Former X Factor runner up, Andy Abraham, has decided to give up on his musical career.

Abraham funded his entry into the Eurovision Song Contest earlier this year with his single, ‘Even If’, but was humiliated after finishing in last place with just 14 points.

He has decided that he will now concentrate on a career as a property developer.

“He was absolutely gutted at the result,” a source told the Daily Star Sunday. “He said he felt he had put in the ‘performance of his life’, so to be given ‘nul points’ by 22 countries was humiliating, especially after he staked in a large amount of his own cash. Read more & comment »

In a recent interview with Orange, former X Factor runner up Andy Abraham has defended this years winner Leon Jackson.

Many have claimed that the TV talent show has lost credibilty after Leon’s shock win, but Andy hit back saying:

“Leon was chosen by the popular vote, so how could that be lacking in credibility? Like Pop Idol before it, X Factor is a great opportunity for those with talent to be heard.”

“Leon is very young and will need support from those who have been given the chance to look after him. Not all winners will be to everyone’s taste but I truly believe that Leon has a great future ahead of him.”

Andy Abraham has been selected by the British public to represent the UK at the 53rd annual Eurovision Song Contest in Serbia this year.

Andy and Michelle Gayle went head-to-head in the final sing off in Eurovision – Your Decision – the UK entry selection programme on BBC One tonight (Saturday 1 March 2008).

But it was Andy who was victorious with his song Even If.

Andy said: “I’m freaked out! What can I say – the public have voted me in and I’m over the moon. They believe like I did that Even If is a song for the masses. The UK audience have once again been behind me.

“I’m seriously hoping and I will try my best to them proud out in Serbia because it is about the song. I really hope people in Europe give the song a chance.” Read more & comment »

Former X Factor runner up, Andy Abraham hopes that he can bring Eurovision glory to the UK this year. He is currently preparing to go head to head with five other acts, including former pop chart topper Michelle Gayle, in Eurovision: Your Decision on BBC One in March.

Eurovision veteran Terry Wogan will be joined by Claudia Winkleman to host the two-part contest Eurovision – Your Decision on which will see six acts split into three categories going head-to-head.

The line-up this year features:

* Soloists Read more & comment »

Andy Abraham has revealed to BANG Showbiz that he thinks all three judges/mentors have let their X factor acts down this year through their song choices.

He stated: “I think some of the elements of the ‘X Factor’ this year are not as good as last year. Being a themed series may not work so well and some of the songs are not working.

“The acts that have made it on must have good voices, but I don’t think this is necessarily coming across on the show.”

Ansy also thinks this year’s contestants are boring.

He said: “We had so many personalities last year like Chico and Brenda. Shayne was the teen idol, and I was the soul man. There are just not as many personalities this year.”

Andy Abraham has warned ‘X Factor’ contestant Robert Allen to calm down or he risks being voted off the show.

Andy said: “I think Robert needs to calm down his enthusiasm. I think what Simon Cowell said is right - sometimes he can come across a bit comical.

“The songs and performances are great, but the jumping about he needs to stop.”

Andy, who is releasing his second album, ‘Soul Man’, this month added: “I think if the soul angle worked for me there is no reason why it can’t work for him. There is space for somebody else.”

Andy Abraham wants a woman to win the X Factor.

Andy, a finalist in last years show, thinks it’s about time a female talent was recognised by the public.

He told BANG Showbiz: “If I were to pick a woman to win the ‘X Factor’ I would choose Leona, and if it was going to be a man I would pick Ben.

“But I think it is time for a woman to win the ‘X Factor’.”

Andy is convinced that he was lucky to get to the final of the show because the female acts were stronger than the men last year.

Andy, who is preparing to release his second album ‘Soul Man’ this month, said: “I actually thought that a woman would win last year’s show. I thought it would be Maria or Brenda.”

GMTV presenter Michael Underwood has accepted a challenge from his Entertainment Today co-hosts to release a Christmas single for charity.

The X Factor’s Andy Abraham is set help the GMTV team out - and the first step is to get Mikey some singing lessons, and fast.

Andy told the Mirror: “I can certainly hear a tone in his speaking voice that tells me there could be a great singing voice in there.” Sounds like Mistletoe and whine to us.

If you are interested in what our favourite dustman and X Factor runner up Andy Abraham has been getting up to since the show ended have a wee read of this interview.

It covers his thoughts on his new album, what other reality TV shows he would like to appear on, and how he found the massive X Factor tour.

This week saw the battle of the X Factor taking centre stage, with the release of the debut albums of both Journey South and Andy Abraham.

Journey South’s self titled album ‘Journey South’, which contains some original songs written by Carl and Andy Pemberton, has pipped the post, and now holds number one spot in the UK album chart.

Andy Abraham and his album ‘The Impossible Dream’ came close behind and holds the number two spot.

X factor winner Shayne Ward will release his self titled debut album in just afew short weeks so it will be interesting to see if he can manage to knock the boys off the top spot!

Almost three months after the last piece of glitter fell beside Shayne Ward on the X Factor live final, the three finalists have gotten around to releasing their albums. Hooray! What were their names again? I’m only joking, sorry Steve!

Shayne Ward, Journey South and Andy Abraham have all released (or are about to release) their debut albums.

Shayne’s riding high on the success of “That’s My Goal“, and so he can afford to take a little longer with his self-titled debut. The album is released on 17 April 2006. I wasn’t overly excited about “That’s My Goal”, but the success speaks for itself. I just hope the material matches expectations!

I’ve heard Journey South’s long-named first single “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face“, and early indications are good. Thoughtful and sensitively performed, Carl and Andy are appealing to a more mature market and I’m hopeful they’ll carve a decent career for themselves.

Andy Abraham’s The Impossible Dream is being well received so far. In the aftermath of the X Factor, the amiable Andy is in the unenviable position of being perhaps the least marketable of the finalists, at least in terms of the pop charts.

So, although I don’t think the album chart battle will be quite so dramatic as the X Factor final was, I hope the material does the artists justice and that they all get the success they deserve. Still waiting to hear about Maria Lawson though!

All you Andy Abraham fans out there will be glad to hear that he now has a site and forum for fans and supporters of Andy only!

You can catch up on all Andy’s X Factor highlights, and any news on his upcoming album and single. Just click here!

X Factor runner up Andy Abraham has hit the promotion trail in preparation for the release of his new album ‘The Impossible Dream’.

The Sun will be chatting to Andy this monday and want YOUR questions! So follow the link and get talking!

If this article in the Scotsman is aything to go by, those of us who didn’t manage to get tickets for the X Factor tour aren’t missing much.

The journalist claims that runner up Nicholas Dorsett and Philip Magee “floundered in the spotlight”, while “an audible groan greeted the arrival of the Conway Sisters”

Even the finale with all 8 of the X Factor finalists failed to impress him and was described as “an anaemic, anticlimactic rendition of You’ve Got A Friend”

Thankfully though not everyone was a let down. Andy Abraham was described as “a class act, despite having to compete with two fake candelabras and an unintentionally comical interpretative dance routine during his version of Stevie Wonder’s Lately.”

If anyone else out there has seen the show we’d love to know what you thought!

Andy Abraham and Brenda Edwards runners up in this years X Factor competiton have been performing a duet on tour, and Andy admitted this week that if the fans enjoy the song he and Brenda are considering releasing it as a single.

He said “I think the duet will surprise a few people, but it’s a great up-tempo number,” he told the Daily Record. “It’s not a song that is completely new but I think it’s going be amazing.

“I don’t want to spoil it by telling you what it is just yet. We’ll have to see how it goes, but if people like it, we’ll look at releasing it as a single.”