Multi-platinum boy band JLS are to replace Little Mix as this year’s Summer Ball headliners.

Little Mix, who were set to headline the stage in the Refectory, have had to withdraw from the event. The Union announced via a Vine clip that JLS would be playing instead.

JLS, who are also confirmed to be the first act to play at the Leeds Arena, burst onto the UK music scene as runners up on The X Factor in 2008, coming second to Alexandra Burke.

Since then, their debut album went on to sell over a million records in the UK, with their two debut singles, “Beat Again” and “Everybody In Love” reaching number one. They have also won several MOBO awards, and in 2011 and 2012, won the award for the UK’s hardest working band.

The news was well received by some with one Summer Ball-er, Hannah Freundlich, tweeting;

“So excited to find out @JLSOfficial will be playing @leedssummerball !! Best last ever summer ball!

However, the announcement was not music to the ears of all, as Joe Bell tweeted;

Little Mix aren’t performing at Leeds Uni Summer Ball, so JLS are performing instead. Why don’t they pick artists people actually like?

Tickets for this year’s Summer Ball are £32 and are on sale now online or in the Union.

The band have since announced they are to split up. Their performance at the Summer Ball will not be affected.

Phil Mann