Daniel Evans - X Factor 2008

Former X Factor contestant Daniel Evans has hit out at Simon Cowell after he banned him from using the X Factor logo on his new album.

Although Daniel was not signed by Simon Cowell after the show, he has teamed up with an independent label to release his debut album. This week he revealed that he had hoped to include an X Factor logo on the album cover but X Factor bosses have banned him from doing so.

Evans wrote on his Twitter page:

“Cowell made 75 million last year and I cant use a 1cm square logo on album cover! All the promos I did for the show after too! Thanks Si…”

He went on to write:

“They said no way…not about money, if you a signed to them then yes but as im not, no chance, thats fine..,just business..”

Do you think Daniel should have been allowed to use the X factor logo on his new cd? Leave your comments below.

Well, after a run of good luck that even John Sergeant would be proud of, Daniel Evans has finally bowed out of The X Factor. He’s incited a support campaign from Chris Moyles, and even received a letter of support from Gordon Brown (that’s the Prime Minister, for those of you who are apathetic about politics).

Despite getting a critical bashing week on week from the judges, Daniel remains on chipper form, and he’s full of chat on the phone as we talk about X Factor, older contestants and what he’s up to next.

He tells us he’s glad that the public kept him in the show for so long and seems to feel like he’s emerging from a bit of a bubble as he’s avoided newspapers and fansites during his stay in the X Factor house. I ask him if he was aware of Chris Moyles’s campaign to keep him in the show:

Daniel: Yeah, I heard about that. I mean, I’ve tried to keep away from too much press and stuff because I just want to concentrate on the songs, and as I wasn’t reading anything good, I thought “What’s the point in reading it?” Yeah, but Chris Moyles, I heard about that, and I heard it was a bit of a mickey-take, but I thought it was pretty funny.

Unreality TV: Do you think it worked in your favour?

Daniel: Well, I don’t know if it was that! I think that week was Mariah Carey week and it was probably one of my strongest performances. I’d like to think it was the performance that got me through.

Unreality TV: That’s the thing, you really have been improving week by week…

Daniel: I know! The first couple of weeks my performances were weak and the criticisms I was getting about them were probably justified. I am very self-critical, and I do want to get it right. When you get a chance like this, you take it because you don’t get ‘em very often. For the first couple of weeks I was also struggling with stage fright.

I think even my worst critics will see that I was getting better and better. I’m not silly, I didn’t think I could win the show, but I think I did really well getting this far, and it’s been a really great experience. It’s just a shame there were so many people saying so many nasty things about me.

So X Factor’s been a great experience to have?

Daniel: Yeah, and that’s what I try to tell the younger kids in the house, to try and go out with a smile, because when you look back on it and you’re sitting there with your grandkids, you don’t want to see this miserable mug on the TV. I don’t see the point in being sad. I’d have loved to stay longer, I’d love to have a record contract, but you can’t always have what you want. You’ve just got to make the most of what you’ve got, and that’s what I try to do.

We’ve been talking about older acts in X Factor and the only older act to make it through X Factor successfully was Steve Brookstein..

…and look at the amount of stick he got! It’s easy to look back and slate him, but at the time it was “Oh, he’s great, he won!” Now it, “Who’s he?” But he made different choices in his life and different choices in his music, and maybe they weren’t the right choices, but I still think he was great. And if people are going to compare me to him, I would take that as a compliment.

I feel sorry for him for getting that criticism.

But the expectation for the winner of X Factor is that they become a viable pop act. As an older contestant, that’s difficult, because they can’t market you in the same way they can the Under 25’s.

Yeah, well I know with Louis in particular, I’m not his stereotypical idea of a pop star, but I think the public keeping me in this long maybe shows that we’re missing a bit of that old-style sing-with-feeling kind of singer. We don’t have that anymore – we used to have the Michael Bolton’s and the Tom Joneses and other guys who used to do big ballads.

I think when Louis and Simon got down to one act, they started to worry that the public liked what I was doing, the fact that I was putting my emotion in the songs. I think Louis was getting a bit nervous to be honest.

But who know, maybe there is a hole in the market for that kind of stuff? How can I not be happy though, I’m on the X Factor tour. When I got into this, I just hoped that I could get work out of it. It’ll be a chance to show what I can do without the pressure, and there’s always been a theme – this will be a chance to do my own thing.

When I was talking to Austin Drage a couple of weeks ago, he mentioned the fact that the rehearsal schedule is really intense…

It’s non-stop. I used to watch the show years back and wonder what they were getting so emotional about. I mean, they sing for two minutes, then they go back to their big house. Now I know it’s non-stop: it’s filming, it’s choreography, it’s vocal coaching.

And what are you doing now, are you looking for a record deal?

I don’t know, as long as I get regular work, gigs and pay the mortgage and keep a roof over my head. I mean don’t get me wrong, I’d love to do it. Before I got into the karaoke, I used to write songs, and I’m a pretty good keyboard player. In the house, me and Austin would play together and write songs, we were jamming all the time.

We wrote a song while we were in the house, but never finished it, but that’s inspired me to do the songs, get back on the keyboards. There was a keyboard in the house and I don’t know how many hours I spent on that!

What’s it been like living in the X Factor house?

I’ve loved it, we’ve been a really close group. I mean, I’m sharing a room with JLS, so that has been an experience for me and I’ve found some really cool new music that they listen to but they also listen to some of the old stuff that I thought only I knew.

They’re very good, they’re really respectful, really tidy, they’re almost like my little brothers now. The week before, when I got through, they were cheering me on as much as the crowd. They’re great guys, they’re very musical and they’ve got great parents. I think those guys could win it.

I’d be happy for anyone to win it, but because I’ve been so close to them – I’ve seen the inside and outside of their lives, their families and I couldn’t pick a better bunch of guys.

Daniel Evans - X Factor 2008

Daniel Evans has revealed that he had the support of the British Prime Minister during his time on the X Factor.

Simon Cowell was ridiculously critical of Daniel week after week and claimed that only the votes from pensioners were keeping him on the show.

But in a letter to Daniel, awarded during Saturday night’s Xtra Factor the PM wrote: “Can I say that the next time Simon says that you are only supported by the over-60s, you can tell him that my wife Sarah and I disagree, although you would be better off mentioning Sarah rather than me, as she is much further away from 60 than I am!”

I’m not too sure what good that will do Daniel’s street cred, but it must have been nice to hear.

Outgoing X factor act, Daniel Evans has confirmed that he realised what the rest of us already knew…..he could never have won the show in a million years.

Daniel was (finally) voted off the show last night and said in a presss conference this morning:

"I couldn’t honestly picture myself winning the show, and obviously now it’s the case.

"Winning was never in my mind. I just dreamt of getting to the final. I was upsetting the odds every week by staying in. The public kept me there. I’m upset to be out. I was hoping to push on a little bit longer for us older people."

Daniel Evans - X Factor 2008

Finally the British public have voted with their heads and not their hearts. After a fortnight of really talented people being voted off the X Factor tonight Daniel Evans was chosen to go home.

Not that Daniel isn’t talented. In fact I thought he sang his final song, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Waters’ really well. But it is a cliched song and he is a slightly cheesy performer. He would never have sold any records and if he had won it would have been like Steve Brookstein all over again.

Daniel was up against Rachel Hylton tonight and though she lives to sing another week, I’m not sure how much longer she can survive. Thankfully Diana Vickers got through despite her poor performance and hopefully next week she will be back on top form to wow us once more!

Daniel Evans - X Factor 2008

X Factor hopeful Daniel Evans is set to try to spice up his act and his image this Saturday by singing along with an elaborate stage show featuring a car and six dancers.

Choreographer Brian Friedman decided to take the bold steps in order to enliven Daniel’s performance which, week on week, the judges have criticized.

Daniel is apparently concerned that it’s all going to come across as being ‘cheesy’ but according to The Sun, he’s putting his faith in both Brian and Dannii and hoping that he’ll survive another week on the show.

Radio One DJ, Chris Moyles is urging people to vote for Daniel Evans on tonight’s X Factor in a bid to annoy judge, Simon Cowell.

Chris told his listeners: “Daniel looks like Rick Astley’s dad and has no chance of winning and that’s why we all have to vote for him!

“The people at X Factor will hate us doing this. It’s going to be brilliant.”

X Factor contestant, Daniel Evans has revealed that being on the show has made him look forward to the future and made him believe that he will find love again.

Daniel reduced Cheryl Cole to tears during his first audition, when he revealed that his wife had recently died, just days after giving birth to his daughter Anna Marie.

Dad-of-three Daniel today told The daily Star:

“Doing the X Factor has had such a positive affect on my life. It has been great for my confidence and really helped getting my life back on track.”

“People saying I’m a sex symbol is strange but flattering. I’m sure my wife would want me to be happy again and fall in love. And I would like lightening to strike again.”

“But not just yet, I’m concentrating 100 per cent on X Factor at the moment.”

Daniel Evans  is said to be feeling a little guilty today after he survived another X Factor week while his pal, Austin Drage got sent home.

At today’s press conference, Austin revealed that Danny spoke to him after last night’s result was announced.

“Even when I went last night he said ’it should have been me going, you’ve got more talent’. He’s the biggest gentleman I’ve ever met,” Drage said.

I always knew I liked Daniel. He’s such a cutie!

UPDATE: Simon Cowell made an announcement at the start of the Xtra Factor saying that Daniel and Ruth had got locked off the stage due to a faulty door……another good conspiracy theory ruined!!!!

Our eagle eye readers have pointed out to us that Daniel Evans and Ruth Lorenzo were not on stage during the performance of the finalists charity single, Hero.

I don’t know if the pair were crying backstage, or if they disagreed with the cause which the single will raise money, for but they certainly weren’t miming with the rest of the X Factor acts.

So what do you make of this turn of events? Any theories out there people? Leave your comments below!