri

McLaren has tied Lando Norris to a new long-term contract that should (in theory) put him beyond Mercedes' reach. However, they are yet to tie down his teammate Pisatri, 22.

The Australian has an excellent track record, winning the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles before spending a year on the sidelines at Alpine and getting his chance in F1 with McLaren.

He impressed in his debut season last year and has the potential to become world champion.

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Daniel Ricciardo

The veteran driver's future remains in doubt as he bides his time with Red Bull's B-team.

Ricciardo would have little trouble and provide some stability, but he would be 35 by then.

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It seems unlikely that they would select him at this point in his career, but if he has a good season this year, he could find himself in the reckoning.

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Kimi Antonelli

You may not have heard of the Italian, but it's mustard. Still just 17 years old, he has won in all junior categories and has been part of the Mercedes Young Driver program since 2019.

This season he has been promoted from F4 to F2, where he is tipped to shine.

A good debut season in F2 could see Mercedes take a risk on him before 2025. Antonelli and his family are close to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

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Mick Schumacher

Wolff has always been so incredibly supportive of Schumacher and spoke highly of him that you would at least expect him to be considered.

He knows the team from his role as reserve driver and would therefore get up to speed. But speed is also the problem.

He was shocking at Haas and if he was really that good he would still be in F1.

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Alex Albon

A wiser choice would be London-born Albon. A great guy who is also very fast.

He has a fantastic relationship with Russell and would be the low-maintenance, fast-paced partnership, similar to Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, that went to back-to-back titles.

It would take little convincing to sign Albon from Williams and Mercedes wouldn't have to pay him half of the £50 million they handed out to Hamilton.

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• Hamilton's Mercedes has struggled to keep pace with Red Bull in recent years
• An 'escape clause' included in the British racer's contract allows an exit in 2025
• Hamilton, 39, turned down a £40 million offer to join Ferrari a year ago

By Jonathan McEvoy for Email Online

Published: 05:05 EST, February 1, 2024 | Updated: 08:24 EST, February 1, 2024

• Hamilton's Mercedes has struggled to keep pace with Red Bull in recent years
• An 'escape clause' included in the British racer's contract allows an exit in 2025
• Hamilton, 39, turned down a £40 million offer to join Ferrari a year ago

By Jonathan McEvoy for Email Online

Published: 05:05 EST, February 1, 2024 | Updated: 05:47 EST, February 1, 2024

Jesy Nelson has spent £150,000 on a Mercedes G Wagon G63 after passing her test.

The 32-year-old Little Mix singer was spotted filling up her luxury motorbike at a petrol station in Essex on Wednesday before hitting the road.

Jesy looked casual in a lilac tracksuit with smiley faces and headed out without make-up.

The singer emerged from the gas station with some sweet treats in her hand.

Jesy only recently passed her driving test. In November she was spotted taking driving lessons in a £22,000 Toyota Yaris.

And while many new drivers usually start out in a much smaller car, Jesy showed off her multi-millionaire status in the off-roader.

Jesy has taken a break from the spotlight in recent months. She wrote in an Instagram post last year: “Hey guys! So I've wanted to travel for a long time, but never had the time.

“I have some really exciting things coming up with work and my music, but until then I'm taking the summer off to travel the world,” she wrote, adding a heart eyes emoji.

“I'm going to be off social media for a while. I love you all so much and I'll see you when I get back,” she added.

But the reality star returned to Instagram late last month to share a collection of snaps from her travels with boyfriend Zion Foster.

The couple reunited after splitting earlier in August after a whirlwind nine-month romance.

Following their split over the summer, an insider told MailOnline: 'Jesy is in a different headspace than Zion these days.

'After all, she is a few years older than Zion and has a different view on things these days.

“They had a great trip abroad, but since returning, Jesy has realized it's time to move on.”

It comes amid reports that Jesy is planning a documentary to give fans her side of her Little Mix exit.

The singer abruptly left the hit group in December 2020 due to mental health issues.

A source has now said that her time out of the spotlight since her departure has given her the space to want to tell fans about her motivation for quitting the band.

An insider said That of the sun Bizarre column: 'Jesy has had a really hard time since leaving Little Mix.

“So much has been said about her and she wants to record it and talk directly to her fans about everything that happened. Jesy's solo career has been a rocky road.

'Last year she had to put the brakes on her album and now she is preparing to take a new path. This documentary could help her set the record straight and show people what it's been like for her.

Jesy released a documentary in 2019 called 'Odd One Out', which won her a National Television Award, and in which she spoke about the pressure of being in Little Mix and how she was targeted by internet trolls.

Before Jesy left, Little Mix were inseparable for almost a decade, becoming the biggest girl group since the Spice Girls, selling millions of records and achieving five UK number ones.

When she quit, Jesy said: “The truth is, being in the band recently has really taken a toll on my mental health.

'I find the constant pressure of being in a girl group and living up to expectations very difficult.

“There comes a time in life when we need to reinvest in taking care of ourselves, rather than focusing on making other people happy.”