Steve Brookstein has admitted that he thinks Kelly Rowland has quit her role on The X Factor.

The Destinys Child star returned to American earlier this week, claiming she had important business to attend to stateside. She was supposed to return on Friday, but yesterday it was claimed that she was now ‘too ill’ to fly to London, due to a severe throat infection.

Kelly was quoted as saying that she had been advised by doctors not to travel and this afternoon, ITV revealed that Alexandra Burke would take her place on tonight’s X Factor show.

However, former X Factor winner (and frequent critic of the format, it’s production team and Simon Cowell) has written on his blog that he doesn’t believe Kelly is coming back at all.

He thinks she walked away from the series, after Tulisa Contostavlos accused Misha Bryan of being a bully on last Saturday’s live show.

Steve wrote:

Kelly Rowland has apparently got a sore throat. I suspect that she has quit. I believe last week’s bullying of Misha was the last straw.

He later added:

I’ve just heard that Alexandra Burke is the guest judge!! I’d be amazed if Kelly comes back now. To have Alexandra step in a sign that this is not scripted. No way would she have been a preferred choice to step in. Kelly has probably got her lawyers getting her out of show as we speak without being sued. It looks like it’s going to be a face saving exercise for the show. Very interesting to see if Kelly comeback next week. I doubt it.

Do you agree with Steve? Do you smell a rat here? Is Kelly really ill or is she just plain furious with Tulisa and the team? Leave your comments below.

Also, check out some of the song choices for tonight’s Halloween themed episode here.

View the original post Steve Brookstein thinks Kelly Rowland has quit the X Factor! on Unreality TV

In an entry entitled, ‘Cheryl Cole – The People’s Princess is back’, Steve wrote…

I felt compelled to write a brief blog because The X Factor spin doctors are hard at work re-branding Simon Cowell’s Miracle Elixir and I’m afraid to say that people are buying it. The man himself has crossed the Atlantic to flog his wonderful life-changing snake oil to the land who invented the stuff.

I was amazed when I heard Cheryl Cole was going to judge in the USA. One thing the Americans do well is music. They have a rich history of artists. My top 10 favourite singers are all from the US…

So for Simon to make a talent search that included in the judging panel a girl who quite frankly is not in the World’s top 10,000 singers was bizarre. Cheryl Cole isn’t even a well-known name in the US. More importantly they don’t like people who mime and beat up black toilet attendants. This hair brain scheme now appears to be just a publicity stunt to reinvent the UK version of the show.

Cheryl had a terrible series last year. She kept Katie Wassiel over Gamu which upset a lot of the show’s fans. She then decided not to vote and the judges manipulated the exit of another contestant. The hardcore X Factor fans wanted her out. Despite this and Cheryl’s obvious lack of credentials for a US market, she is off to judge the best talent in the World? Nah, I don’t buy it.

Meanwhile back home, Louis Walsh is to stay on despite his decline into a comical Dame. The guy is a clown but obviously a clown with access to Cowell’s dark secret past.

Then we have the Dannii Minogue problem. Cowell had chosen Cole to be his beard and there was obvious tension with Dannii and Cole. Dannii was the most popular judge by far and yet she was allowed to go. Crazy? Nope, not if you have an ego the size of Cowell and it is his show.

But Dannii knows what side her bread is buttered, Dannii won’t rock the boat and say what happened…yet. She’ll move onto her next gig and do another “tell all” book in a few years. This time it won’t be about Sharon Osbourne.

Simon Cowell is King Spin. He plays the media game better than anyone but his track record doesn’t match his own personal success. His show has dropped 4 of its 7 winners and the remaining 3 are far from safe bets for World domination. It was time for his quick getaway.

To leave The X Factor without a big change and reinventing the show wouldn’t have worked. The show had peaked and it could only go down. Look at Britain’s Got Talent.

If this huge change goes wrong no biggy. Remember the voting and the auto-tune scandals? It gives him the chance to say, “Sorry, we got it wrong, we will do what the public want…and we’ll get X back.”

And when I say “X” I obviously don’t mean myself, Shayne Ward, Leon Jackson or Joe McElderry.

The X Factor is and will always be about the judges. Welcome back Cheryl.

What do you think of Steve’s remarks?

View the original post X Factor USA: Steve Brookstein slates Simon Cowell over Cheryl Cole debacle on Unreality TV

Steve Brookstein has claimed that he never meant to offend Louis Tomlinson when he posted his X Factor audition video on Twitter.

The 42 year old was the first ever winner of the TV talent show, but has become one of it’s loudest critics in recent years.

After last year’s series ended, Steve took to Twitter to and hit out at One Direction’s Louis, describing him as the “luckiest man in music” for landing a record deal with Simon Cowell’s SYCO.

Speaking on Dan Wootton’s LBC radio show tonight, Steve explained his actions saying that he had become frustrated that such a mediocre singer could go so far on a TV talent show, whilst so many massively talented youngsters were turned away.

He said:

That wasn’t an attack on him. If you go to a restaurant and you have a terrible meal, you go up to the chef, you can’t say how disgusting your evening was without mentioning your meal.

I don’t really care about One Direction but there are kids going to auditions for the X Factor and they get to see a runner, they get seen by people who have no musical background at all….I’ve heard some great talent out there and they don’t get heard.

Steve also admitted that since being dropped from Simon Cowell’s SYCO label, he has been disappointed by the mainstream media and the fact that newspapers are so reticent to report on any of his new musical ventures, yet quick to print any negative stories about him.

He added:

I was disappointed in the way that you can try to do something yourself and because I’m not part of the camp Simon Cowell’s in, certain people won’t report on you. Whatever I’m trying to do on the good side, it’s not reflected in the press.

However, the Cafe Nero thing got a huge amount of coverage.

But then negative reporting is nothing new to Steve. He has been up against it from day one and his time on the X Factor was made difficult by judges Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh who were never shy about expressing their unexplained dislike for him. Addressing the hard time he received back in 2004-2005 he said:

When I won the X Factor, I had Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne totally slate me. You know with the PR these people had, I was getting negative coverage by the tabloid press from day one.

I had a mega hit single, I had a number one album but ten weeks later according to the tabloids I was dropped because I couldn’t sell records. It’s great propaganda.

If you want to see what all the fuss is about, watch Louis’ audition video below and let us know what you think about Steve’s comments below.

View the original post X Factor: Steve Brookstein explains One Direction (Louis Tomlinson) tweets on Unreality TV

Steve Brookstein has hit out at X Factor boss Simon Cowell, comparing the music mogul to a mafia boss.

The former show champion won a £1 million recording contract six years ago, when he defeated male opera group G4 in the 2004 X Factor final.

However just months later, despite a number one single and album, Brookstein was dropped by Cowell’s label Syco and ever since has found it difficult to gain the recognition he craves from industry insiders.

He told The Daily Mail:

‘It’s amazing how many doors close when you part company with Cowell. It’s almost like leaving a mafia family. Simon Cowell has such an enormous ego, he believes that if he can’t make you a star, then no one will.

‘Because he’s so powerful, it’s virtually ­impossible to get any attention once he’s lost interest.

‘When I look back on it all, I’ve no doubt I should have stuck with what I was doing before the X Factor — and I’d probably have been ­better off.’

Steve may be right. He revealed that before taking part in the ITV show he had experienced some interest from other record companies and just weeks after he made the live shows, he even had an offer to support Lionel Richie on tour.

He admitted:

‘It was a blow to say no, but I was committed to doing the show and at that time there was no reason to believe it would be anything other than an amazing platform.’

Brookstein is now married and a dad and admits that he could have handled Cowell better and possibly less vocally.

‘I could have done a lot of things better. I can see that now. I should have taken more time before trying to release a second album and re-grouped a bit, it was all too rushed,’ he confessed.

‘But it was difficult at first. There was bitterness, of course, although more than that, I had this anger. I hate unfairness and I felt that I had been misrepresented.’

And sending out some cautionary words to future stars and winners, Brookstein concluded:

‘The winning is irrelevant. From what I experienced, there’s actually little point voting because the only real winners are the ones that Simon’s record company actually wants to work with — which wasn’t me.’

View the original post X Factor: Steve Brookstein criticises Simon Cowell’s ‘massive ego’ on Unreality TV

Steve Brookstein and Louis Tomlinson’s mum have argued on Twitter.

The original X Factor winner referred to the first audition of the One Direction member and described him as the “luckiest man in music” for landing a record deal with Simon Cowell’s SYCO.

Louis’ mum was quick to defend her son and addressing Brookstein, she replied:

“Hi I’m Louis’s mum. My family have always liked you and bought your records. Why be so cruel?

“Why shame him in public? He was sad about his audition. He was incredibly nervous. Listen to his YouTube.

“He is 18 Steve! I honestly thought you were a nice bloke. Sadly for us now what we were told about you seems accurate.”

Brookstein refused to back down and insisted that Louis needs singing lessons before he embarks on his music career. He wrote:

“If you are Louis’s mum. Get the poor lad some singing lessons for Christmas. A couple of dozen at least,” he said.

“I’ve heard his YouTube. Auto-Tune all over it. I don’t blame him. I blame Simon [Cowell] for putting him in the public eye.

“If he was a builder he wouldn’t be able to work on a house. He would need to learn his trade. Why do you think this is ok? Listen, he is a rouge trader. A Mickey Mouse cowboy builder. Don’t blame me for exposing his poor workmanship. End of.”

He also tweeted Tomlinson directly, saying:

“You have a great opportunity. Take singing lessons and become a proper singer. Work on your breathing and support.”

Tomlinson joked:

“Steve you’re my idol!”

Now before you all start spouting hate at Steve, have a listen to Louis’ audition below and let us know who you agree with.

View the original post X Factor: Steve Brookstein has Twitter row with One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson’s mum on Unreality TV

The paper claimed that the performance at Caffe Nero in Ipswich was abandoned when only a handful of fans turned up to hear Steve sing.

So in response, Steve tweeted, “For the reporter at News of the World who called my agent this morning, No I won’t give up.

“Today Caffe Nero Nottingham and Sheffield :0) (sic).”

The paper’s showbiz editor, Dan Wootton, then responded, “Are you working behind the counter?’

Steve replied, “News Of The World >>> bully culture continues…

“Unless you play the game. tabloids play they bully you.

“They can’t scare me, I’m a coward. I’m always scared! #thescum.

“Just want to do things my way. New musicians need places to showcase their stuff. Caffe Nero support new amazing artists.”

Steve later added, “Outside Organisation following me. One of Simon Cowell’s PR buddies spying on me.

“Huge, very powerful spin doctors. I’m in trouble now….

“Funny unfollowed>>>>RT @outsideorg: @stevebrookstein Don’t worry Steve, corrected that oversight.”

Yikes… probably wasn’t a good plan to enter into a war of words with a newspaper Steve!

View the original post X Factor: Steve Brookstein’s Twitter row with News of the World! on Unreality TV

Steve Brookstein has been singing the praises of X Factor contestants Wagner Carrilho and Diva Fever.

The former winner of the ITV show branded the two acts as ‘crazy cards’ saying that they saved the series ‘from being a bland collection of semi-pros and amateurs.’

Writing on his London 24 blog Steve said:

“Diva Fever and Wagner are more crazy cards than wild cards.”

“These crazy cards have saved this year’s show from being a bland collection of semi-pros and amateurs learning their craft on primetime TV. Admittedly, a handful are extremely talented, but that wouldn’t be a great return for 2 hours 30 minutes of anyone’s time… No, we didn’t get to see the quality of Karl Brown, Marlon Mackenzie or Husstle, but Diva Fever and Wagner have the potential to deliver TV gold.”

He continued: “It’s what Simon [Cowell] does best – novelty acts that are fun and nonsensical. Jedward now seem so last year when we have Diva Fever. They are even more camp without being annoying. I can’t decide who I like more, them or the other crazy card Wagner and his bongos.”

View the original post Steve Brookstein thinks Wagner Carrilho and Diva Fever have saved X Factor on Unreality TV

Former X Factor winner Steve Brookstein has admitted that he enjoyed watching girlband ‘Husstle‘ on Saturday night’s show.

Stacey Camps, 26, Alannah Mags, 18, Jessica Kozi, 25, and Carol Mounsey, 29, impressed the judges at their London audition earlier this year and at Simon’s insistence, later allowed Dice singer Sam Grierson, 25, to join the band.

Brookstein referred to the girls as the ‘shining light’ of last weekend’s ITV show and wrote on his official blog:

The one shining light was the girl band Husstle. Apart from the annoying extra ‘s’ in their name, I was really impressed for the twenty seconds they were shown. Even vocal expert Cheryl Cole had to reluctantly admit they were good.

However, the singer isn’t sure about their new lineup, which Cowell believed would make the band more marketable. He added:

Newspapers have reported that they have been forced to add a pole dancer to their line-up and though they are talking it up, I fear it will be their downfall.

View the original post X Factor 2010: Steve Brookstein impressed by girlband Husstle on Unreality TV

Former X Factor winner Steve Brookstein has apologised for “berating” twins John & Edward Grimes.

The pair shot to fame on the 2009 series of X Factor, mostly for their lack of talent and ridiculous hair dos. However Brookstein admitted to being a “grumpy old man” when he hit out at the teenagers.

“Somewhere along the way I have forgotten I was young once and bought the same tat that I am berating,” he wrote on his official blog.

“When I was 16 on my first holiday abroad, I heard a song that would always remind me of that tormented week in Malta. ‘Tarzan Boy’ was my naff holiday song that got me through the frustration of being chained to my virginity in the sun,” he said.

“I bought the 12” and played it death. I loved it – yep, that crap song and video, I admit it and that’s why I have no right in having a go at these kids. ‘Tarzan Boy’? I hang my head in shame.”

He continued: “Even though I know that Jedward are not that good, kids will only know in time and even then, they will look back with fond memories of a special time in their childhood and who am I to spoil that?

“So surprisingly, I actually wish Jedward all the best in milking it (even if their w***y little manager Louis Walsh gets 20%). They are living a dream and their fans shouldn’t worry about a grumpy old man who had forgotten what it’s like to just have harmless fun.”

View the original post X Factor: Steve Brookstein apologises to Jedward on Unreality TV

Steve Brookstein has used his Facebook page to launch yet another attack on X Factor boss Simon Cowell today.

Steve won the first series of the show in 2004 and was later dropped by Simon Cowell’s record label. Unsurprisingly he is now backing the Rage Against The Machine campaign, to get ‘Killing In The Name’ to the Christmas number one spot.

He wrote: “Before X Factor gimps have a go, I will tell you this and I sware (sic) on my son’s life, I was not bothered that my single ‘Against All Odds’ went to number one and I wasn’t bothered that my album went to number one. I just wanted to make good music – and not the pop schlop associated with Cowell.

“Unfortunately. I was dropped because I wouldn’t play the game. Now to my point – X Factor is on for four months – surely winning the show and getting a deal is enough for any artist.”

Brookstein added: “To release for Christmas is just mega rich Simon Cowell doing a f**k you to Santa Claus, Rudolph, all the little elves, Frosty and not forgetting Baby Jesus. What a douche!”

View the original post X Factor: I think Steve Brookstein might be buying Rage Against The Machine for Christmas on Unreality TV