X Factor UK Headlines for 10/21/11

X Factor’s top prize record deal axed, Rebecca Ferguson names debut album and debuts video, Joe McElderry sings “The Climb” at Harry Moseley’s funeral, Matt Cardle: ‘9/11 attacks were a conspiracy’, Craig Colton is gay.

The stakes are… not so high: X Factor drops £1million contract prize
Since the X Factor began eight years ago, finalists have battled each other for a coveted £1million record contract.

But after the show has failed to churn out a string of international singing superstars, the grand prize has been re-evaluated.

A leaked contract shows the 2011 winner will need to sell four albums before they reach £1million.
Read more: The Daily Mail

X Factor £1m drop

  • Top prize record deal axed
  • Four albums to earn million

X FACTOR bosses have quietly dropped the claim that their winner will bag a “million-pound contract” after leaks revealed the act would need to shift FOUR albums to hit seven figures.
Read more: The Sun

Rebecca Ferguson names debut album ‘Heaven’
Rebecca Ferguson has confirmed the title of her debut album.

The singer will release her first LP Heaven in the UK on December 5, following the release of her new single ‘Nothing’s Real But Love’.

The X Factor runner-up has co-written the album with songwriters including Eg White, who has previously worked with Adele, Duffy and James Morrison.
Read more: Digital Spy

VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Rebecca Ferguson goes back to basics for soulful debut single Nothing’s Real But Love
She narrowly missed out on being crowned the winner of The X Factor to Matt Cardle last year.

And, unlike many of her fellow contestants, Rebecca Ferguson never relied on her off-stage antics to help propel her to fame.

Now, in the video for her debut single Nothing’s Real But Love, Rebecca lets her incredible voice take the focus.
Read more: The Daily Mail

One Direction Photoshoot Behind The Scenes

X Factor and Dragons’ Den stars join packed funeral of Harry, 11, the ‘kindest boy’ who raised £500, 000 for charity
Dragons’ Den tycoon Duncan Bannatyne and X Factor winner Joe McElderry were among hundreds of well-wishers who paid tribute to an 11-year-old boy who died from cancer.

Harry Moseley, from Sheldon, Birmingham was diagnosed with a brain tumour four years ago and raised more than £500, 000 for Cancer Research UK during his illness.

Family and friends packed out St Edburgha’s Church in Yardley, Birmingham, today for the colourful funeral service, which even featured a SpongeBob SquarePants coffin.
Read more: The Daily Mail

Matt Cardle: ‘9/11 attacks were a conspiracy’
Matt Cardle has admitted that he does not believe the official version of events regarding the attacks on the US on September 11, 2001.

New York’s Twin Towers were destroyed by two passenger aircraft in the co-ordinated attacks. A third flew into the Pentagon in Washington DC and a fourth crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Al-Qaeda officially claimed responsibility three years later.

Asked if he was a ‘renegade revolutionary’ in his post-X Factor career, Cardle told The Big Issue: “Well, there’s a lot of conspiracy… I’ve gotta be careful what I say.

“The whole 9/11 thing… something’s not quite right there. I think the way it was portrayed on TV and who was responsible and the way it happened was not the way it happened.”

Quizzed on whether the US government led by then-president George W Bush was behind the attacks, Cardle reportedly responded with ‘vigorous nodding’ and added: “I don’t wanna comment!
Read more: Digital Spy

He’s still got the X Factor! Matt Cardle leaves female fans sobbing at record signing
It may be nearly a year since he won the X Factor, but Matt Cardle’s proven he’s still got the fanbase which made him the series favourite from day one.

The star had female admirers crying in his arms at an album signing in a Manchester HMV store today.

The 28-year-old’s debut effort Letters will go head to head with Noel Gallagher’s first solo album in the charts.
Read more: The Daily Mail

X FACTOR 2011 CRAIG COLTON: I AM GAY AND PROUD
X FACTOR favourite Craig Colton has confirmed he is gay.

Craig, 23, spoke of his sexuality after booted boyband Nu Vibe called him a “bum boy”.

They also used the jibe on fellow contestant Marcus Collins, 23, who has told of his sexuality on the show.

Craig said last night: “I have never hidden my sexuality and I am proud of who I am. Nu Vibe are all my best mates.”
Read more: The Daily Star

Kitty’s got the se-X Factor: Brucknell offered £300, 000 by Dubai millionaire for intimate gig – and to wear the flashing leotard
Love her or hate her, she certainly knows how to get get noticed.

And it seem Kitty Brucknell has caught the eye of a Dubai millionaire.

The businessman is said to be so desperate for the X Factor hopeful to perform a private show for him, he has offered her a cool £300, 000.
Read more: The Daily Mail

Feeling the strain? X Factor’s Sophie Habibis catches up on some sleep after another gruelling rehearsal
She complained on The X Factor last week that she isn’t as well known as the rest of her female competitors.

But it seems Sophie Habibis’ quest to make herself more famous is leaving the 19-year-old London barmaid exhausted.

Sophie, who said she is determined to find fame through her voice rather than her antics off stage, was spotted catching up on some sleep in the garden of The X Factor house today after yet another gruelling rehearsal ahead of this weekend’s live shows.
Read more: The Daily Mail

Lounging around all day in pyjamas bored, wearing slippers to rehearsals: Meet your Slob Factor finalists
Turning up to the studios in slippers, looking bored and lounging around instead of rehearsing -the X Factor finalists have been told they definitely have the lax factor.

Bosses have hauled the remaining contestants in for crisis talks after ratings dropped to a two-year low with more than two million viewers switching off.

They blame the poor appearance and lax attitude of contestants for the sudden plunge in viewers as the new judging panel Gary Barlow, Tulisa, Kelly Rowland and Louis Walsh were well received by viewers.
Read more: The Daily Mail

A taste of the high life: X Factor contestants rub shoulders with celebrities at star studded bash
A matter of months ago a party for most of the X Factor contestants would probably have meant an evening down their local pub or youth club.

But last night a few of luckier contenders got a rare evening off to mingle with celebrities in what would have been their first taste of a star studded bash.

Looking more than excited, Janet Devlin, Misha B, Craig Colton, Marcus Collins and Sami Brooks were spotted partying at the Hard Rock Cafe and then onto the Mahiki Club in London.
Read more: The Daily Mail

That early morning rehearsal’s going to hurt! Misha B and Sophie Habibis hit Brick Lane for ANOTHER night out on the trot
They’ve reportedly been hauled over the coals by X Factor bosses for not putting enough effort into their appearance and failing to take the competition seriously enough.

And over the last few nights, it appears the contestants, like rebellious teens, have reacted by hitting the town and dancing their blues away.

Sophie Habibis and Misha B hit the RWD 10th birthday party on Brick Lane for yet another night on the tiles.
Read more: The Daily Mail

Can’t sing, can’t dress… but Frankie Cocozza continues his tawdry bid to become X Factor’s resident bad boy rocker … with the blessing of show bosses
Gary Barlow was said to be so determined that his X Factor boys would perform well this weekend that he banned them from drinking and frolicking with women.

But it seems that poor-performing baby rocker Frankie Cocozza is exempt from his directive.

After a terrible performance last week on the show which saw him land in the bottom two, the 18-year-old singer was photographed leaving The Roxy club in London with several women on his arm.
Read more: The Daily Mail

Frankie Cocozza: I had seX last night – X Factor lothario tries his ‘chat up’ lines on Sun girl
X FACTOR’S bed-hopping bad boy Frankie Cocozza shows no sign of settling down after pulling five girls in one night – then taking ME on a date the very next day.
Read more: The Sun

Frankie Cocozza doesn’t have seX Factor
HE might be a self-proclaimed ladies’ man but last night it wasn’t Frankie Cocozza who was attracting female fans.

While sex-mad Frankie could only find a male fan to peck on the cheek, his X Factor rival Derry Mensah cuddled up to two pretty girls.

The lad from Tulisa Contostavlos’s group The Risk seemed to relish the attention from the opposite sex.

He got the girls going as the gang hit McDonalds after a wild night of partying.
Read more: The Sun

Low ratings stressing you out? Gary Barlow seems to be going bald, as his hair thins on top
Calls from Simon Cowell in the middle of the night advising him how to increase X Factor ratings are obviously taking their toll on Gary Barlow.

The reality TV judge showcased some rather thinning strands of hair while he was photographed heading into rehearsals.

Snapped from behind, the 40-year-old clearly displayed early signs of balding in the centre of his scalp.
Read more: The Daily Mail

Cher Lloyd: The pint-sized starlet is set to be a wild influence on the music scene…
Hip-hop heavyweight Busta Rhymes featured on her single ‘Grow Up’ from her forthcoming album Sticks & Stones, a mix of nursery rhyme style melodies, quick raps, and floating vocals, with a number of urban influences. Acclaimed UK MCs Ghetts, Mic Righteous and Dot Rotten co-signed the singer by rhyming on ‘Dub On the Track’, a baseline heavy, infectious dubstep track. She’s already worked with some of the most highly sought-after producers in the world, from RedOne (Lady Gaga) and songwriters like Savan Kotecha (Usher, Britney). Yes, whether you love her or loathe her, former X Factor finalist Cher Lloyd is here to stay.
Read more: Flavour Magazine

Cher Lloyd album’s not one for the purists
BIZARRE had a first listen to Cher Lloyd’s debut album Sticks + Stones and it’s a real mixed bag.

There are solid pop songs on the album – due out November 7 – but her rapping won’t win over hip hop purists who listen to her idol Nicki Minaj.

The track Playa Boi, produced by Lady GaGa’s chief collaborator Red One, also unwisely samples Neneh Cherry’s Buffalo Stance.
Read more: The Sun

‘I feel so out of place in Selfridges!’ Punk princess Cher Lloyd insists fame hasn’t changed her
She’s one of the most well-known faces from The X Factor, but Cher Lloyd isn’t she’s not been changed by fame.

The 18-year-old With Ur Love singer says she is much more comfortable shopping for clothes in New Look than Selfridges, although she admits her fans are sometimes surprised to see her browsing in a high-street store.

She told Attitude magazine: ‘I haven’t changed, honestly. When I go home, I go into Morrisons and I do my mum’s shopping. And down the veg aisle they’ll be all in my face. Lovely, though.The funniest comment that I got is when I was in New Look and someone said to me, “What are you doing in here?”’
Read more: The Daily Mail

Video: watch Matt Cardle busking in London!
Former X Factor winner Matt Cardle performed an surprise acoustic set in central London yesterday (Thursday, October 20).

The singer songwriter, who was appearing on behalf of social enterprise The Big Issue, treated the 200 plus people gathered to renditions of ‘All Or Nothing’ and the title track from his debut album, ‘Letters’, as well as a cover of Duffy’s 2008 Number 1 smash hit, ‘Mercy’.

“It was part of our 20th birthday celebrations which are going on all year, ” explained Sally Brammall from The Big Issue. “Earlier this year we had Ellie Goulding and Razorlight, and they’ve been invaluable in communication what we do which is, vendors buy the magazine from us for £1 and sell it to the public for £2. We’re really happy that Matt Cardle chose to support us.”
Read more: The Official Charts Company

Pop star playboys: JLS’s Marvin Humes and Aston Merrygold pull up to London nightclub in flashy white sports cars
As a now well-established boy band, the JLS boys are still pretty grounded and down to earth and haven’t allowed fame to go to their heads.

But being members of a chart-topping group has to come with some perks – just ask JLS’s Marvin Humes and Aston Merrygold.

The lads were snapped looking very pleased with themselves as they pulled up outside London’s Playboy club last night in a couple of expensive-looking sports cars.
Read more: The Daily Mail

‘I think I’ve been in LA too long’: Cheryl Cole dons fake Botox-style lips as she pokes fun at plastic surgery culture
She’s determined to fit in with the LA crowd, but Cheryl Cole may have gone one step too far.

The Girls Aloud singer’s lips appeared to have swelled almost 10 times their normal size – well that’s what she’ll have you believe anyway.

The cheeky star posted a photo of her donning fake Botox-style smackers on her Twitter page.
Read more: The Daily Mail

Harrow choirboy shuns life as a lawyer to go travelling… and finds stardom on Chilean X Factor

A former Harrow choirboy shunned a career as a lawyer to go travelling and ended up finding fame in South America on the Chilean X-Factor.

Charlie Bick turned down a place at Newcastle University to study law and instead flew to Chile to improve his Spanish – where he auditioned for the country’s version of the British talent show.

He initially auditioned by singing Robbie Williams’ Angels in English, but after the judges asked him to sing in Spanish, the 20-year-old from Thetford, Norfolk, wowed the panel with Enrique Iglesias’ Spanish rendition of Hero.
Read more: The Daily Mail

Labrinth: ‘Simon Cowell was excited about Earthquake name-check’
Labrinth has revealed that Simon Cowell was “excited” about being name-checked in his latest single.

The singer and producer mentions the X Factor judge and Syco head in his new cut ‘Earthquake’, (“Hey Simon, we’re f**king them up, sending them Syco”).
Read more: Digital Spy

About Mateja Praznik 1060 Articles
I recently graduated from the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In my free time I like to read books, watch TV and listen to music. I'm also a huge cat lover. I cover X Factor UK for MJsBigBlog.com.