JLS - X Factor 2008

Former X Factor runners up, JLS have narrowly beaten Robbie Williams and scooped their first number one album.

Both albums reportedly sold over 200,000 copies, and JLS beat Williams to the top spot by a margin of less than 1%.

Not only have the boys hit the number one spot, but their debut album is also the fastest-selling debut album since the Arctic Monkeys’s Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not in 2006.

JLS told the Official Charts Company: “It is absolutely unbelievable that we have reached the number one spot on the album chart this week after such an incredible race with the pop icon that is Robbie Williams.

“We are so overwhelmed by the support of the people that have purchased our album and can’t thank them enough for making our dreams come true. We truly have the best supporters in the world and can’t express our gratitude enough.”

Former Take That singer Robbie Williams is a BIG fan of the X Factor. Since appearing on the show and mentoring the contestants a few weeks ago, he has become very vocal on the subject and this week he has admitted that he quite likes to watch John and Edward Grimes.

“Here’s the thing. What do you look forward to every week on that programme? For me it’s Jedward,” Williams said.

“I love watching them. If someone said to me I had to go and watch a gig of the X Factor contestants, each one’s doing half an hour and who do you want to see, I’d love to go and watch Jedward.

“I think it’s an entertainment show. People say it’s a singing contest and all that business, but I am entertained by those two. It’s a different kind of entertainment completely. And will they win it? No, I think the joke will probably wear a bit thin, it nearly did [on Sunday].”

Speaking to Liverpool’s Radio City 96.7, Williams admitted that although he likes Jedward, he is backing Olly Murs to win.

He said: “He entertains, he’s good-looking, he can sing and he’s funny. And also he’s just a proper lad, a nice guy. I’ve met him and he’s a really lovely lad.”

Robbie Williams denied rumours that he was on drugs during his recent X Factor performance.

Robbie insists that the only substance he consumed before taking to the stage, was copious amounts of coffee.

“People are alluding to the fact that I may have been high on something but I can only say I wasn’t – because I wasn’t,” Williams is quoted by The Mirror as saying.

“Unless someone spiked my drink and I would have noticed. I know what various drugs feel like. It’s the same as the deer in headlights, the deer’s not on anything other than fear. I’d had a few coffees before I went on, that’s all.”

On the quality of the performance, he added: “I didn’t feel like the seasoned pro I am. It felt a bit alien. I maybe should’ve done a few other shows before the big one.”

Former Take That star, Robbie Williams, has admitted that he nearly didn’t sing on X Factor last Sunday night. Many fans have commented on Robbie’s strange behaviour on the show, but he revealed on his blog that he got stuck behind a stage door, moments before he came onto stage.

Robbie wrote: “I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I was going to be… until the friggin sliding door wouldn’t open.

“I don’t know if you saw but I had to wedge it open myself. That wasn’t part of the show that was pure brute strength.

“So there’s a bad start. I had a whole pose planned and what not. But that went out of the window.”

After forcing the door open, Robbie was then worried that he wouldn’t remember his words.

He said: “Then the mouth opened and by the grace of the big man himself the right words fell out… Oh praise be! I’m in!”

He concluded: “So pleased… I think the boy’s back.”

Robbie Williams has given his opinions on some of the X Factor contestants and admitted that he was a little perturbed by John and Edward Grimes.”

Robbie has mentored the X Factor acts in the run up to tonight’s live show and in an interview with The Sun, he said:

“Well, I don’t know what has happened to Danyl. I saw his first audition and I just thought, ‘There’s the fella that has come and will take the crown away’.

“I will have a chat with him and I’ll tell him to chill out. Let them walk around you, don’t go to them. I thought he was phenomenal in the first audition he did.”

On John and Edward he said: “They kind of scare me. There’s something there. Maybe it’s a show on Nickelodeon?”

He went on to back Rachel Adedeji, calling her “fully-formed” and a “really interesting character”.

“I can tell she will have some good, interesting things to sing about and interesting ways to say them,” he added.

Robbie meets Stacey

Robbie Williams has caused quite a stir in the X Factor house, after he branded Stacey Solomon as “the one to beat.”

Robbie held mentoring sessions with all the X Factor acts this week, check out the pictures here. But it seems that he has a special place in his heart for single mum, Stacey.

He gushed: “Stacey’s great. I want one! “I think every home should have one.”

Stacey loved meeting the former Take That star too, she said:

She said: “He’s lovely. “I hugged him and wouldn’t let go. He said to me: `Hello. You’re on the telly. I’m a big fan. I’m so pleased to meet you.`

“I was gob-smacked and went: `Me? Are you joking?’”

An insider told the Daily Star: “It’s caused quite an atmosphere. The others will be out to get Stacey. They see her as the one to beat.”

Have a look at the shots of Robbie William’s mentoring sessions with the X Factor acts this week. All the singers seemed in awe of the former Take That singer, but it seems that Robbie is rooting for Stacey Solomon to win!

Robbie meets Joseph McElderry

Robbie meets Stacey

Robbie meets Kandy Rain

On meeting the singer, Lucie Jones gushed, “Meeting Robbie was unbelievable – I used to go and see him with thousands of others in the crowd when I was 10 so I couldn’t believe it was just him and me in the room.

“He was humble and good looking, but I didn’t fancy him – he’s old enough to be my dad!”

Stacey Solomon said, “He was so normal and down to earth. I got a hug.”

Twins John and Edward said of the star, “We were really happy to meet him because he is not just a singer, he is a performer.”

Robbie Williams has been mentoring the X Factor contestants ahead of tonight’s live show. Robbie, who releases his new album this week, has always been a huge fan of the show and he admits that if he was starting out, he would most likely enter it.

Riobbie told The Mirror: “I would definitely have entered The X Factor if I was a kid now. Of course I would have.

“I’d be excited and overwhelmed by the opportunity of getting through one of the rounds.

“It would be the only format to do that for someone like me.

“My voice isn’t as good as some of these people competing. I might not have got through because I am lucky if I can get through a song and I’ve sung it in key.

“These people can really f****** sing.”

On acting as a mentor, Robbie admits that he is unsure of how to advise the singers.

“I’ve got to go and do mentoring and I haven’t got a clue what I am going to say,” he said.

“I wouldn’t know what to tell myself. If there are little nuances that need to be changed in the music and the way they are singing, I am not going to spot them.”

He added: “I could be the most boring mentor since Mariah Carey, God bless her, she’s ace. But all she said was, ‘That’s great. God bless you’.”

This Saturday we finally get to watch the first X Factor live show. I had gotten so fed up with the silly audition bits, that I nearly stopped watching. But next week, actual talent! Well if you discount John and Edward Grimes that is.

Kicking off the first live show of 2009 is Robbie Williams, Alexandra Burke and of course our 12 X Factor finalists. Alexandra will no doubt be singing her new single, Bad Boys whilst Robbie will be promoting his, Bodies.

It will be a short journey for one act, as someone will eliminated next weekend. But don’t forget, that we now have to wait until Sunday to find out who goes.

Robbie Williams has confirmed that he will give a live performance on one of this years X Factor live shows.

The former Take That star announced on his website, that he will perform the world exclusive of comeback single ‘Bodies’ on the show.

Williams said: “I’m a huge fan of The X Factor. Of course I’ll be watching every week, just like everyone else.”

Meanwhile, the singer is out to get one particular hopeful.

According to The Sun, Williams said: “There’s this one guy on The X Factor who is amazing. I think he could take my place. I’ve got my eye on him. He’s dead.”