X Factor
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In March 2010, I went to the X Factor Live concert held at the Nottingham Arena. During the afternoon, I waited to see if I could get a photograph with any of the singers taking part.
The stage door at the venue is not accessible to the public, and the stars of the shows held there can usually only be glimpsed through high wire fences or through the holes of the stainless steel gates. Even the
The X Factor - Official Website
then, there is often an army of security guards to keep you at bay. In the circumstances I was very fortunate to get autographs and photos with four of the eight acts appearing in the show.
Over 16 million people watched the series The X Factor, and from February to April 2010, eight of the finalists played to sell-out audiences in venues in Liverpool, Dublin, Cardiff, London, Brighton, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Newcastle, Sheffield, Manchester and Nottingham.
John Grimes and Edward Grimes are identical twins born on 16 October 1991 in Dublin. This Irish singing pair, perform under the name of Jedward and are best known for their distinctive blond quiffs and their unique, energetic performances on stage.
Their first single, released in January 2010 was Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby) featuring Vanilla Ice.
Their first single, released in January 2010 was Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby) featuring Vanilla Ice.
Jedward's debut single
With John from Jedward
With Edward from Jedward
John signed my autograph book
Edward signed my autograph book
Jedward on stage
With Lucie Jones
Lucie Jones, born in March 1991, comes from Pentyrch, a village near Cardiff. Wales. She amazed all the judges on her X Factor audition after singing a fantastic version of Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You and survived in the competition until being controversially el
eliminated in week 5, after losing out to John & Edward in a public vote. Lucie Jones has since gone on to be signed by Select Model Management, who have helped to launch the careers of many top models.
Lucie Jones signed my autograph book
Jamie Archer (also nicknamed 'Jamie Afro' or 'Jafro' due to his hairstyle) born in 1975, is a musician from Putney, London. He was the oldest of the twelve finalists in Series 6, and has h
had a lot of experience on the London gig circuit. He also plays several instruments but mainly the guitar. He is the lead singer and guitarist in the Dance/Rock band Jalexis 11 which he started with his brother Stephen, and Anthony Reed. Archer was voted out of The X Factor in week 6, after singing Radio Ga Ga.
Jamie Archer has signed my autograph book 'Jafro'
With Jamie 'Jafro' Archer
Danyl Johnson
Danyl Johnson, born in July 1982) comes from Arborfield, near Reading in Berkshire. He works as a dance and drama teacher at three different stage schools including Mo's and Starmaker in Reading, and the School of the Arts (SOTA) in Windsor. He has also been a me
member of two boy bands, Upfrunt, and StreetLevel. Danyl Johnson left The X Factor at the semi-finals stage(week 9) in December 2009, thus finishing fourth in the competition.
Danyl Johnson has signed my autograph book
With Danyl Johnson
Lloyd Daniels, born in December 1992, comes from Treharris near Merthyr Tyfil in Souith Wales. At 16, he was the youngest act in The X Factor Series 6. He was eliminated from the competition by a public vote, in November 2009 (week 8), therefore finishing in 5th place.
Olly Murs, born in May 1984, is from Witham in Essex. He is of Latvian descent and has a twin brother Ben. He went Notley High School where he was a star striker in the school's football team. He works as a customer advisor in a call centre, and had previously appeared on
In February 2010, Olly Murs signed a record deal jointly between Epic Records and Simon Cowell's Syco Music.
In the final against Stacey Soloman and Joe McElderry on Saturday 12th December 2009, Murs won through to t
on the TV show Deal or No Deal. In his X Factor appearances he frequently employed dance moves in his performance, including his trademark 'Olly wiggle'. In the semi-finals Murs had to miss his twin brother's wedding when his mentor, Simon Cowell, refused to let him off for a few hours because it was a semi-final day.
the final two but lost the final to Joe McElderry. In his final performance on the show he performed The Climb, finishing it in tears.
Olly Murs wins just £10 in Deal or No Deal
My ticket for The X Factor Live at the Nottingham Arena
The artists taking part in the tour were Lucie Jones, Stacey Solomon, Joe McElderry, Lloyd Daniels, Jamie Archer, Olly Murs, Danyl Johnson and the infamous John and Edward! They performed classic songs and viewers' favourites from The X Factor (Series 6) along with You Are Not Alone, the single they recorded to support the Great Ormand Street Hospital.
Stacey Solomon, born in October 1989, is from Dagenham, East London. She went to the Jewish faith school King Solomon High School in Barkingside in the London Borough of Redb
Redbridge She has been singing all her life and is now studying Musical Theatre. She is a single mother with a son Zachery (b. 2008) For her audition she sang Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World. After Lucie Jones left in Week 5, Stacey became the only remaining female contestant. She went on to reach the last three, but after the penultimate show on Saturday 12 December 2009, she received the fewest votes from the public and was eliminated.
Stacey Solomon with her son Zachary
Joe McElderry, born in June 1991, comes from South Shields on Tyneside. His grandmother Hilda Joyce, sang in a band called The Dolly Mixtures, who performed in the pubs and clubs of North-East Eng
England. Joe attended Harton Technology College in South Shields and later South Tyneside College before moving to Newcastle College to study performing arts. He was South Tyneside's 'Young Performer of
Videos
Joe McElderry's debut album
Joe McElderry's prize was a recording contract worth £1 million with Simon Cowell's Syco record label, whose parent company is Sony Music Entertainment. The Climb was immediately released as McElderry's debut single.
Of the Year' in 2008. He made it through to the live finals of The X Factor (Series 6), and was announced as the winner on 13 December 2009, beating runner up Olly Murs after singing Miley Cyrus's song The Climb.
The X Factor winner Joe McElderry
The X Factor judges