Joe McElderry has admitted that he is backing Craig Colton to win this year’s X Factor series.

The Geordie singer triumphed on the 2009 series of the ITV show and in an interview with The Liverpool Echo claimed that Colton could follow suit, as long as he remembers to keep being himself on stage.

Advising him to ignore all the madness surrounding the series, Joe said:

“I do think that Craig can win. The best piece of advice I could give him is to keep being himself. If he can ignore everything else and just keep focussed on the singing, he could go all the way.”

Joe was dropped by Simon Cowell’s record label SYCO barely a year after winning the X Factor, but went on to sign with Decca and is currently promoting his soon to be released Christmas album.

Some would expect him to be bitter against the show, but he claims nothing could be further from the truth and added:

“I’m so grateful to the people who voted for me on The X Factor, and I’m so pleased I did that first audition. I’ve gone on to do some different things, but none of that would have been possible without the show.”

Craig Colton has many fans and is one of the favourites to get to this year’s final show, however it may not be as easy as that for the star as insiders say the pressure is getting to him and he threatened to quit earlier this week.

Do you think he will do well on the show? Leave your comments below.

Also, we are running a poll on who you want to see return tonight. Cast your vote here.

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The former Pop Idol winner was elated when a controversy broke out, over the fact that Simon Cowell’s producers were autotuning contestants who auditioned for the ITV show and revealed that he was sure it spelt the end for the format.

Speaking on The Joe Whiley Music Show, which launches on Sky Arts this week, Will explained:

“I thought it was outrageous.

“I thought it was going to be the demise of Cowell. I thought, ‘Brilliant!’

“It’s no longer a talent show, it’s a soap opera.”

He added that he feels the show has moved too far from it’s singing roots and is so different to when the genre started in the UK a decade ago. Young added:

“The thing I find saddening is that if you look back to when I was on Pop Idol, it looks like it was shot in the 1970s.

“There was something nicely naive about it.”

We couldn’t agree more! Do you remember the days when The McDonald Brother stood and sang with their guitars, dressed in checked shirts and jeans. No backing dancers, no roller skaters and no fireworks, just two men and their voices. Jump forward a few years and compare that to a Johnny Robinson camp-fest….which do you prefer?

Former X Factor winner Joe McElderry has also waded in on the debate and claimed that this year’s hopefuls are the least talented yet (and when you consider Wagner and Jedward that is really saying something!)

He blasted:

“There is nobody standing out, there is no front-runner — which is making people think what’s going on.”

“Either this week or next someone needs to step up and shine.”

Joe is planning to go up against the X Factor winner this Christmas, as he releases his cover of the Wham hit ‘Last Christmas.’ Whose record will you buy?

Do you agree with Will and Joe? Is the X Factor in demise? Leave your comments below.

View the original post Joe McElderry and Will Young hit out at ‘outrageous’ and X Factor on Unreality TV

Joe McElderry may have been worth a million pounds when he first won the X Factor, but his stocks have dropped since then.

The Geordie singer put himself up for auction on shopping channel QVC yesterday and raised £6,350, as a fan bid to have him come and put on a private concert in her living room.

Joe giggled and laughed throughout the daytime show, as the presenter listed his qualities and career highs and tried to convinced people to part with their money, in aid of charity ‘Breast Cancer Care.’

Mrs White from Liverpool eventually triumped and won not only a performance from the former X Factor winner, but also a signed copy and gold disc of his latest album ‘Classic.’

McElderry was proud to play a part in the fundraising effort and after the auction said:

Joe: ‘It’s absolutely amazing to raise so much money for this fantastic charity by doing something that I love.

‘I’m really looking forward to performing for Mrs White and her daughter Helen – we’re going to have some fun! Thanks to everyone who helped make it a record breaking year for BCC.’

Joe has big plans ahead and this month revealed that he plans to go up against this year’s X Factor winner in the charts this Christmas, as he will release his own version of Wham’s ‘Last Christmas.’

The track will be taken from his new festive album ‘Classic Christmas’, due for release in December 2012.

View the original post X Factor fan pays £6,350 on QVC for Joe McElderry! on Unreality TV

Joe McElderry has already chosen his X Factor favourites for 2011 and has admitted that he will be voting for girl group Rhythmix when they first perform this Saturday.

The former X Factor winner has gotten behind the band – which was put together by the show judges at bootcamp – as he is practically neighbours with South Shields teenagers Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards who make up one half of the group.

Girlbands traditionally fare badly on the ITV series, often being the first acts eliminated during the weekend’s live rounds. However McElderry hopes to help Rhythmix buck the trend and told The Shields Gazette that he’ll be tweeting his followers and asking them to back his favourites, by picking up their phones and voting.

The Popstar To Operastar winner said:

“I’m definitely going to be voting for them. I will be tweeting to get all my followers behind them.

“I think Rhythmix have got a good chance of winning. I think the girls and the groups are the best categories this year. I’m not fussed on the boys’ category.

“I definitely think Jade, Perrie and the rest of the group have the potential to break the girl band curse.

“I will be telling everyone to get voting for them, and I’m sure they will do well.”

“I hope everyone will vote for Rhythmix, and I’m sure they will.”

Rhythmix will be seen performing for the first time on Saturday’s show and yesterday, their mentor Tulisa Contostavlos paid them a visit in the X Factor mansion and cooked her four acts a roast dinner, before preparing for the show.

View the original post X Factor: Joe McElderry backing girl group Rhythmix on Unreality TV

Joe McEldery made some time in his busy schedule to visit some Teenage Cancer Trust patients once more this week.

The former X Factor winner has completed the Great North Run half marathon for two years running, raising money for the charity and earlier this week, popped in to chat with and sing for young people staying at the Teenage Cancer Trust’s unit at Leeds General Infirmary.

Joe was gearing up for a performance in Leeds, when he took some time to visit the ill teenagers and Harvey Petti, 17 from Malton, told The Shields Gazette:

“It was really lovely to meet Joe. I’ve been in isolation for a few days, but Joe didn’t care about putting on an apron and gloves to come and see me. It was great that he took the time to visit us all and we hope he comes back to visit again soon.”

Joe added:

“It was so lovely to spend time with the young people here in Leeds. Teenage Cancer Trust is an absolutely amazing charity.

“Their units feel like home and really help to boost morale for the young people being treated there.

McElderry is the Teenage Cancer Trust’s celebrity ambassador and North East patron.

View the original post X Factor’s Joe McElderry supports Teenage Cancer trust patients on Unreality TV

Tulisa Contostavlos has had the first of many disagreements, with her fellow X Factor judge Gary Barlow.

Yesterday the Take That singer admitted that he hadn’t put Luke Lucas, 16, through to his final four contestants, as he felt he was too young to be able to cope with the pressures of the ITV show.

However, Tulisa disagrees and speaking at last night’s Pride Of Britain Awards she admitted that she doesn’t think a singer can “ever be too young” for the reality TV show, as she started out at 11 and thinks she turned out ok.

Contostavlos said:

“I don’t think they can ever be too young. Coming from someone that started with N-Dubz at 11 years old and being let down by record labels from the age of 11.

“If I can handle it… It’s toughened me up. It’s made me prepared for how cut throat this industry really is and they need a certain amount of training to get into it.

I think any knock back is a positive because it just helps you progress and move forward.”

Former X Factor winner Joe McElderry agreed and thinks that many 16 year olds would cope well on the show and it’s a matter of judging the individual contestant at the time.

He said: ” I think it depends on the individual. Each person handles things differently and I think you don’t know until you’re in that situation.

“Each bit gets harder and more stressful and there’s no rule book, you’ve got to go through it and find out what it’s like.

“That boy was 16 but he handled it pretty well, I thought. He broke down because he didn’t get through. Anybody would break down. He’s just upset I think.”

Do you agree with Tulisa and Joe, or are you siding with Gary and Robbie Williams on this one? Leave your comments below and check out which lucky singers did make the live shows here.

View the original post X Factor: Tulisa Contostavlos and Joe McElderry don’t think 16 is too young on Unreality TV

We always thought Joe McElderry was such a nice lad, but it seems that even angelic boys like him can be pests at times.

The former X Factor winner – who also won Popstar To Operastar in July this year – admitted that he likes to call his friends really late at night and if they get annoyed with him, he starts drunk texting them too.

Speaking to The Daily Star, the ‘Ambitions’ hitmaker – who once admitted to having Cheryl Cole’s mobile number – laughed:

“I always phone people late at night, and when they don’t want to talk because they have to get up early, I start shouting at them.

“I then start drunk-texting them!”

That’ll be Cole changing her number then!

It has been reported that Joe will make his second return to the X Factor stage later this autumn, to perform a track from his new album ‘Classic.’

Other stars making their comeback include Matt Cardle, Leona Lewis and Olly Murs.

View the original post X Factor’s Joe McElderry likes drunk texting his pals! on Unreality TV

This year’s X Factor contestants will be forced to share the spotlight with a number of former stars of the show it has been revealed.

Show boss Simon Cowell has invited no less than seven stars who shot to fame on the ITV series back to perform on the live episodes, and four of them are former winners.

Matt Cardle – who won last year – will perform his debut single, which was written by new judge Gary Barlow, in October, Rebecca Ferguson – who finished in second place last year – will also be back.

Fellow 2010 stars One Direction and Cher Lloyd will be given the chance to promote their new material when the live shows start next month.

Joe McElderry – who won in 2009 and was dropped by SYCO earlier this year – will perform a track from his second album ‘Classic’, and Olly Murs – who currently presents spin off show The Xtra Factor – will also get a slot.

Lastly Leona Lewis – possibly the shows biggest star – will get the chance to sing a track from her third album ‘Glassheart, which she promoted on Red Or Black on Saturday night.

Also lined up for performances, according to The Sun, are three of the shows judges. Gary Barlow will perform as part of Take That, Kelly Rowland will sing a song from her recent album ‘Here I Am,’ and Tulisa Contostavlos will perform with or without N-Dubz.

View the original post Seven former X Factor stars will be back in 2011 – One Direction, Cher Lloyd, Matt Cardle, Rebecca Ferguson, Olly Murs, Joe McElderry and Leona Lewis! on Unreality TV

Former X Factor winner Joe McElderry has risen to the top of the UK album charts, last night claiming the number two spot with his second album Classic.

The Geordie singer – who also won Popstar To Operastar earlier this summer, narrowly beating former Steps singer Claire Richards – shot to fame on the 2009 series of The X Factor, however after disappointing sales of his debut album and it’s subsequent singles, he was dropped from Simon Cowell’s record label and for a while it seemed he might slip into obscurity.

However, the sweet natured star has landed on his feet and recently signed with Decca, who produced this second record.

Much of this week’s album and single charts have been dominated by TV talent show stars. Olly Murs, who finished just behind Joe on The X Factor, landed his second number one single with ‘Heart Skips A Beat’, which features Rizzle Kicks. Murs is currently co-hosting ITV2′s The Xtra Factor with brunette beauty Caroline Flack.

Pipping McElderry to the top spot in the album charts, is former Pop Idol winner Will Young who claimed the number one with his fifth studio album ‘Echoes.’

Will also enjoyed success in the singles charts, with his new single ‘Jealousy’ coming in at number five.

View the original post X Factor’s Joe McElderry triumphs with ‘Classic’ – Olly Murs gets his second number one on Unreality TV

Reality TV music looks set to dominate the UK single and album charts this weekend.

Olly Murs, Will Young and Joe McElderry look set to triumph when their sales figures are confirmed on Sunday, with all three of their releases proving a massive hit with British music lovers.

Young – who won ITV’s Pop Idol in 2001 – will most likely take the number one spot in the album chart with his fifth studio release ‘Echoes’, which hit the shelves on August 22nd.

Olly Murs – who currently presents The Xtra Factor on ITV2 and finished in second place on The X Factor in 2009 – seems to be heading for his second number one single with his track Heart Skips A Beat…..and he didn’t even promise to strip naked this time!

Olly’s fellow X Factor 2009 star Joe McElderry – who won the series two years ago – looks like he’ll come in at number two, just behind Young, with his album ‘Classic’ according to figures from the Official Chart Company. He has enjoyed a boost of profile in recent months, after winning Popstar To Operastar in July 2011.

The domination by reality TV stars look set to continue over the next few months also, with releases due from X Factor’s One Direction, Matt Cardle and Kelly Rowland in the coming months.

View the original post X Factor’s Olly Murs, Joe McElderry and Pop Idol’s Will Young set to rule single and album charts on Unreality TV