October 29th, 2009 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: itv, John and Edward Grimes, Niki Evans, X Factor, X Factor 2009

Former X Factor contestant Niki Evans has criticised current contestants John and Edward Grimes and also lashed out at Louis Walsh for letting them on the show.
She told PA: “I don’t think Louis should have put them through because they knew what was coming. He knew that they’d get all this pressure and these things because they’re just not right.
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October 23rd, 2009 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: itv, Niki Evans, Simon Cowell, X Factor, X Factor 2009

Former X Factor contestant Niki Evans has claimed that acts mentored by Simon Cowell, have an unfair advantage on the show.
Evans told The Sun: “Simon holds the reigns on everything. If Simon said the grass is purple everyone would say, ‘oh yeah, its purple’. A lot of the show is about the judges and it’s about the pantomime. You can be doomed if you don’t have the right one.”
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September 22nd, 2009 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: itv, Niki Evans, X Factor, X Factor 2009

Former X Factor contestant Niki Evans, has blasted the ITV show for being ageist and said that an over 25 year old woman will never win it.
Niki came fourth in the 2007 series and was unlucky enough to be mentored by Louis Walsh.
Niki told The Mirror: “I will eat my hat if an over-25 woman ever wins The X Factor.”
She added: “Age is a horrible, horrible thing to have to go through. But I was very lucky, touch wood. There’s only a couple of us who got to fourth (position) – of my age group, women.
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September 11th, 2009 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: Niki Evans, X Factor

Former X Factor contestant Niki Evans is releasing a cover of Donna Summer’s hit ‘I Feel Love’.
Evans will release the track on iTunes on September 21, with a follow up album planned for later in the year.
Niki reached the semi-final of the 2007 series of X Factor and is currently appearing in the musical Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre.
June 9th, 2009 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: itv, Niki Evans, X Factor

It would seem that Susan Boyle hasn’t been the only casualty of reality TV Simon Cowell style. In a revealing interview with the Daily Mail former X Factor star Niki Evans has told of how she felt exploited by the producers of the show.
Niki’s dad died shortly before she auditioned for the show, a fact which she feels the producers played a lot on.
‘They spent three hours literally shouting at me to sing Dance With My Father Again live on the show, with the instruction to cry in the middle of it,’ Niki said.
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September 1st, 2008 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: Niki Evans

Former X Factor contestant, Niki Evans has criticised the makers of the show for the way that they make potential winners speak out about private tragedies in a bid to gain viewers sympathy.
Niki was seen crying during last years series about the recent death of her father, but she claims that it was an issue she never wanted to talk about on camera.
“I didn’t want to speak about it but it was brought up time after time,” Niki told the Sunday Mercury. “I actually hadn’t told anyone about how I came to audition. But my mum had let it slip that I found the X Factor application form in my dad’s stuff. So when Simon [Cowell] brought it up in the audition, I was genuinely shocked.
“He tried to get me to talk about it, but I refused and told him he had to hear me sing first.”
Evans then revealed that Louis Walsh had predictably been willing to go to any lengths to make one of his team a winner saying: Read more & comment »
January 13th, 2008 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: Niki Evans, X Factor 2007
X Factor contestant Niki Evans has quit her job as a dinner lady in Polesworth International School.
Niki had asked the school to hold open her job while she competed in the TV show, however she has now made the decision not to return to her old profession.
“I loved my job. The school was brilliant in keeping my job open for so long,” Niki told the Daily Star. “I’ll miss the kids and staff.”
December 9th, 2007 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: Niki Evans, X Factor 2007
Suicide pacts are obviously becoming all the rage. Just a few weeks ago, X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne revealed that she and husband Ozzy had made a pact that if one of them was struck down by a mentally debilitating disease, they would take themselves off and committ suicide.
Now X Factor reject, Niki Evans has revealed that she and husband Darren have reached the same decision. If one of the pair dies first, the other will committ suicide so they don’t have to be seperated.
Given the fact that Niki and Darren have two young sons, this decision seems kind of selfish to me. The children have already lost two granfathers, a grandmother and an uncle in the last few years, I couldn’t imagine they would want to lose their parents too.
December 8th, 2007 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: Leon Jackson, Niki Evans, Rhydian Roberts, Same Difference, X Factor 2007
Niki Evans has just narrowly missed out on a place in the X Factor final as she was booted off the show tonight.
Niki was visibly gutted and has stated many times tonight that she believes the X Factor is her last chance. It was sad to see her go.
However, I am thrilled that Rhydian Roberts and Same Difference are through to the final. Not so thrilled about Leon, and if he wins this years show I will be furious. Wouldn’t it be cool if all the phone lines in Scotland went down on saturday night. If that happened I think Leon would be lucky to get two votes.
Come on people. There must be some sympathetic BT worker out there who could help us out….
December 8th, 2007 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: dannii minogue, louis walsh, Niki Evans, X Factor 2007
X Factor finalist Niki Evans has dropped so much in my estimation this week.
First she declares her intent to go straight under the knife if she wins the ITV show, and now she has defended Louis Walsh’s cruel comments to fellow X Factor judge Dannii Minogue last week.
When Dannii remarked that Niki had been out of tune the week before, Louis starting attacking her about the quality of her musical releases in the past.
In a press conference with the four X Factor finalists this week Rhydian Roberts spoek of the incident saying: “She [Dannii] was genuinely upset – the words that he used were quite strong.”
“Good, I’m glad, good,” Niki cut in, adding: “I’m glad he said it to her.”
Now in fairness to Louis, Dannii Minogue’s pop record has been littered with flop after flop, and some of what he said wasn’t too far from the truth. However, the way in which he treated her bordered on bullying in my eyes, he would never dare to attack Simon or Sharon so nastily, as he couldn’t handle their response!
I am very disappointed that Niki publicly supported Louis’ mean heartedness (is that even a word?), Louis is a grumpy and bitter old man, Niki wants to be careful she doesn’t end up tarred with the same brush.
December 8th, 2007 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: Niki Evans, X Factor 2007
X Factor finalist, Niki Evans, has admitted that she would have cosmetic surgery if she won the ITV TV show.
“I’m not built to be thin so I need someone else to make me thin,” Niki told the Daily Star. “I’d love it, my bat wings gone, my nose reshaped and maybe an eye-lift.”
I was so disappointed to read this, the last thing I want to see on TV is another female who can’t move her face. If Niki isn’t careful she will end up looking as plastic as X Factor mentor Dannii Minogue!
November 30th, 2007 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: Niki Evans, X Factor 2007
I like X Factor’s Niki Evans. She has a great voice, good stage presence and looks very well. However if I have to hear about her dead dad once more, I will cut my own eyes out!
I sympathise with Niki, I really do. Most of us have lost people close to us and its an heart breaking and harrowing time. But why share it with the nation week after week?
X Factor insiders have revealed that on this week’s show Niki will be singing ‘Fields Of Gold’ and apparently this a song really close to Niki’s heart, not only was it the song she sang at her first audition but it was also the first song she heard after her Dad passed away. The song therefore holds a lot of emotion for Niki and after almost breaking down on stage last week she is hoping she can keep it together this week.
Cue another VT, shamelessly tugging on the heart strings of the British public and loads of close ups of Niki’s mum crying in the audience.
I would love this years X Factor winner to win because they can sing, not because of whatever story they (or the producers) are pushing. Is that too much to ask.
One week could we just see Niki out having fun, rehearsing for the show and being, shock, horror, normal? It would make such a nice change!
November 11th, 2007 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: Niki Evans, X Factor 2007
The mother of X Factor singer, Niki Evans has revealed how hard her daughter found the pressures of showbiz the first time round.
When Niki was only 16, she was chosen by Pete Waterman to support Sonia in a UK tour, however, the pressures to lose weight and change her hairstyle was just too much for Niki at the time.
“The tour was her dream. Yet she came back devastated. Supporting Sonia was not a glamorous life at all,” Niki’s mother Annette told The Mirror. Read more & comment »
November 9th, 2007 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: Niki Evans, X Factor 2007
Niki Evans has admitted that she was devastated by Simon’s comments last week although she didn’t want to admit it at the time.
She was taken way out of her comfort zone so when Simon highlighted this fact, Niki was distraught. The showy number (All That Jazz) with the dancing and the trombone player between her legs left Niki feeling vulnerable on the stage. The mum of two revealed she felt embarrassed up there and this week wants to focus on her best asset, her voice.
Because of You has been one of my favourite songs released in the ast two years, and I think it will suit Niki’s voice well. Niki can really sing power ballads like this, but does this mean that she hasn’t got the versatility needed to be successful outside this show….time will tell!
November 1st, 2007 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: Graham Norton, Niki Evans, X Factor 2007
Camp television host, Graham Norton has hit out at this years X Factor finalists, for not being “dazzling” enough.
In fact Graham has revealed that the only person he thinks has any talent is Niki Evans.
He told The Sun: “I quite like her. She’s OK, but the rest aren’t exactly dazzling.”
Norton added: “This year’s show has not been particularly great – you’ve got 12 people who are, basically, not up to much. Read more & comment »