Technicians Give Jedward A Helping Hand - Allegedly

There have been accusations of cheating on UK's X Factor - and at the center of the row is none other than Jedward or, to give them their correct name, John and Edward. Well it had to be them, didn't it!

Some Technicians on X Factor have made claims that their hierarchy ordered them to turn down Jedward's microphones, and mask their voices with backing tracks, while performing on the show. Well if it can be done for Cheryl ...

X Factor, of course, denies this saying, "All the contestants sing live on Saturday night and are given an equal amount of technical support."

But one technician supposedly told the Daily Mirror, "The twins have had backing vocals on all their live performances so far. We are used to tweaking levels, it is part of the job, but what we were asked to do on Saturday was beyond a joke."

So what - only Simon and Dannii seem to think X Factor is still a singing competition. Really it's a good entertainment show. And any potential money making singers will do okay, whether they win or not. Take the show for what it is.

John And Edward Pull In The X Factor Votes

It's generally rumoured that somehow John and Edward got the most votes on last weekend's X Factor - yes really! Whatever the reason it's woken the bookmakers up to the fact that the Irish duo could actually come close to winning the whole thing. As I write there is steam escaping from Simon Cowell's ears at this very thought.

The fact is, whether Simon likes it or not, John and Edward Grimes have captured the publics' imagination despite the fact that they aren't too hot at singing. They look great, and different, and appeal to the young and fun market.

The twins odds of winning have shortened so the publicity machine will go into overdrive to stop this happening. Manipulation is afoot.

Everyone's favourite to win X Factor seems to be Joe McElderry but wouldn't it be funny to see John and Edward upset the applecart? Imagine Simon's face. He's already got his knickers in a twist by having Danyl Johnson in the sing offs and has supposedly been blasting Cheryl and Dannii. So much so that Cheryl described him as being, 'rude and nasty'.

But, of course, conflicts and rumours of upsets all help the X Factor viewing figures and I guess most, well some, viewers realise that it's all illusion and manipulation. Money is the real name of the game.

The X Factor Annual 2010

X Factor Says Bye Bye To Tru Colourz

Tru Colourz have been kicked out of X Factor's final 24 for fibbing about their ages. It seems that one of the group is under 16, which is the minimum age requirement to enter the show. Harmony Hood will be their replacement.

The X Factor Finalists are:

Groups (Louis Walsh): Kandy Rain, John and Edward Grimes, Harmony Hood, Project A, Miss Frank and De-Tour

Boys Under 25 (Cheryl Cole): Rikki Loney, Daniel Fox, Duane Lamonte, Joseph McElderry, Ethan Boroian and Lloyd Daniels.

Girls Under 25 (Dannii Minogue): Stacey Solomon, Stacey McClean, Rachel Adedeji, Nicole Jackson, Despina Pilavakis and Lucie Jones.

Over-25s (Simon Cowell): Jamie Archer, Nicole Lawrence, Oliver Murs, Treyc Cohen, Daniel Pearce and Danyl Johnson

Diana Vickers and Ruth Lorenzo Get Friendly With Police

Diana Vickers
UK X Factor favourites Diana Vickers, photo above, and Ruth Lorenzo get friendly with a policeman while making personal appearances at the Banks Leisure Centre in Southport, England.

Ruth Lorenzo Photos: Luke Mills/WENN.
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Cheryl Cole And Her Big Smile This Morning

Cheryl Cole
By the time she had used up several boxes of tissues Cheryl Cole finally dried her eyes and left the X Factor studios in the early hours of this morning. She had a beaming smile and waved to photographers as only a proud winning mentor can. Photo: WENN

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Alexandra Burke In Tears As She Wins X Factor

Alexandra Burke Wins X Factor
As expected Alexandra Burke won last night's X Factor final and is now destined to be the UK's number one single at Christmas. Downloads started from midnight. The Hallelujah (Single) will be released on the 17th of December.

JLS were second with Eoghan Quigg third.

Alexandra, again as expected, burst into tears as did Cheryl Cole and everyone was happily blubbing away so much so that Alex was virtually unable to talk.

As for Simon Cowell he was delighted and hugged Cheryl as he blissfully closed his eyes and counted his future earnings in his head. It was the right result for him as Alexandra could well become another Leona Lewis and do well in the US as well.

Over 8 million votes were cast for the final result.

X Factor Final Tonight

Alexandra Burke and Eoghan QuiggIt's the final of the X Factor blubberthon tonight. No doubt tears will flow over the stage and down Cheryl Cole's lovely face. The favourite to win is Alexandra Burke. In an unofficial Internet poll she has 56% of the vote with JLS second on 31% and diddy little Eoghan Quigg on just 13%. The phone vote may, of course, come up with something completely different. A lot of late money at the bookies is for JLS.

The photo shows Alexandra and Eoghan yesterday following nearly 14 hours of rehearsals. Eoghan looks exhauseted but Alexandra is happily chatting on her phone. Photo: WENN.

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Alexandra Burke At KOKO

Alexandra Burke
X Factor finalist Alexandra Burke doing a hometown gig at KOKO in London. She is odds on by the bookies to win at 8/13, with Eoghan Quigg at 15/4 and JLS at 4/1. Photo: WENN.

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Diana Vickers Splits With Boyfriend

The Sun has reported that X Factor contestant Diana Vickers has now split from her boyfriend Chris Jones.

Fellow contestant Eoghan Quigg has indicated that he will be seeing Diana in the future. X Factor viewers saw his tears and emotion as Diana was voted out on Saturday. He said, "I’m going to Blackburn to spend time with her and she’ll be coming to Dungiven. My family have met her and think she’s lovely."

Quiggmania swept through Londonderry when he returned for a visit and he is even supposedly a favourite of Amy Winehouse - as to whether this is good or bad is debateable!

Whatever happens, or doesn't happen, between Eoghan and Diana they are both assured of a successful future, at least for the short term. It could be Kylie and Jason all over again!

Eoghan Quigg and Diana Vickers Hold Hands

Eoghan Quigg and Diana Vickers
After emotional scenes as Diana Vickers was voted off UK's X Factor she drove off holding hands with fellow contestant Eoghan Quigg.

Eoghan seemed to be devastated that Diana was voted off even though he himself was through to next weeks final. He was in tears on stage and virtually unable to speak. There have been rumours that the couple have been getting close since being in the X Factor house but that Diana has been trying to cool things off. Photo: WENN

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Britney Spears On X Factor

Britney Spears on X Factor
Britney Spears deemed to honour X Factor with her presence last night. Diddy little Dermot was nearly orgasmic with excitement as he mentioned her name in virtually every sentence and kept on and on about it being Britney Spears Night.

As for Britney she managed to lip sinc her way through her one song and many viewers must have scratched their heads wondering what all of the excessive hype was about.

She looked okay, she danced efficiently and afterwards uttered a few platitudes about how 'she loved being here in London, it's awesome' and when asked about the X Factor contestants managed to come up with the words of wisdom, "Good luck and just keep doing it."

Somehow the whole Britney Spears performance was just her doing her routine job, there was no real passion or personality. Quite honestly Miley Cyrus, who was also on the show knocked, her for six and was far better entertainment value.

Disappointing, to say the least, and to think the X Factor contestants had to also sing Britney songs in her honour - most of which were completely unsuitable.

As for the real part of the show, when it wasn't simply a publicity generating machine for Britney, was that Ruth Lorenzo was predictably voted out.

And the winner of X Factor is/will be ... Simon Cowell! Well done Simon.

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Eoghan Quigg and Diana Vickers Together This Morning

Eoghan Quigg and Diana Vickers
UK's X Factor favourites Eoghan Quigg and Diana Vickers arrive back at the show's secret hideway in the early hours of this morning. Predictably they were both voted into the next round - and are tipped to be in the eventual final.

Regarding the X Factor voting in general Eoghan Quigg has come out top every week so far, though this info is not released to the public.

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Laura White Axed But A Free X Factor Pass For Diana Vickers

For once the X Factor gossip was true and Diana Vickers got a free pass into next weeks show without having to sing. She had laryngitis. It was strange though to see her 'ill' in bed but wearing lipstick and full make-up.

The loser last night was Laura White who was eliminated by the judges after a sing off with Ruth Lorenzo.

Simon Cowell wasn't happy with this and said that the public decision, as to the worst two performers, was a 'joke'. But he's always been very arrogant. His annoyance is, of course, because Daniel Evans remains in the competition plus judge Dannii Minogue still has her three acts still intact.

Not really sure what the fuss is about as neither Laura or Ruth are/were likely to win X Factor. There are hundreds of singers like them and there isn't anything distinctive about them.

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Will Diana Vickers Be Able To Sing Tonight

Is it all hype and promotion or is it true?

Sorry, I'm taking about the story going round that X Factor contestant Diana Vickers may not be able to sing tonight because she has laryngitis.

The Mirror writes that 'a source' said, "Diana would be crazy to go ahead. She could hardly speak yesterday and risks damaging her voice."

Of course 'a source' covers a multitude of sins.

The problem with X Factor is that there are always so many stories released to generate publicity that sometimes it's difficult to know what is true and what is made up.

Let's hope Marmite Diana is okay - you either love or hate her voice. I like her - and also Marmite!

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Diana Vickers In The Early Hours Of This Morning

Diane Vickers
UK's X Factor favourite Diana Vickers arrives back at the contestants secret hideaway in London in the early hours of this morning. This girl could be big! Photo: Will Alexander/WENN

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Celebrity News Snippits

Peaches Geldof
Daughter of the 'saintly' Bob, Peaches Geldof, doesn't expect her marriage to last! She said, "I didn't go into it with Max thinking, 'This is going to last forever'. But I did go into it thinking, 'I love him right now and I know that I will continue to love him for a long while'." She went on to say, "You can't ignore divorce rates. Every friend of mine has parents who are now divorced." No wonder marriage isn't what it used to be.

Pink
And another celeb who knew her marriage wouldn't last is Pink. She said about her marriage to Carey Hart, which ended after just two years, "To be honest, even when he said yes I knew there was a little part of both of us that couldn't handle being married. We did it because we loved each other so much. We wanted to eat each other all the time we were together, but maybe marriage wasn't ever going to be our thing."

Gillian Anderson
Mark Griffiths and Gillian Anderson have a new son named as Felix. he was born last week in London and clocked in at 6lbs 15 oz.

David Gest
According to the Southern Daily Echo David Gest has donated £3,000 to Millvina Dean the final remaining survivor of the Titanic. 96 year old Millvana recently had to sell her Titanic souvenirs to help pay nursing home fees. Gest is also supposedly getting celebrity friends such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Steven Seagal to also donate some money.

Anne Pressley
KATV anchor Anne Pressley was found yesterday beaten up in her home. She was in a critical condition. It is not known at the present time why she was beaten and stabbed. The police spokesperson said, "It is possible that it is something other than robbery. Our detectives are talking with co-workers because she was a public figure, because she was on the news, in the media."

X Factor
Security is being tightened on the UK's X Factor show. It seems that a radical Islamic cleric, Omar Bakri, has criticised the show on a Muslim website. He is quoted as saying that, "Even watching the show – those people are committing a form, a type, of muadaat. And that action is a form of kufr [non-belief]." This is all caused through the release of a song in support of British troops in Afghanastan.

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Celebrity Snippits

Anne Robinson
The Weakest Link presenter and journalist, Anne Robinson, is getting divorced from her husband of 27 years. They are splitting on 'grounds of irreconcilable differences'. Anne stated, "We have been an enormously important part of each other's lives for a very long time and our friendship will carry on for ever." No one else is said to be involved.

Sugababes
The Sugababes hit the number one spot, with Babes About You Now, in the Official UK Singles Chart and pushed Sean Kingston off the top. Shayne Ward is at number two.

Eva Longoria
Rumours abound that a sex tape of Desperate Housewives star, Eva Longoria, and and her husband, NBA star Tony Parker, is about to go on the market. The video is said to already be on a pay for view website.

Hope
It's been leaked that the UK X Factor group, Hope, are through to the last twelve. This will be shown on Saturday.

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UK X Factor Gossip

Dannii Minogue
It seems that Dannii Minogue has an X Factor contestant admirer. Or perhaps it's more than this. The gruesome Rhydian Roberts is telling friends 'it could be love'. As if!

Everyone at Boot Camp finds Roberts' interest in Dannii very entertaining as it's so obvious that she isn't the least bit attracted to the man about whom Sharon Osborne said, "I want to throw things at him. He's revolting."

Simon Cowell
The buzz is that X Factor is fixed - which is pretty well a nonsense. It's said that Simon Cowell has it all wrapped up with the group Hope and he is giving them special treatment. The manufactured group aren't exactly flavour of the week amongst the other contestants. But as for a fix - no way.

Louis Walsh
He's not happy that he's got the over 25's to mentor and even said to them, "I didn't want you." Tough! What's the matter with this bloke, it's a competition. He's got to get on with it and stop moaning. Surely he didn't expect Simon to get them - get real!

Sharon Osbourne
And she's not happy either that she's got the girls. Sharon has even been quoted as being 'furious' as she is desperate to win this year for the first time. It is generally felt that the girls are the weaker section.

Dannii Minogue again
At least Dannii is satisfied that she's got the boys to handle. She's 'over the moon' at the thought and the boys aren't exactly disappointed. Like Rhydian Roberts, several fancy her but Danni wants a winner not a toyboy - probably!

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Simon Cowell The Man With The Midas Touch

Today's post is a feature on Simon Cowell.

Simon Cowell was born on October 7th, 1959 in Brighton, England but was brought up in Elstree. His father was a music industry executive as well as being involved with property development. So Simon had a good start in life.

He went to college in Dover but left early and moved from job to job. His start in the music business was when his father got him work in the mail room of the EMI - a large music company near London.

In 1984 he met Pete Waterman previously of Stock Aitken Waterman who produced and wrote many hit records including number ones for Kylie Minogue. Simon Cowell is quoted as saying, "I learned more from Waterman in a short time than I could have in an entire career with any major label."

Things went well at first but he was forced into bankruptcy in 1989 and was so skint he had to move in with his parents. The same year he started to work as an A&R consultant. This led to a reasonable degree of success with many hit records but the real Big Time was still to come.

Big Time shows made Cowell famous worldwide. This started with Pop Idol in the UK and American Idol in the USA. His acerbic comments made headline news, created controversy and turned him into a star in his own right.

The X Factor televison show followed and then came America's Got Talent and Britain's Got Talent.

It's hard to estimate Simon Cowell's wealth, though it must be somewhere in the region of £125/$250 million. His present income could be anything up to £23/$46 million per year.

His long term girlfriend is Terri Seymour though he is said to have been unfaithful to her - according to the News of the World newspaper. In fairness though Simon has always made it clear that he does want to settle down or have children.

At the moment the man has the midas touch and will no doubt continue his amazing success.



Further reading: Paul Potts Wins Britain's Got Talent