JLS To Split After Farewell Tour & Greatest Hits LP

JLS have confirmed they are splitting after five years together.

Since coming second toAlexandra Burke onThe Saturdays star Rochelle - said: "It’s an emotional time. There’s no getting away from that. We have been through so much together.

“But we have to be mature and look at this decision as a celebration of what we managed to achieve. We never wanted to overstay our welcome. We never wanted to be that band where people said, ‘Oh, bloody hell. It’s JLS again.’

“We wanted to finish on a high. We’re finishing with an arena tour — our third arena tour — and that is a massive achievement. The last five or so years have been nothing short of incredible. It has been an incredible journey.”

He continued: "I’ve got a baby on the way in four weeks, so it’s another celebration for me. But that was also another sign that we were moving on to the next stage in our lives.

“We are the first X Factor act to finish a five-year recording contract. If we wanted to carry on and sign to another label, it was going to be another three, four or five albums. So we all thought about it for a few months and it sort of made sense to say we were moving on with our lives.”

Aston added: "The question was asked, ‘Can you do this together for another five or so years? Can you see that happening?’

“Between the four of us, there was no definite ‘Yes’ in the room. We had to dig deep and find the right solution. We haven’t fallen out. We leave with some amazing successes under our belt and we can say goodbye in style.”

JLS founder Oritsé noted: "I’m not going to deny it, I’m sad. It has been amazing. I remember that moment in my bedroom when JLS was just an idea and I was determined to make this dream a reality.

“They say all good things come to an end and for us it just felt like it was the right time to move forward and pursue different ventures. We have all become so close, as have our families, so that has been quite hard to deal with.

“Breaking the news to them was hard, but my mum was proud we did it and we are calling it a day as friends.”

When asked how he believes their fans will react, Oritsé admitted: “I don’t think we are ready for what’s going to happen. It could be mayhem. There have been a lot of fans who have grown up with us and we’re going to represent a key time in their lives.

“We’ve been a big part of their lives — they’ve been a part of ours. So naturally it’s going to be an emotional time for everyone.”

Aston agreed: “It’s like a relationship break-up. There’s no way to prepare for it, we will just have to take what comes.”

The boyband are set to bid farewell to their JLSters with a goodbye tour and greatest hits album in December, with Oritsé stating: “There’s nothing more I love than performing with the rest of the boys. It’s been a massive part of my life and my family’s life, especially with my mum. She treats the boys as if they are her sons.

"Hopefully, we can make sure it’s going to be the biggest celebration on that last date, especially because it’s going to be the last time that anybody is going to see us together on stage.”

JB was keen to add to the tabloid that the group will continue to support the JLS Foundation, noting that it will be "the only time you’ll see us together as a group."

He added: "We’ve all made a commitment on paper that no matter what we’re doing, wherever we are, whatever happens from here on, we will commit to the Foundation.

"We’re already in a partnership with Cancer Research UK — we’re committed to them for two years and we want to raise £2million.”

You can read JLS' official split statement over at http://www.jlsofficial.com/

WATCH MTV'S EXCLUSIVE LIVE SESSION WITH JLS HERE!