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воскресенье, 30 апреля 2017 г.

'I'm glad I lost the X Factor'

Who are you calling a loser? Diana Vickers has set the stage alight and is storming the charts too. Take that, Cowell

She was the kooky, quirky queen of The X Factor - a gorgeous young Debbie Harry lookalike, who was tipped to win right from the start. Then came the backlash.

With her X Factor mentor Cheryl Cole
Critics mocked her strange hand move, there were the rumours of romance with fellow contestant Eoghan Quigg behind her boyfriend's back, and allegations of "special treatment" after she was allowed to miss a sing-off following a bout of laryngitis. By week nine, Diana Vickers had suffered a spectacular fall from grace and was unceremoniously voted off the show.
She could have suffered the fate of dozens of other X Factor wannabes, playing to ever decreasing crowds in working men's clubs. Steve Brookstein, anyone?
Instead, it is Diana who has had the last laugh. Not only has she received rave reviews for her acting performance in The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice in the West End, but she has just put the finishing touches to her new album, Songs From The Tainted Cherry Tree. She has co-written 13 of the tracks, and her debut single, Once, has been penned by Cathy Dennis, the musical genius behind Kylie's Can't Get You Out of My Head, making it a dead cert to top the charts. Watch out Alexandra Burke!

In fact, 18-year-old Diana has found herself at the forefront of a new breed of young female stars, like Pixie Lott and Miley Cyrus, who aren't content to be brilliant at just one career. Oh no. These have-it-all heroines are all-singing, all-dancing and all-acting, too. So what's Diana's secret? Losing The X Factor, apparently.
"I'm so grateful I didn't win," she says. "I think the originality is stripped away from those who do make it. Between then and now, I've been given time to grow, do Little Voice, which I'd never been able to do had I won."


Not that Diana ever had any doubts she'd make it to the top. "I always knew I'd get here," she explains. "At the age of seven, people would ask me what I wanted to do when I was older and I'd say: 'Be a singer'".
But her confidence took a knock when she lost the public vote. "After X Factor I felt sad because I missed everyone. I'd been in that house for nearly 10 weeks and it was very intense. I didn't feel like anyone outside understood me. My friends had broken up with boyfriends, had arguments and I'd missed out on it. I'd been in a different world."
However, she didn't have long to wait for her second bite of fame. Four months after the X Factor tour finished, she was told that the chairman of record company RCA, Craig Logan (yes that bloke from Bros), wanted to meet her.
I've been offered drugs but I've always said no
"All I could think was how cool he was for being in Bros," she says breathlessly. "I was in there for 10 minutes, he shook my hand and looked at me. It was like he was weighing me up. I told him I wanted to write my own music and had my own ideas for the album, and he said: 'Let's give it a go.'"
Diana signed an album deal on the spot. And like any teenage girl, she hit the shops.
"The money gets filtered in every month. The first time I looked at my balance after I'd been paid I nearly had a heart attack. I've never had that much money in my life," she says. "That first shopping spree was like every girl's dream! I went to Harrods and bought three dresses from Stella McCartney and Alice Temperley. I was shaking when I handed over my card."
But she didn't just splash out on herself. Diana also bought her mum, Ann, a Mulberry handbag for Christmas and gave her older sister, Charlotte, 22, money to go to drama school as well as whisking her off to Paris for the weekend. And, for her 18th birthday in July, she celebrated with a £5,000 bash in a swanky London nightclub with those other X Factor runners-up, JLS.
"About 20 girls from home came. They get a bit giggly around JLS. I was being cool, saying: 'They're my mates, I'm over it,' but I was screaming inside. On the night of the BRITs, I was out having dinner and got a text saying JLS had won a BRIT then another one. I toasted them. They've inspired me."
While Diana is happy getting tiddly on champers, she insists that she's never been tempted to try anything harder, despite the showbiz circles she now moves in.
"People have offered me drugs," she confesses. "But I've never tried them. And I'm very proud of that. I see people around me who are off their head on ketamine and I think "Look at yourself, you're an absolute mess."
It's a pretty down-to-earth attitude for someone who has achieved so much in such a short space of time. And Diana attributes her refreshing attitude to one person. Her mum Ann scrimped and saved to put Diana and her sister through private school in Blackburn.

That kiss with Mr Quigg
"I'm definitely not a diva," she says shaking her head. "My mum always taught me that you get what you're given, you eat what you've got on your plate, you say thank you and you wash it up yourself. That's always stuck with me."
Though not even her unfailing politeness will persuade Diana to open up about the new man in her life. When pushed, all she says is: "I met him through one of my friends and we've been seeing each other for two months. He's an actor who's been in Les Miserables and he wants to be in movies."
Keeping quiet about her love life is understandable given the scandal surrounding her are-they-aren't-they romance with Eoghan Quigg, then 15. When they were pictured snogging it made headline news. It also came as a huge blow to her boyfriend of two years, student Chris Jones. But Diana's defiant.
I don't think I'm sexy, but I like my body
"I don't regret kissing Eoghan," she explains. "I was young and if you want to do something and it feels right, you do it. We spent so much time together the lines were blurred. I felt bad for Chris and sorrys were said, but I didn't apologise for my feelings. You just get over it and move on to the next person."
Spoken like a true teen! Her attitude to love is the only thing that gives her age away. Like in our '70s inspired shoot, Diana acts and looks older than she is. All curves, legs and hair, she's got the confidence to love her body and refreshingly refuses to give in to any angst.
"I get spots and I'm baby-faced," she says. "I don't think I'm sexy, but I like my size-10 body. I want to be a positive role model."
With her head firmly on her shoulders, a style all of her own and talent to boot, Diana is certainly that.
  • Diana's single, Once, is out tomorrow and her album Songs From The Tainted Cherry Tree is released May 3 on RCA Records.
The do-it-all divas
It used to be that singers just, well, sang. But not any more. Just like Ms Vickers, these bright young things are on their way to being multi-talented multi-millionaires

Sarah Harding, 28
Singer, actress, model and businesswoman. Is there no end to Sarah Harding's talents?
It was no real surprise that this Girls Aloud party animal should set up her own drinking den. Last year, she launched trendy East End club Kanaloa with DJ boyfriend Tom Crane and Mahiki owners Piers Adam and Nick House.
"The club wasn't a reason to go out and party, but a business opportunity," she insists. There comes a time when you need to grow up.
The enterprise is already doing so well that there are plans for four new bars.
Sarah has set her sights on maxing her acting opportunities. She's already had roles in both St Trinian's films, as well as starring in independent movie Bad Day and a BBC2 drama. Next up Hollywood, we reckon.
She has also made £100,000 as an underwear model for Ultimo.
Extra earnings: £250,000 for her acting and modelling work. If Kanaloa continues to be a success, she could make as much as £2million.

Nicola Roberts, 24
Like Sarah, Nicola hasn't been waiting around for Nadine Coyle to return to the fold. She's been making the most of her features with a make-up range called Dainty Doll, specifically designed for pale-faced beauties. She's also ventured on to the small screen as presenter on the BBC3 documentary The Truth About Tanning and is now the face of a campaign group hoping to ban under-18s from going on sunbeds.Extra earnings: £150,000 as it is still early days for her Dainty Doll range.

Lily Allen, 24
When Ms Allen hit the pop scene back in 2006, she quickly became famous not only for her voice, but also for her kooky look and feisty personality.
Within nine months of having her first No1 she had launched a funky range of clothing at New Look.
And her no-messin' quips helped land her own chat show with BBC3 - Lily Allen And Friends - before she went on to be a model and muse for Chanel.
After the huge success of her debut album, Alright, Still, last year she released the follow-up, It's Not Me, It's You before announcing a temporary retirement from music as she explores other avenues.
First up is a vintage clothes store called Lucy In Disguise, which she'll run with her sister, Sarah. It's due to launch this summer. "I'm in the office every day, sourcing clothes and getting really excited about my new venture," she says.
But our Lily isn't planning to stop there. Next up? Plans to run her own record label. That girl knows no bounds!
Extra earnings: She's made a cool £1million from her chat show, clothing range and modelling.

Miley Cyrus, 17
inset: Miley's movie moment
The Disney Diva is one market-savvy young lady. The daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley was desperate for fame from an early age. And now she has it. And then some.
At the age of 14, Miley was told she had clinched the lead role in a new TV series, Hannah Montana, which has proved to be an unstoppable money-making juggernaut. It's catapulted Miley to superstar status and made her a multimillionairess.
But this young lady's not ready to rest on her laurels. Not only does she have a pop career, her first autobiography is already on the shelves. And Miley has just appeared in her first romantic role in movie The Last Song. Oh, did we mention she has her own clothing range, too?
Extra earnings: Miley earned £15million last year alone - of that £3million came from her album and tour.

суббота, 1 октября 2016 г.

Ben Mills: I'm an X sex addict!

X FACTOR favourite Ben Mills last night dramatically revealed all about his secret past—as a cocaine addict mad for sex with rock groupies.

His wild lust even forced him to leap from a lover's window one night and shin down her drainpipe when her jealous boyfriend turned up.

Long-haired Ben, 26, admitted all his shocking exploits to the News of the World in his first major interview since finding fame on the smash-hit TV show, where he's an evens bet to win the contest and a £1million recording contract.

He confessed the full story behind his cocaine hell

HOW he got helplessly hooked after just one sniff

HOW soon he couldn't go out without taking it

WHAT a miserable wreck it turned him into

Ben's shameful drug abuse began when he started touring with tribute band The LA Doors, mimicking American legends The Doors.

"Before the tour I remember sitting down with my family and watching the movie about the real Doors, starring Val Kilmer," he said.

"My mum was appalled. She said, ‘It's all sex, drugs and rock and roll!' I joked, ‘Well I've got no interest in the drugs part!'" But ironically, it ended up becoming an all-consuming obsession.

"It started on the very first gig we did in Europe. I went into the dressing room totally buzzing from the live performance, and one of the management was chopping out lines of white powder on a table.

"I knew straight away what it was. The lead singer looked at me warily and said, ‘I'm not getting involved in this. But it's your choice, you do what you want.'

"I just thought what the hell, and got stuck in. But from that very first sniff, I was hooked.

"Cocaine bewitched me. It made me feel invulnerable and untouch-able. I loved that buzz and craved it more and more with every line.

"In the end I couldn't have a social night without it. That's how strong a hold it had on me. But it turned me into a miserable f***er."

Ben, who also confessed to taking cannabis, speed, ecstasy and acid, realised he was an addict while touring with funk band Benzego over the past 18 months. He finally kicked the habit after starting intensive counselling sessions in March.

He swears he has not touched cocaine since and vows he'll never fall foul again. "The buzz I get from performing on stage is the best buzz anyone can get, and it's all natural," he said. "That's the only thing I need from now on."

Well, that and the sex! Ben admits he filled his boots gigging all over Europe with the LA Doors, playing to crowds of up to 18,000, many of them gorgeous girls desperate to spend the night with a rock star—even a tribute one.

Ben told us: "I had some of the most outrageous sex of my life after a gig at an English uni during Freshers Week where this fantastic brunette in the audience caught my eye.

"Afterwards we met up in the bar and got talking, then things progressed nicely and we went back to her hall of residence."

Modestly he added: "It was a legendary night—even with the breadth of my experience that has to be one of the best. We only got a couple of hours' sleep because when dawn broke, we were at it AGAIN. She woke me in a very special way and then we got back down to business.

"We were so into it neither of us heard her boyfriend stomping down the corridor until he was hammering on the door. He knew exactly what was going on. I leapt up and pulled on my pants while he was thumping away. The girl was terrified.

"I'd only just managed to pull on my clothes and climb out the window onto the drainpipe when he burst in and started yelling in a blind rage.

"But I didn't stick around to listen. I sprinted down the road, doing my jeans up as I went, jumped into a taxi and got out of there. It was a shame to have to leave in such a hurry. I did get her number, but I didn't really think it would be appropriate to call. But I'd definitely be up for meeting her again. She still owes me the rest of that s***!

"It sounds like a cliché, but I actually did have a girl in every port.

"They went absolutely crazy for us. We had nearly as many groupies as the real Doors! I couldn't beat them off with a dirty stick. One time we did a gig in Holland, and I ended up having sex with this stunning blonde. It was a sensational night and afterwards we swapped some pretty hot texts.

"But a few days after we'd left I got a furious phone call. This Dutch guy was roaring at me, ‘Nixt time you in Holland I f***ing keel you!' It was her boyfriend—he'd found the messages and was none too pleased.

"We did do another gig in Holland, and for the entire night I was peering out from the stage into the darkness, terrified someone was going to dash up and cut my throat. Luckily he never tracked me down."

But Ben's crazy love life has landed him in plenty more scrapes.

Ex-girlfriend Anna Barratt, 28, claims Ben cheated three times before dumping her for best pal, actress Siobhan Hewlett—a family friend of X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne.

Model Anna revealed that he loved sex all over the place—on the beach, in the sea, even on his piano. And he boasted to her how he'd enjoyed non-stop sex with groupies.

Anna took revenge for his betrayal by hiding smelly chunks of tuna under his piano keys, pouring bleach on his clothes and gluing up his door lock. After admitting criminal damage she faces a bill for £4,500!

Ben told us: "She was an absolute psycho and a huge attention seeker!"

пятница, 16 сентября 2016 г.

The X Factor finalists you forgot

For every Leona Lewis there are three Tabby Callaghans (what do you mean you can’t remember the Irish, guitar-playing guy who came third in series 1...) but for some X Factor flops the show was just the start of a glittering career. Here we showcase the unlikely success stories....

We're hours from finding out the winner of The X Factor 2009 and whichever of the final two win the coveted crown will be guaranteed fame, fortune, freebies and the Christmas No1. But what about the contestants who almost made it? The ones who reached the final 12, sung their hearts out, then got voted off to pursue their chart dreams elsewhere?
With 57 - count 'em - former contestants, there are bound to be more failures than successes. We're talking the likes of Tabby Callaghan - the token rocker beloved by Sharon Osbourne, who said the show nearly broke him. Or Steve Brookstein, who won the show in 2004, but now performs in places like Pizza Express, Maidstone. Or Eton Road, who eventually split last year. Ditto Hope. Or Emily Nakanda, whose career never quite took off after a video of her happy slapping appeared. Even last year's sweetheart, Eoghan Quigg, recently went back to school following disappointing album sales, admitting: "I want to have my exam results for the future. Music is my passion, but you need education, too."
However, with finalists now earning at least £100,000 after The X Factor tour, and between £5,000 and £20,000 for public appearances, don't feel too sorry for them. While not everyone can be the next Alexandra Burke, there are some that have had their own surprising successes...
2004
G4 (Ben Thapa, 27, Jonathan Ansell, 27, Mike Christie, 28, Matthew Stiff, 29)
One of the most successful groups to ever come out The X Factor, the future looked bright for the golden boys of pop-opera after they signed a £1.5million record deal. Until personality clashes meant they split in 2007.
Head choirboy, Jonathan Ansell, 27, repackaged himself as a solo singer, and recently announced he'll be starring in Andrew Lloyd-Webber's touring production of Whistle Down The Wind in 2010. Ben has released an operatic album, and even has his own jewellery line, while Matthew is at college studying opera. It's Mike who's had the biggest life change though, as he's combining singing with a new career as a property developer. Sarah Beeney eat your heart out.
2005
The Journey South boys are big in South Africa now
Journey South (Carl Pemberton, 29, & Andy Pemberton, 33)
Things looked good for Journey South boys Carl and Andy Pemberton after they made it to third place in 2005 and had a No1 album. But when an alleged printing error made their second single ineligible for the charts, the brother's profiles slipped.
There's one place the brothers are still massive though - South Africa - were two of their singles have topped the charts and they're set to do an arena tour. Go boys!
Brenda Edwards, 41
Mum-of-two Brenda wasn't the most obvious popstar after reaching the final 12 in 2005 on a chance audition. However she became the first contestant to cross over from the X Factor stage to the musical stage.
After a couple of years as Momma Morton in Chicagoin London't West End, Bren is now in Edinburgh receiving huge praise for her role in We Will Rock You with Darren Day. Careful there Brenda, we all know Mr Day's reputation precedes him...
Maria Lawson, 28
One of the favourites to win in 2005, Maria, was a surprise evicitee after Louis made her walk to save the Conway Sisters. Maria's early departure meant her debut single and album failed to set the chart alight and she parted company with Sony music. So when the Londoner became pregnant in 2007, she put her music career on hold to embrace motherhood and bring up Brandon, now two.
After some time out of the industry, life changed again this year when Maria got the starring role in Thriller Live, the West End stage musical about Michael Jackson. "The Jackson 5 recently sat in the front row of the show," Maria says. "It wasn't long after Michael's death. They came backstage and Tito started crying which set us all off."
Maria's also embracing songwriting again and is negotiating a deal for her new album, Emotional Rollercoaster, due for release early next year. Autobiographical, much?
2006
Kerry McGregor, 34
Life turned right around for Kerry, despite leaving the 2006 show in only the third week. The Scottish mum, who uses a wheelchair, confessed the show saved her from post-natal depression: "X Factor was a leap of faith for me. It showed me that life didn't have to be over because I'd become a mother."
Since then Kerry's helped launch a range of clothes called Wheelie-Chix for young women in wheelchairs, had a role in Grange Hill and does motivational speaking for charities. As for the singing? That's mainly just in her own time these days, which could be wise.
The MacDonald brothers were 2006's answer to the Proclaimers!
The MacDonald Brothers (Brian, 22 & Craig, 23)
2006's answer to the Proclaimers, if such a thing isn't too terrifying, faded from many people's memories when they left the show. Unless those people were Scottish. Or Australian.
Brian and Craig, from Ayr, are currently on a sold-out tour in their home country, and their first two hit the top of the Scottish charts. And not only that, they've been given a song written by Mr Elton John himself.
But it's the other side of the world that's home to the most surprising MacDonald Brothers fanbase. "Our label, Sony BMG, released an album there this year and when we went out to promote it we were very well received," explains Brian. "Being so popular in Australia that we were asked to go back and tour is something we are both very proud of."
2007
Kimberley Southwick was the first hopeful to get the boot in 2007
Kimberley Southwick, 21
Kimberley's dream was over before it began, when she was the first contestant to get the boot in 2007. The former barmaid got a bit-part as Angela in Shameless and joined band, Club Town Freaks, managed by Take That founder Nigel Martin Smith.
But when the group failed to live up to the hype, Kim decided to tackle the other side of fame by setting up an affordable stage school, Aspire, in her hometown of Tamworth, Staffordshire. "I've been given a great opportunity thanks to the show" she says, "I'm looking forward to opening other schools in the Midlands to help more children." Awww.
Daniel DeBourg, 28
Daniel shunned the normal exit strategy when he left the show in the second week in 2007. "My instinct was to keep a really low profile," he reveals. "I learnt so much on the show, but I could never be myself. I've got an urban background and they had me singing Build Me Up Buttercup for God's sake."
Staying behind the scenes meant the former dancer could work with up and coming urban acts like Tinchy Stryder, Chipmunk and DJ Ironik, often using the pseudonym DDB. And it's paid off as Daniel's just been offered a "very very nice" record deal by the Prince of Bahrain's 2Seas Records (the one he used to own with Michael Jackson, FYI) and is soon off to the US to work with apl.de.ap from the Black Eyed Peas. And there might be more exciting collaborations ahead. "I worked with the JLS boys years ago so I'm hoping they'll be doing something on my album." Who knew?
Beverley Trotman, 40
Beverley impressed audiences with her soulful voice in 2007, but shunned fame and went back to her old job as a Primary School teacher in Luton after she lelt the competition. However, last December the bright lights of the stage proved too tough to resist and Bev won the role of Miss Sherman in the touring stage version of Fame. And she'll be staying out classroom a while longer, as she's just released a gospel album called Voice Of Hope.
 
Same Difference (Sean, 24 & Sarah Smith, 21)
Before there was Jedward, there was Same Difference, the original sibling duo who terrified and delighted audiences in equal measures in 2007. Despite signing a million pound deal with Simon Cowell's company Syco after the show, Same Difference didn't sell enough albums and were dropped in April. "That was definitely our lowest point," says the pair.
However, probably unsurprisingly, they kept their smiles plastered on and have now found themselves new management, signed a record deal, and even banished the puff-ball skirts and cardigans of old. "We're recording and writing our second album which sounds a lot more mature and contemporary," they say. "We're really thankful to The X Factor for all the opportunities. Although we are excited about doing things on our own terms this time round!"
2008
Scott Bruton, 20
Scott left with more of a whimper than a bang last year, when he was the third act to be voted off the show, but surprisingly his career's become more successful than many finalists who went the distance.
The Mancunian has spent the last year in the lead role in hit musical Dreamboats And Petticoats after beating fellow X Factor reject, Austin Drage, 23, to the role, which will be returning to the West End in January.
But it's his recent album deal with Universal that's most unexpected. "I never thought I'd get signed," he reveals. "Most finalists fade into obscurity if they don't get into the top four. And now I've got this amazing opportunity. I want to do something with a Jason Mraz/James Morrison sound. I've even changed my image so people see I've moved on from the pretty boy-next-door I was on The X Factor."
THE SUPER SEVEN
The stars who really raked it in from The X Factor
Leona Lewis is a world-famous star now
Leona Lewis, 24
Just two years after winning the show, Leona's already made £10million, and counting, after conquering the all-important American market. Her second album, Echo, has stormed the charts this year and her star looks set to shine even more brightly in 2010. Viva the diva.
Alexandra Burke, 21
Last year's winner, Alex, 21, has proved her title by releasing a number one single and album, gracing glossy magazine covers and even emerged as a fashion icon.
JLS (Aston Merrygold, 21, Marvin Humes, 24, Jonathan 'JB' Gill, 22, Oritse Williams, 22)
Proving that you don't have to win The X Factor to do well off the back of it, JLS have won over the nation with their sultry voices, funky moves, and lovely arms, thanks to a multi-million pound record deal. Hot.
Ray Quinn, 21
Baby-faced Ray has spent the last three years exciting audiences with his skating skills, in pantomime and playing Danny on stage in Grease and earning a tidy £400,000.
Rhydian's currently promoting his second album...
Diana Vickers, 18
After leaving the competition early last year, Diana's made a real comeback, winning critical acclaim for her role in musical, Little Voice. And not a claw-hand in sight.
Shayne Ward, 25
We haven't heard from Shayne for a while, but he'll always have a special place in our hearts after winning the show in 2005. We're sure his £500,000 fortune will keep him going till his third album comes out.
Rhydian Roberts, 26
The Welsh Warbler has been keeping his head down recently promoting his second album, O Fortuna, which was released at the end of November. Which, if it gets anything like the 600,000 sales of his debut, will make him even richer.
 
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