They sure struck gold, well done to them, they have a big backing now.

Feature: 'X Factor' Final 24 - Over-25s

Thursday, October 1 2009, 12:00 BST

By Alex Fletcher, Senior Entertainment Reporter

01 October 2009 09:14 AM

X Factor's Alexandra Burke mends family feud after suicide trauma

By ANDREI HARMSWORTH - Thursday, October 1, 2009

Just days after revealing her heartache over a family rift with her mother and her brother's suicide attempts, Alexandra Burke says her family is now back on track.

She poured her heart out to Metro as we revealed this week how the X Factor star had been driven from her North London home by thug bullies and that her teen brother Aaron had tried to overdose on their mum, Soul II Soul singer Melissa Bell's medication.

Sinitta: Dannii's dirty tricks

SINITTA said Dannii Minogue is using "dirty tricks" by bringing her sister Kylie on The X Factor.

The Aussie judge has enlisted the help of the pop queen for the judges' houses stage of the show where she will whittle down her six girls to three.

But Simon's Cowell's ex says Kylie's involvement will give Dannii's acts an unfair advantage.

She stormed: "Hasn't Dannii played dirty tricks by bringing Kylie on?

"Everyone thought there might be a chance that she would, but she never said a word until the last moment to any of the judges.

"Everyone is so in awe of Kylie, this will definitely work in her favour."

Cheryl Cole will use Will Young to help her pick which boys to take through to the live singing rounds, while Ronan Keating will be on hand for Louis Walsh and his groups.

Eighties popstar Sinitta will help Simon to select his three acts from his over 25s category.

Hi Hicky  thanksfor all these updates. i'm interested in all the x factor contestants and wouldn't know where to look But you've given us all this news and it's so appreciated.Tell me is there a link to Laura Whyte's new CD? I've clicked on the two
 (delic..and music)links but am only getting this thread. She was my fav last year and I
 would love to hear it

Hi GrannyG.
Here's Laura White's MySpace Music Fansite for a start.
It might be of some help.
http://www.myspace.com/lwhitemusic

And new video on next post.

Here's Laura's Video Premiere 'You should have known'
It sounds good to me.
It's o You tube.
http://newmusicreviews.net/lau...nown-video-premiere/

Hoorraaay Hicky  Thank you,thankyou and thank you

   I think it sounds terrific

Surgery girl reveals 'X Factor' sadness

Thursday, October 1 2009, 16:48 BST

By Daniel Kilkelly, Entertainment Reporter

A woman who went under the knife to impress The X Factor's judges has admitted that she is devastated after her auditions were not broadcast.

Katrina Lee, 23, had liposuction and facial surgery before facing the ITV1 show's panel this year. She had previously been turned away by Simon Cowell in the 2004 series.

Though Lee made it as far as the boot camp stage, viewers did not see her sing on the programme due to time restraints.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, she explained: "I watched the programme with my mum and dad on Saturday night and was in floods of tears.

"When they didn't show my first round audition I was sure they would show the second one, when I sang with the band Harmony Hood and a girl called Treyc. I got great comments from the judges and was delighted when all three acts were put through to the next round. But the audition was never shown, even though we did really well."

She added: "It was heartbreaking enough not getting through boot camp, but then for my auditions not to be shown was equally bad.

"I've no idea why they weren't shown and I was really devastated not to go through, especially as Harmony Hood and Treyc did."

The aspiring singer confirmed that she is now considering whether to audition again next year.

I do try to please.
You are most Welcome.

Seen the spoilers for the final 12.Don't know if I can be bothered to watch it now to be honest.

haven't watched much of this series, and luckily missed the spoilers

'Stars snubbed' from Simon Cowell's £1m 50th bash

By ANDREI HARMSWORTH - Friday, October 2, 2009

Simon Cowell is sprucing up for his 50th birthday bash but his £1million celebration plans are already making waves across the showbiz world.

TV's Mr Nasty has been brutal with his exclusive 400 invitee guest list for Saturday night's shenanigans, with many of his one time favourites reportedly snubbed from the party to be staged at the Hertfordshire mansion where Cheryl and Ashley Cole wed.

Leona serenades Simon

(Friday October 02, 2009 11:45 AM) Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke will sing for Simon Cowell at his 50th birthday celebrations this weekend, according to reports.


The £250,000 bash to mark the pop mogul reaching the landmark takes place in a Hertfordshire mansion, with 350 guests invited.

They include the pair of "X-Factor" winners, with his colleagues on the show also expected to attend.

Speaking about Saturday's party, a source explained: "Simon has made it clear he doesn't want presents.

"He's worried 'X Factor' judges Dannii, Cheryl and Louis will start competing to see who can get him the most lavish gift.

"He's a very wealthy man already and just wants to make sure his nearest and dearest have a brilliant night", they said.

<script type="text/javascript">&lt;!-- document.getElementById('Form1').action='/news/College-backing-Joe-to-make.5698323.jp' --&gt;</script>

X Factor judge Cheryl Cole petrified of performing without Girls Aloud

By Rachael Wheeler 2/10/2009

Cheryl Cole says she is in “pure fear” of performing as a solo artist without her Girls Aloud bandmates.

The X factor judge told Sugar magazine that she’s worried about making mistakes on stage and having no one to turn to.

She said: "The thing is, for the past seven years the other girls have been my safety blanket. If I forget my words on stage or something, there's always four other girls that can pick it up.

"Now I'm completely on my own. I wake up in the middle of the night sick with pure fear going, 'What am I doing?'"

Since joining the group through talent programme Popstars: The Rivals, Cheryl has relied on the girls – but now she feels it’s time to take the risk and go it alone. 

The 26-year-old said: "Girls Aloud is becoming a bit too 'normal'. I need a new challenge, a kick up the bum.

"It's good to feel frightened. Being out of your comfort zone isn't always a bad thing."

I think Cheryl's a very pretty girl and I quite like her on X Factor,however,
 I cringe at the thought of her singing her first single live OOOPS.
  It's very well produced but doesn't alter the fact she can't really sing.
   bet it does ok though ho hum... that's life

Hi GrannyG.
If Cheryl couldn't sing, why would she be bringing a new song out and going it alone, I don't follow that.
I assumed she could sing or she wouldn't be able to go around singing and promoting the track.

Bannatyne predicts bright future for JLS

Friday, October 2 2009, 15:45 BST

By Daniel Kilkelly, Entertainment Reporter

Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne has tipped X Factor runners-up JLS to make a fortune in the months ahead.

The businessman heaped praise on the four-piece after meeting them at the MOBO Awards in Glasgow on Wednesday night, the Daily Star reports.

Bannatyne told the newspaper: "I love the boys. I think having them up here in Scotland with the rest of the MOBO acts is great."

He added: "JLS will be worth more than me soon."

Meanwhile, bandmember Aston Merrygold, 21, said that meeting the Scot had provided a perfect opportunity to impress his concerned mother.

Merrygold said: "She's always worrying about what she reads about us partying in the papers so now she can finally get something positive by seeing me with him."

JLS went home with two awards at the MOBOs.

Simon Cowell turns 50 next week and the “American Idol” judge is going all out.

A star-studded party is planned for Saturday, with a guest list that includes Elton John, Kevin Spacey, Kate Moss, Donald Trump and former fellow "Idol" judge Paula Abdul, according to the Daily Mail.

No expenses were spared for the bash that reportedly may cost as much as $1.6 million. The 400 invites that went out are lined in velvet, and they inform guests that it’s a black tie event.

The Daily Mail reports that three Rat Pack impersonators are being flown over to the England bash from Las Vegas, and that Kate Moss hopes to serenade him with the Lily Allen song, “It’s Not Fair.”

A London-based caterer will prepare sushi and simple food, since Cowell is said to prefer tradition menu choices. Crystal, silver and linen will dress up the tables. 

The venue is a mansion in Wrothman Park in Hertfordshire, and the private spot is surrounded by 300 acres of parkland. Guests need not worry about getting there though as limos will drive them to and from the venue.

Cowell has said he doesn’t want any gifts, but some guests are stressing about what to bring the hard-to-please TV personality. His ex-girlfriend, Sinitta, says: “I have had so many calls from people going, ‘Oh my God! What can I get him?’”

yeah right Si ...... you wish

I won't be getting him a pressie this year either, what do you get a feller that has everything.

X Factor twins John and Edward Grimes break down at Louis Walsh's home

By Rachael Wheeler, Mirror.co.uk 2/10/2009

 

Spiky-haired twins John and Edward Grimes fear they might have blown their X Factor chances after a performance of the Backstreet Boys' I Want It That Way.

This weekend's episodes see the 24 remaining acts visiting the judges in exotic locations across the world, to impress their mentors with their singing talents once again.

Dannii Minogue is joined by her big sister Kylie, to help her choose which acts to take through to the next round.

Meanwhile, Simon Cowell's helper is singer Sinitta, who dons a daring outfit made up of some well-placed palm leaves.

Mentor Louis Walsh has championed the twins, despite them coming in for ridicule from several quarters.

But following their performance, the normally confident 17-year-olds are seen crying.

Edward says: "I just feel like we go home and then it's just like 'What the hell, that's it', then that's what we're remembered for, that's the end, no."

John adds: "Yeah, like on a bad note, unbelievable bad note."

Edward agrees: "Yeah, I think we meant our best. It could have gone well and it didn't."

Meanwhile, Kylie is impressed by Stacey Solomon's version of the classic ballad Over The Rainbow.

Kylie says: "I sung that song every night on tour for a while and it's one you don't want to mess up but for me it was flawless."

Tomorrow's show will air on ITV1 at 8pm and the 12 remaining finalists will be announced on Sunday night, in a programme which goes out from 8pm.

Sweet story as Kandy Rain hit the right note

10:43am Saturday 3rd October 2009

By Emily Roberts »

Chemmane Applewhite, pictured far right, with her Kandy Rain bandmates in The X- Factor

A DANCE teacher from the Basingstoke area is in one of the final 24 acts who will this weekend bid to make the live finals of The X-Factor.

Chemmane Applewhaite performed with her three Kandy Rain bandmates – Azi Jegbefume, Coco Lloyd and Khatereh Dovani – at Boot Camp last week and was chosen to go through as one of the six groups left in the competition.

This weekend, the girl band will find out on the programme if they have impressed their mentor judge Louis Walsh enough to make the final three of the groups section who will go on to perform on the live shows.

Chemmane, who is 26, grew up in Basingstoke with her mum and brother, and danced at JLD School of Dancing, in Kingsclere, from the age of nine.

Joint owner Jo Eustace said she keeps in regular contact with Chemmane, and is delighted with her progress on the top ITV1 prime-time show.

She said: “She was absolutely stunning and had amazing stage presence. We have had a few kids who you think ‘wow, they are amazing’, and she was one of them.”

Chemmane left the school at 19 when she was awarded a full scholarship at the Arts Education Musical Theatre school in Chiswick, London. But she returned to JLD School of Dancing three years ago to teach Hip-Hop and Street Jazz.

Jo said: “We are all backing her at the dance school and wish her the best of luck on the show. I spoke to her recently and she is really enjoying The X-Factor. She’s really pleased with the way it’s going.”

Chemmane’s best friend Nathan Lubbock-Smith, 27, from Kingsclere, has known her since she was nine.

He said: “We have always remained close friends. She has had it hard and has had knock backs and a hard time with guys, which made her lose her confidence. I used to say ‘Come on Chemmane, you are better than this.’ “She has got the whole package and is a good all-rounder. When you look at her dancing, you can’t take your eyes off her. She has always been a great friend and supports me as much as I support her. She’s never let me down and I really want her to do well because she’s worked really hard.”

One of Chemmane’s pupils, Jonathan Moody, 18, from Ramsdell, said she had still been teaching dance lessons throughout the competition.

He added: “She taught us last Friday. We didn’t have a clue that she did the show until she came in and told us all she was going to be on The X-Factor. We were very imp-ressed. She is amazing. She’s so laid back and teaches like she’s one of the students.

“We have all been following her and we’re very impressed. Everyone is cheering her on and hope she goes all the way. We want to see her in the final.”

Speaking after the first audition, where Kandy Rain sang Don’t Cha by the Pussycat Dolls, Chemmane said: “It was very daunting and very nerve-wracking but yet very exciting. And then when you hear everyone cheering you think, ‘Oh my God – this is it, this is it, we are going on’.

“But the way the judges were looking, they all had a real friendly atmosphere and friendly faces so it calmed down the nerves and then after that I just thought ‘We are going to kill it – we are just going to give it our all’.”

JLS came second in last year's X Factor series

X Factor runners-up JLS have refused to criticise N-Dubz frontman Dappy, who has hit out at the group accusing them of "miming" on stage.

JLS played down his comments saying they still have "respect" for the artist and they do not believe everything they read.

"You've got to think whether that was said in the context it was written," Aston Merrygold said.

Speaking in The Sun on Friday, Dappy called them "a manufactured band".

'Respect'

Both bands scooped two awards at Wednesday's Mobo awards.

But according to Dappy - real name Dino Contostavlos - JLS have not earned the right to win trophies just yet.

"I spent years writing lyrics in my bedroom with no-one hearing. Now, people are singing them back to me. JLS don't know what that's like," he said.

Dappy does not think JLS have earned their right to win awards

"At the end of the day, they're a manufactured band. They just sing other people's songs. And they were miming."

However, JLS band member Oritse Williams insisted both groups "respect" each other and called Dappy a "talent guy".

He also revealed that both bands spent a lot of time together before and after the awards show.

Merrygold said he blames the newspapers for embellishing comments made during interviews.

"You've got to think whether that was said in the context it was written. We've learnt this from the stories that have been written in the past.

"You can say stuff - as a joke or in any way - but it doesn't matter because because on paper, people will write it down how they want to write it down.

"We don't listen to any of that nonsense any more."

Jonathan Gill, otherwise known as JB, said: "We've got a fantastic support network - great supporters and great fans and everyone knows the story with JLS."

JLS released their debut single Beat Again in July and it went straight to the top of the UK charts.

Their second single, Everybody in Love, is scheduled for release next month.

The band have also revealed they have not yet been asked to return to this year's X Factor series, but if they are, they will definitely sing live.

Feature: 'X Factor' Final 24 - The Girls

Saturday, October 3 2009, 12:00 BST

By Alex Fletcher, Senior Entertainment Reporter

The final group of acts competing for a place in The X Factor live shows are Dannii Minogue's Girls. Dannii and her sister Kylie have the unenviable task of whittling these six hopefuls down to just three, who will be given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to sing to the nation and win a record contract. Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke have proved that female contestants can go all the way and compete with even the hunkiest and cutest guys, so is there potential for another winner among this year's group?

---

Stacey McClean
The story so far: The story started a long while before X Factor for McClean, who has already achieved pop fame once before as part of S Club Juniors. Determined to make a career as a solo artist now she's all grown up, McClean has only featured briefly at the audition stages (we caught a glimpse of her belting out a version of Christina Aguilera's 'Ain't No Other Man'). However, her experience will surely come in handy when it gets to the nervy judges' houses.
Chances of winning: She certainly has the quality to warrant a place in the Final 12 and unsurprisingly, she looks confident on the big stage. However, whether the public will warm to a contestant who's already had one shot at fame is questionable. There's sure to be criticism from some quarters that she's a ringer and it may hold her back.

---

Despina Pilavakis
The story so far: We know very little about Cyprus-born Despina apart from the fact that she's got a cracking set of lungs on her. Her version of 'The Weakness In Me' at the auditions stage saw her soar into the boot camp, while her cleverly understated rendition of 'Purple Rain' in the second round was equally impressive. She's an ordinary music student from North London and there's no real 'story' or 'journey' to speak of, so she may need to showcase something special to get the nod from the Minogue sisters.
Chances of winning: We have a hunch that Despina could be one of the unlucky ones and not make the Final 12. X Factor is never just a singing contest and we fear that she may be chopped in favour of more colourful contestants.

---

Nicole Jackson
The story so far: It's a case of blink and you'll miss it with Nicole. She auditioned last year and made it to boot camp, but second time around she's gone one better. Her versions of 'Think Twice' and 'Stop Crying Your Heart Out' have shown that she has a unique jazz-y vocal style, which usually goes down well with the judges. However, we're still to find out whether there's a personality behind the voice.
Chances of winning: It's hard to judge from the brief clips we've been given, but they'd struggle to make a winner's montage with the footage we've had so far. However, there's usually one rogue unknown pick in the Final 12, so she can't be ruled out altogether.

---

Stacey Solomon
The story so far: Single-mum Stacey from Dagenham, who has the voice of an Angel, should already have this in the bag, right? Well, possibly. Her version of 'What A Wonderful World' was the standout highlight from the auditions thanks to her swift transformation from Big Brother Chantelle lookalike to sweet pop artiste. She wants to win the show to help change the life of her 17-year-old son Zachary, which is probably as decent and honourable a reason as any.
Chances of winning: Alongside Danyl Johnson, she's a clear favourite to win the show. However, Laura White was the hot tip at this stage last year and she exited fairly early in the competition, so nothing is for certain. But one fact is undeniable - Solomon has all the necessary charm for a winner.

---

Lucie Jones
The story so far: She's from a small village outside of Cardiff - she's mentioned this a few times - and she has "her eyes on the bright lights". She's got the looks and thanks to some training from Charlotte Church's vocal coach Louise Ryan, she can also pull off Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You'. If the judges' reactions at her first audition are anything to go by, then she should be a sure bet to make the Final 12.
Chances of winning: If she stops going on about the fact that she's from a small town in Wales for more than two minutes, then we can surely expect to see her reaching the final stages of the show. If she can do uptempo tracks as well as she can do ballads, she could well be the best of the Girls this year.

---

Rachel Adedegi
The story so far: Unfortunately for Rachel, the highlight of her X Factor run so far, for many viewers, was her unfortunate slip when running to greet her mentor Dannii Minogue. However, when it comes to singing, the 18-year-old has proved she's no slouch with impressive versions of 'If I Ain't Got You' and perhaps the most popular X Factor song of 2009, Paulo Nutini's 'Last Request'.
Chances of winning: She's yet another contestant returning after just missing out in 2008, so there's definitely the required hunger for victory. However, she's probably too quirky and noticeably un-X Factor to make it very far in the Final 12. She'll likely be fighting with Stacey, Nicole and Despina for the third Girls slot.

Yup .... she's one of my personal faves this year ..... I was so surprised when she sang ..... I just didn't expect that beautiful voice to come out of her

I suppose we shall have to see how she fairs in the live shows .... we've seen it all go tits up before (re: Rachel last year ) .... but so far I really like her

She's amazingly ditsy too but I like that

Stacey Soloman audition

I think Stacey has got a good voice, and she talks like Chantelle who comes from Essex as well.

  Hi Hicky  If she sings live You'll know what I mean.

Hi GrannyG.
She is going to sing her new track on X-Factor anyway.

Simon Cowell Pitches a Massive Birthday Tent

Posted Oct 3rd 2009 7:10AM by TMZ Staff

THIS ... is what "American Idol" money can do for your 50th birthday party.


Simon Cowell is hitting the half-century mark with a lavish party at Wrotham Park in Hertfordshire, England today -- a swanky private mansion where people with money throw swanky private parties.

How can judging people be wrong ... if you can make so much money doing it?

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2009/10/03/...photo/#ixzz0StXdc11E

WTF was Sinitta wearing! Daft mare.

Who is that blond bloke Cheryl has...he's shit!