JLS - X Factor 2008

JLS singer JB has insisted that contestants don’t need to have a “sob story” to succeed on ITV’s X Factor.

“We never had a sob story and still made it to the final.” He told Metro. “If people are asked about their lives, it doesn’t mean they’re the ones promoting their problems.”

“People have different motivations. It’s just part of why they’re doing it.”

JB was also asked if he had feared that mentor Louis Walsh would turn them into a new version of Westlife. He responded:

“No, he knows we’re a different kettle of fish. There are still things you can transfer, not necessarily music style, but in terms of demeanour or the calibre of producers we can work with.”

“People think the judges on The X Factor don’t do much, but Louis got behind us every single week. He told us not to change.”

X Factor Judge Louis Walsh has insisted that twins John and Edward Grimes CAN win the X Factor and says that they are as entertaining as Madonna and Kylie Minogue.

Speaking The Daily Mirror the boys’ mentor said ‘I think the twins can win it. They’re not the best singers or dancers but they’re brilliant entertainers – Madonna and Kylie aren’t the best singers either but like the twins, they are great entertainers.’

This week, Brian Friedman has promised that the boys wouldn’t have the biggest stage number of the night. For X Factor’s Movie Week they will be performing ‘Ghostbusters.

Westlife singer, Shane Filan has let the proverbial cat out of the bag on the issue of X Factor twins, John and Edward Grimes.

Each week Simon Cowell sits in his judging seat of power and tells the nation how much he detests the boys and mocks their lack of singing talent. However Shane has confirmed what we suspected all along and told The Sun that it was actually Cowell’s idea to give the twins a place in the final 12.

Shane said: “We went with Louis to Simon’s house in LA and they took us to a room with a cinema and said, ‘We want to play you something.’

“They played us John and Edward and Simon said, ‘They’re going to be massive.’ We were like, ‘Oh my god, they’ve gone crazy!’

“It was when they did their first audition and they were asked where they’d be in ten years’ time and they were like, ‘We’re gonna be a bit older.’

And Simon said, ‘These are going to make it in the final 12.’

“He put them through because he knew it was going to make brilliant TV. He knows they can’t sing, and I think the boys know.

“But they’re getting votes and best of luck to them. They’ll get a TV presenting career or something – they’ll be around for a while.”

Meanwhile Shane admitted that he understands the boy’s appeal saying: “I think they’re very entertaining – there’s a chance they could win. They’ll definitely be in the final, I would put my house on it.

“They’re bringing a different thing to the show. It’s about entertainment and sadly for the other singers on the show, these guys are making people go crazy.”

Ever feel like you are being played people?

Louis Walsh has admitted that Boyzone have no immediate plans to perform together and said that the boys need time to grieve for their late bandmate, Stephen Gately.

Walsh told The Evening Herald: “They have lost a brother in Stephen and right now they are hurting. Coming back isn’t something that one member of the group can decide on their own – it has to be a group decision.

“I think for now they just need time to be left on their own and to come to terms with the huge void that has been left by Stephen.”

On whether the group’s next album will go ahead, the X Factor judge continued: “I know they were working hard on the new album and that Stephen had recorded a few tracks for that. But it would take a lot of work to finish off, and if and when they do that it will be as a tribute for Stephen.”

Louis Walsh has spoken about his return to X Factor last week and revealed that Simon Cowell told him that he was missed.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Walsh explained: “I didn’t really know what it would be like coming back on the show after everything that has happened. I was all over the place after the funeral and I took a couple of days to come to terms with the loss.

“But when I came back to London the first person I bumped into was Simon [Cowell] and he was unbelievable. He didn’t stand on ceremony, he again paid his respects and told me that I was missed. After that it was business as usual and I just threw myself into work.”

He continued: “Cheryl [Cole] and Dannii [Minogue] gave me big hugs, but again, after that, it was a competition and we just got on with the work. It was nice of them, but I just tried to get on with things.”

Louis Walsh has claimed that Simon Cowell is worried that John and Edward Grimes may just win The X Factor.

After reports suggested that John and Edward received the highest amount of votes last weekend, Louis says that Simon is worried that he may have to give them a record deal.

Walsh told the Daily Mail: “Simon is desperately worried that the twins are going to win. He’s really unhappy, but there is nothing he can do because this is who people are voting for. I thought they were going to be popular, but I never expected this.

“Pop music is not just about singing – Kylie, Robbie Williams, neither of them can sing. And at least the twins are singing live, unlike some of the people at the top of the charts at the moment.”

X Factor judge Louis Walsh, has insisted that his boys John and Edward Grimes can win this series of the show. After the boys were blasted by Simon Cowell last night for their awful performance, Louis told The People that he has faith in and a vision for the Irish teenagers.

Louis said: “I honestly think that they can win the competition and go on to become a very successful boy band.

“I don’t care what the other judges think. The boys can sing and they are good performers. The point of music is to entertain and they do this very well.

“They have a huge amount of talent between them and people enjoy watching them, even though the other judges slate them. People need cheering up during these dark times and John and Edward do that.”

He added: “I can see them having a No1 hit. I am determined to nurture their talent.”

Louis Walsh will be back on this weekend’s X Factor and he has admitted that he is looking forward to being back.

Louis was missing from the panel last weekend after the shock death of Boyzone singer, Stephen Gately.

He told The Sun:

“I’m really looking forward to getting back to business.

“It’s been a hard couple of weeks but I’m back from a dark place and ready to focus on the show and getting my acts safely through one more week.”

Louis also admitted that it was hard to hear the audience boo his boys, John and Edward Grimes, after Rikki Loney was sent home last week.

He said: “I was really upset to hear the studio audience boo them.

“It takes a lot of guts for any act to get up on stage and perform live and I thought it was really out of order for them to get booed. I won’t be letting the audience get away with it this week!”

“They’ve got a fantastic performance this week and I hope they get a good response from both the public and the studio audience.

“What I am hoping for this week is that John and Edward get shown the respect that they deserve,” he added.

X Factor creative director, Brian Friedman has revealed that judge Louis Walsh will be back on the show this Saturday.

Brian seemed excited by the news, but as much as I am sorry for Louis’ huge loss and difficult time, I have to admit that I enjoyed The X Factor without him.

No ridiculous stupid comments, no petty or cringeworthy (attempted) put downs of Simon, though we weren’t spared the old man song choices. If last week had been a test, I’d say that Simon, Dannii and Cheryl passed with flying colours. They can more than manage without Louis and that might be something for Mr Cowell to bear in mind for next year’s series.

X Factor bosses are said to be keen for the remaining members of Boyzone, to perform a tribute to Stephen Gately on the show.

The Mirror reports that bosses are first waiting for approval from Louis Walsh, before approaching the band.

A source said: “Stephen was a very close friend of the ITV show. During a production meeting they were discussing ideas for guest performers. Boyzone were mentioned as an obvious choice.

“Everyone is painfully aware they need to be sensitive, so they have held back on a formal approach until they speak to Louis.

“But the huge outpouring of grief is hard to ignore. There have been a lot of messages asking the boys to do some kind of tribute to his life.”