JLS - X Factor 2008

JLS singer Oritsé Williams said that Louis Walsh has really helped them forge a successful music career.

Speaking to RTÉ.ie, Williams said: “To be fair, Louis was really very instrumental for the industry believing in us.”

“He really believed in us. Funnily enough, up to this very day, he still is supporting us, which is incredible, even though he hasn’t got direct involvement with us.”

“We were doing a show the other day and Louis turned up.”

“He’s always there to give us advice. I mean, we’re very, very fortunate to have Louis as, still kind of, a mentor when we need him,” he said.

Rhydian has obviously been listening to Louis Walsh’s recent interviews and now he has insisted that John and Edward Grimes won’t last too much longer on The X Factor.

Rhydian, who finished second in the 2007 series of the show told The Guardian that the twins silliness is ‘wearing thin.’

Roberts said: “The twins are funny, but is it wearing thin now? I don’t mean that in a nasty way: I wish them the best of luck.”

He added: “They’ll make a lot of money in a short period of time. But I don’t think they’ll stay much longer.”

On suggestions that his quiff has gotten bigger since the dawn of Jedward, Roberts insisted:

“I was around before Jedward and my stylist does their hair, so I should have a patent on it,” he said.

“But yes, my hair is quite big – it’s a lot whiter than Jedward’s though, and not as big as theirs.”

X Factor judges Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh have reportedly tipped Olly Murs to win the show, despite the fact that neither are mentoring him.

The Mirror reports that during a secret poll for ITV2’s The Xtra Factor, both stars backed Olly Murs to win the series.

A source said: “Louis and Cheryl have both admitted to picking Simon’s act Olly. They think he’s the most likely winner. It’ll be tough for their own acts to take, but it’s the truth.”

Louis Walsh is pulling his support for John and Edward Grimes and on two separate occasions, has said that the boys are running out of time.

Last night Louis told Paul O’Grady that he’d be happy if the boys lasted two more weeks and speaking to Sky News today he said:

“This is it now, we are running out of time, it would be great if we could just make it through one more week,” Walsh said.

“The boys have been home to Ireland to visit their family but the sad thing is that Ireland can’t vote for them. Those votes would have been crucial.”

So our question is, does Louis really think the boys can’t win, or has Cowell ordered a PR assault on the boys? After all by the time X Factor gets to its final two shows, they don’t need the Jeward generated publicity anymore do they?

X Factor judge Louis Walsh may just be showing the first signs that he doesn’t think Jedward can win this year’s X Factor.

On tonight’s Paul O’Grady show on Channel 4, when asked if the boys could win the series Louis answered:

“I don’t know. It’s up to the people at home. I’d love to get two more weeks with them. That would be fantastic. You know, there’s some really good talent left. I’m happy, Paul, that I’ve got this far.”

Is Louis’ faith in the twins starting to waver, or has Simon Cowell got something planned which will see them voted off when the show no longer needs the attention they bring?

X Factor fans are up in arms (again), this time about a breach of show rules by Louis Walsh.

Just hours before the voting lines closed on Sunday night, Louis Walsh sneaked John and Edward Grimes out of the X Factor compound for quite a lengthy interview with Sky News. Many say this gave the boys an unfair advantage over other acts that were banned from speaking to the media.

Between this and the news today that bosses have ordered soundmen to drown the twins vocals out with backing tracks, one would be forgiven for thinking that the X factor may not be 100% fair and unbiased. Surely that can’t be can it?

Whilst recording an upcoming appearance on ‘Never Mind The Buzzcocks’, X Factor host Dermot O’Leary has reportedly been joking about John and Edward Grimes receiving death threats.

The Sun quotes O’Leary as saying: “John & Edward have received so many death threats we’ve had to close the phone lines. So please don’t call – your death threat won’t count, but you may still be charged.”

He also alleged joked about Britney Spears awful miming on last years series of the ITV show. He said: “Oasis refused to perform on The X Factor. So did Britney Spears – but we still had to pay her.”

The funniest joke of the night had to be the one about Louis Walsh though. Dermot said:

“The Phantom of the Opera is the story of a hideous, deformed man struggling to find love.

“If you want the punchline to this joke to be about Simon Cowell, dial the normal number plus 01, for Louis Walsh dial 02.”

Louis Walsh made a lot of enemies on last week’s X Factor. Not only was he pictured giving the fingers to audience members but he also turned on the delectable Dermot O’Leary, after he dared to express some opinions on the X Factor contestants.

In his News of The World column today, Dermot has talked about the row and revealed that Louis branding him ‘just a presenter’ won’t stop him standing up to the Irish judge in the future.

“I have the utmost respect for him as a judge and a music manager, but I’ve got a job to do as well. I know I’m not a judge – I was just sticking up for Joe, as I would do for any of the acts, and asking questions. After all, that’s what I’m paid to do.

There were no hard feeling afterwards though – me and Louis had a good laugh about it. He’s a pal and I love him loads, but don’t bet against it happening again. Put the gloves on, Walsh!”

X Factor twins John & Edward Grimes are reportedly close to signing a record deal, according to their mentor Louis Walsh.

“Jedward will soon sign a record deal, there is huge interest in them and they’ll be making pop records and having the time of their lives,” Walsh told Sky News.

“As far as I’m concerned they have won already because they have proved Simon wrong. I’ll be happy if we get one more week but they can keep going and going.”

Walsh also confirmed that the boys may be singing ‘Under Pressure’ this Saturday night.

“I think it’s totally appropriate given how they keep getting through against the odds,” Walsh said.

“It’s a pity that the people of Ireland can’t vote because their support could really swing this for the two boys, I’m absolutely sure of it.”

In an interview given before Sunday’s X Factor results show, Louis Walsh admitted that he didn’t think John and Edward Grimes could win the show.

Louis was sure that if given the chance, Simon Cowell would vote the boys off the show. How wrong was he?

When asked if John & Edward could win, Walsh told The Daily Mail: “If I’m absolutely honest, I don’t think they can.

“If they get into the bottom two then Simon, Cheryl and Dannii will vote them out.”

Of his friendship with Simon, Walsh added: “Simon and me are very close.

“We crack each other up, that’s why it works. I don’t like normal people and Simon’s the same. We hate when normal people come in to sing. We love them slightly bonkers… what would we do without Jedward?”