• Contestants (UK Series 6)
  • The X Factor UK Contestants
  • Male Contestants
  • Finalists (UK Series 6)
  • Boys (UK Series 6)
  • Mentored by Cheryl Fernandez-Versini
  • Live Tour 2010

Joe McElderry

  • View history

Joe McElderry (born 16 June 1991) is an English singer. He auditioned for Series 6 of The X Factor UK and made it all the way to the final as part of the Boys category mentored by Cheryl Cole .

Due to the eliminations of Rikki Loney and Lloyd Daniels , McElderry was the only act left in his category. He was crowned the winner defeating Olly Murs from the Over 25s category mentored by Simon Cowell .

  • 1 Performances
  • 2 Post- The X Factor
  • 3 Discography

Performances [ ]

Post- the x factor [ ].

Following his win, his debut single, a cover of the Miley Cyrus' single, was released but due to growing public frustration in regards to the inevitability of the winner claiming the Christmas #1 spot for the fifth consecutive year, a Facebook campaign was launched to see Rage Against the Machine's 1992 single "Killing In the Name Of" clinch the coveted spot instead. The campaign was successful but McElderry claimed the top spot the following week, spending one week at the summit and having the last chart topper of the decade.

Follow-up single "Ambitions" peaked at #6 on the UK Charts and debut album "Wide Awake" peaked at #3. However, the third single from the album peaked at #68 and in April 2011 it was reported that he had been dropped by Syco Music, which he later confirmed.

After his departure, he turned his attention to reality TV competition "Popstar to Opera", where he competed against other celebrities and went on to win. Following this, he was signed to Decca Records. With them he has released four studio albums and as of 2017, has had four Top 10 albums.

As well as singing he has had roles in the West End and has also competed in the reality TV series "The Jump", which he also went on to win.

Discography [ ]

  • He first auditioned for the show in Series 4 .
  • 1 Zoe Alexander
  • 2 Ant & Seb

Joe McElderry on 10 years since winning X Factor and why he turned down All Stars

EXCLUSIVE: The singer looked back on his career as he prepares to celebrate his 10th showbiz anniversary with his Impossible Dream tour

joe mcelderry x factor journey

  • 18:47, 30 Oct 2019

It's been 10 years since Joe McElderry was crowned winner of the X Factor - and he hasn't stopped performing since.

Now, he's celebrating a decade in showbiz by heading out on a new tour, dubbed The Impossible Dream.

Joe, 28, took a break from rehearsing to reflect on his career in an exclusive chat with Mirror Online.

Since winning the show, the South Shields lad, who was mentored by fellow Geordie Cheryl, has released five albums, also won Popstar to Operastar and The Jump, starred in musicals Tommy, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Club Tropicana, toured the UK relentlessly and starred in panto too.

Life has been pretty crazy since he beat Olly Murs in the X Factor live final in 2009.

Looking back, he told us: "It feels like a lifetime ago but at the same time I've crammed so many things into that time, and so many different things.

"We're doing a special interactive show in my hometown and with that, looking back over the time, I'd forgot that I did some of the things I've done.

"In the music industry, 10 years is a long time so I'm just glad to still be doing it and going out on a tour to celebrate it, it's lovely."

Joe says he'll be forever grateful for the platform X Factor gave him, but when they asked him to take part in Simon Cowell's new All Stars spin-off, he felt it wasn't the right move for him.

He explained: "I was asked to be a part of it and we had a conversation and I was flattered that they asked me to be part of it, but you know I'm heading out on this tour next week.

"I felt like I had a great time on X Factor the first time around, I loved the show, I loved the experience, I've got a great platform from it, it's given me a great career that I'm very thankful for and I'd never ever diss that or try to move away from it or shake it off.

"I'm very appreciative of the platform I was given but I felt for me, it's 10 years being in the industry and I wanted to celebrate with the people who've come to the shows over the years and bought the albums.

"I wanted to do a face to face celebration and it didn't feel right for me, I didn't have a good instinct about it because I didn't want to go back a second time and not enjoy it as much as the first time."

He added: "At the minute it's tied in a lovely little bow, it was a great experience and I can look back on it with fond memories.

"I'm a lot more experienced in the industry now, I don't think I would go onto it and be able to be as naive and enjoy it as much as I did the first time, so I just felt it was right to kind of do my own tour and celebrate with the fans."

Joe said his new tour will celebrate the last 10 years of his life, and will include songs from his X Factor days right through to songs from his upcoming album, which he's due to release next year.

To get ready, he looked back at old clips of himself and admits he feels like a different person now.

He said: "I look and sound like a completely different person, it's actually frightening, I was a child [on X Factor]. I even changed from the beginning to the final because I was a teenager growing up.

"It's really weird for me, I feel like a completely different person, I've grown up in the industry so and it's mad some of the stuff I've been through."

He added: "I'm in a lucky position that I still have a career 10 years down the line because it is cutthroat, it is a tough industry to stay a part of.

"I said 10 years ago that I hope I'm still doing it 10 years later, so maybe I should say that again. I'll do it as long as I enjoy it, if I woke up tomorrow and I hated it I'd stop doing it."

* Joe is starring as The Spirit of the Mirror in panto Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Birmingham Hippodrome this year

* His The Impossible Dream tour kicks off on November 3 and his new album is due for release next year

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Joe McElderry Wins ‘X-Factor’ Talent Show

Teenager Joe McElderry won the sixth series of popular TV show "The X Factor" on Sunday, and is widely tipped to top the Christmas charts with his debut single, a cover of American Miley Cyrus's "The…

By Billboard Staff

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Teenager Joe McElderry won the sixth series of popular TV show “The X Factor” on Sunday, and is widely tipped to top the Christmas charts with his debut single, a cover of Miley Cyrus’s “The Climb” (Syco/Sony Music Entertainment). Bookmaker’s favourite McElderry, who performed with former Wham singer George Michael during the first of two live final shows on ITV1, beat rival finalist 25-year-old Olly Murs to secure the “X Factor” crown and a lucrative recording contract. The pair, who beat 200,000 other applicants to reach the final show, received more than 10 million votes between them. Eighteen-year-old student McElderry, from the north of England, performed Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” on the final show, while Murs, who was mentored by music mogul and the show’s producer Simon Cowell, sang “Twist and Shout.” Both also performed the winner’s single in a final bid to win over the public vote, before joining the other 10 finalist acts to sing with former Beatle Paul McCartney. After the result was announced McElderry jumped up and down screaming as he hugged his mentor, Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole. “I can’t even speak,” he said. “Thank you so much everyone.” Previous winners of the competition, which draws millions of viewers every week, have secured the Christmas top spot in the pop music charts for the last four years. The 12 finalists from this year’s show already collectively topped the charts last month with their charity hit version of Michael Jackson’s “You are not Alone.”

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Entertainment Focus

Interview: Joe McElderry opens up about new music, lockdown reflections and his passionate fans

Pip Ellwood-Hughes

An incredible 12 years have passed since Joe McElderry won ‘The X-Factor’ under the mentorship of Cheryl.

Since winning the show, McElderry has gone on to release five studio albums and performed on London’s West End. Earlier this year, the singer put out new single ‘Baby Had Your Fun’, his first in years and it saw him mixing Country with pop for a different sound than fans have heard before.

I caught up with Joe recently to talk about the song, find out what we can expect from his forthcoming new album, and to discuss his passionate fanbase…

You recently released your new single ‘Baby Had Your Fun’ and I detect a little Country in the mix there…

I’ve always, and I don’t think people knew this, but I’ve always been a huge fan of Country music, especially the Country crossover pop genre as well. I love bands like Lady A and I love artists like Carrie Underwood. I have always admired how Kelly Clarkson has mixing pop with Country as well. When we came into the studio to write this one, I pulled on all of those influences and just thought I’m going to pull on some of the things that I like to listen to and add flavours of that into the music. It’s definitely Country meets pop disco. We’ve thrown everything at it (laughs).

Is this single the hint of an album to come?

Yeah, definitely. I’ve been working, certainly in the first lockdown, I was doing two or three Zoom sessions of writing a week with all different songwriters and different people. I was just putting it together and getting songs in there, because obviously I couldn’t do anything else. I wanted the creative feel of everything to still flow. It’s been a crazy year for people like me, and artists, trying to still have those creative juices flowing. I’ve got an album’s worth of material. It’s ready. I just need to get into the studio and piece it all together and work out what’s going to actually be the collective of the album but I’ve got an idea. It’s very, very much on the way.

Is the sound of ‘Baby Had Your Fun’ similar to what fans can expect from the record or will there be songs from lots of different genres?

This is definitely a taste of what’s to come, and the style of what it is. I’ve worked quite a lot with a great friend of mine called Helen Boulding, she wrote with me on my ‘Here’s What I Believe’ album. We’ve become really good friends and also work colleagues. We’ve come up with so many different songs in this kind of style from uptempo and mid-tempo, to big huge emotional ballads, to songs that you can just dance to and sing along to and really anthemic song. There’s a real mix but it’s all of the same feel so it’ll definitely all be the same kind of similar sound.

What was it like putting this together in lockdown? Some artists have found the past year very hard to be creative. What’s been your experience?

It’s been challenging. It’s kind of split in two really. When I’m on a full ‘Joe McElderry’ schedule, shall we call it (laughs), of maybe doing a solo tour and sometimes I do a musical theatre show then I’m back in the studio or I’m doing a TV show, you’re kind of always bouncing from one thing to the next. You never really have time to focus on one thing fully. You’ve got five minutes here and five minutes there, and you spread yourself quite thinly. It’s been nice to totally just concentrate on the writing of a song, going into the studio and spending that time. There was no timescale because of lockdown, so there was no rush to put it out there. We didn’t have to meet a deadline, because everything had stopped. It allowed us to enjoy that process more but on the other hand we had to shoot a video socially distanced, taking all the regulations into consideration, and we’re doing interviews like this (over Zoom), which is wonderful but normally we’d probably do something in person, and you’d normally do something down in London like a TV show, then up to Scotland to film something, then a gig in Manchester. It is strange, but I feel lucky that I still creatively have been able to do something, and something to mark this crazy time that I’m sure we’ll all want to forget but we will never forget it (laughs).

It feels like this pandemic is never going to end. There does seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine roll-out at least so there may be an end in sight…

I think so. From what I’m hearing from people talking we’ve still got a little way to go. We should get some hints of normality in the next couple of months and then hopefully before the end of the year we can be back in a setting where we can have full concerts with people clapping and singing along, and hugging people and all of that. I think we’re on the way now that the vaccine is being rolled out. It has been a crazy time. I’ve been very lucky that I’ve been able to work from home and do online shows and things. It’s a crazy time for everyone, but especially performing arts because our whole world of work relies on cramming as many people into the smallest space as possible and creating that amazing connection with a room of people. COVID doesn’t really allow for that but hopefully we’re nearly there.

I know from first hand experience that your fans are hardcore and they’ve been so supportive over the years. You mentioned you’ve been doing online shows but in what other ways have you been engaging with them?

We’ve been doing quite a lot of different things. The online shows we’ve done, pretty much since August, on a monthly basis. We’re carrying them all the way through to March. We do them every Friday and Saturday and we’ve got a couple of themed ones like Mother’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day. We’ve done quiz shows, game shows, merchandise giveaways where they come online and we do virtual guess my songs and guess the lyrics. I’ve been cooking, making cocktails, I’ve dressed up as Geri Halliwell and done a Spice Girls show (laughs). I think it’s just finding ways to connect and find ways to keep things fun. Like everybody, when you do the same thing in and out every day it’s hard to reinvent the wheel and it’s hard to stay in that mindset. I’ve really had to force myself on a weekly basis to virtually sit down with all of my team of people who work behind-the-scenes and help out with all my website stuff and everything like that, and be like, ‘right, this is what we’re going to do this week. This is what we’re going to do next week. We’re going to do that at the end of this month’ and just finding ways to always have stuff dripping out that people can get involved in and just have a bit of fun. It’s light hearted fun. We’re not saving the world we’re just having fun.

Have you developed any new hobbies over the last 12 months?

I was always a quite an avid runner and I really got back into running in the first lockdown and I’ve carried it on throughout this one, although it’s not as fun running in this weather as it was last March, I have to say. I’ve been doing a lot more cooking. I’ve cooked for the first time in my 12-year career. I’ve cooked what I would call proper food instead of just throwing something in and grabbing it and taking it in a plastic container into the back of a car, and running to somewhere else or picking something up. I’ve properly cooked meals so I’m quite proud of myself for that.

A potential cookbook on the horizon?

Oh God! Listen, when I say I’ve cooked you should the state of the kitchen afterwards, so I’m not sure I’m skilled enough to offer advice to anybody else.

It’s so hard to talk about what’s coming up in the rest of the year because so much is uncertain right now. Have you got any plans alongside the album?

If all goes to plan, we are going on last year’s postponed solo tour in September. We had a little chat yesterday about like plans and stuff, and we’re waiting to see what the next lot of government advice and guidelines are going through into the summer. If we can do some socially distanced events, we’re already hypothetically planning those things, if they can go ahead. The main thing at the minute is just keeping everybody safe and if it means that we can’t do something until September, then I’m happy to wait. I don’t want to force it too much if it’s going to put people in danger. I think we have to take this seriously. I hope we can do some stuff before then, and there will definitely be more music before then. As soon as I can, I will be out on the road with bells on, full show having a blast. As soon as it’s allowed, I will be there.

Every time I’ve seen you over the years, you’ve been rushing from one thing to the next and you’ve always been so incredibly busy. You mentioned earlier that this is the first time you’ve had to really focus on one project. Have you had any time to reflect on everything you have achieved these past 12 years?

I’ve never really stopped for 12 years. I might have had three weeks off or six weeks off but when you’re still on the treadmill of work, you’re still working even though you say you’re not. You’re still dashing off to do something that was already happening in the schedule and you break six week break to go and do something. It takes you another kind week after that to come back down to a relaxation period. In the first lockdown, I sat for a bit and after about six weeks, I started to think about all of the things that I’ve done and all of the things that I’ve experienced. It sounds a little bit sad, and I hope this doesn’t come across egotistical (laughs) but I spent a couple of weeks going on YouTube because I’ve never seen half of the stuff that I’ve done because you’re just constantly on to the next thing. I just went on YouTube and looked at old tours that I’ve done, old TV shows that I’ve done and clips that are on there. I really thought, ‘wow, what a journey it’s been and I’m not even 30 yet’. I definitely did reflect in the first lockdown. I hope I’ll still be doing this in another 12 years time but it’s definitely been a period of reflection in the first lockdown.

You’ve done so many things in your career from to pop to classical crossover, to the West End. What other ambitions do you have?

It’s funny. I think having experienced a huge amount of success at such a young age, it’s kind of flipped my mindset now a little bit. I just want to have fun with projects and not plan too much. The industry’s changed a lot, even over the last three or four years, with this new era of social media coming in. It’s so fast changing now and it’s so instant. If something’s fun and somebody wants us to be a part of it, and I think I can have a great time and a great laugh with that, and I can do a good job of it, that’s kind of my mantra going forward. I’m not going to overthink things. I’m at a place now where I’m comfortable with what I’ve achieved and I do you want to achieve more, and I still have that ambition and drive, but it’s a different level now. It’s a more relaxed level of just enjoying the journey I suppose and I hate using that word, but life is a journey, I suppose (laughs).

Music consumption has changed so much too. When you won ‘The X-Factor’ streaming wasn’t really a thing…

The last album I released was two years ago but we didn’t do a single release, it was a full album release and that was it. This is the first single that I’ve released in streaming times so being a part of all of those conversations with the online team and through all that Spotify, YouTube, iTunes and Amazon… I’m learning about that now. It is all about that now and the charts have all changed. It’s not the same thing where you go straight in at the top, it’s now a slow build. It’s quite a strange concept. I don’t think I’ve done a proper single release since maybe the ‘Wide Awake’ album. Although I’ve done five albums, we’ve always just done a focus track around the album. It’s very different but it’s interesting learning about it all. I’m thrilled that it’s had the reaction it’s had. People seem to really love the song and love the video. A lot of people are like, ‘what’s next? Can we hear more?’ which is a wonderful thing because you don’t want to drop a new single after not releasing music for a while and everyone be like, ‘yeah it’s alright I suppose’ (laughs).

Your fan base is as passionate now as it ever has been. Every time we do anything about you, it just goes crazy…

I’ve got a wonderful, wonderful supportive fan base. It is a true testament of why I’m still doing what I do because honestly they rep me one 100%. I say this all the time, they’re probably sick of hearing it, but honestly I am so so lucky to have the support, especially during a time like this. I put four online stream shows out in August last year and I thought I’d probably only be able to do four or five because streaming is different to concert tickets sales but the demand has never dropped. We’ve been able to keep doing them all the time and they just love them. They join them and they get involved and they interact with me and make it special. I’m forever thankful.

‘Baby Had Your Fun’ is available to stream and download now. Watch the music video for the track below:

Pip Ellwood-Hughes

  • Joe McElderry

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Joe McElderry wins X Factor with 61 per cent of the vote

Joe McElderry, the cherubic 18-year-old hailed as a new Cliff Richard, was crowned The X Factor winner with an astonishing 61 per cent of the vote.

In what was billed as the closest final in the history of the television talent show, McElderry beat call centre worker Olly Murs to the biggest prize in the music business.

In front of an estimated television audience of 20 million, the performing arts student from South Shields, Tyne and Wear, landed a £1 million recording deal and an all-but-guaranteed number one in the Christmas chart.

He first sang Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey and then The Climb , which will now be released as his first single on Wednesday, and ten million viewers voted.

Louis Walsh told him: “Joe, you’ve got everything. You’ve got the walk, the attitude, the charm. You’re a small boy with a big voice and a great, great future.”

Simon Cowell told McElderry: “I remember the first time I saw you and I remember telling the other three: 'This guy could actually win the show. I feel responsible for your success and very proud of everything you’ve achieved.”

Olly was gracious in defeat. “Joe’s been phenomenal every week," he said. "He deserves every minute of this.”

McElderry was a bit-part player in the early shows, as the producers focused on the phenomenon that was ‘Jedward’, the tuneless twins otherwise known as John and Edward Grimes. However, he impressed the judges and the public week after week with his faultless vocals.

Victory was sealed on Saturday night when he held his own in a duet with George Michael, who said the teenager had a “great future” ahead of him.

McElderry honed his talents in local singing competitions – he was named the Pride of South Tyneside’s Young Performer of the Year in 2008 – and first entered The X Factor in 2007, when he reached the Boot Camp stage but progressed no further.

This time around he was mentored by Cheryl Cole, who was in tears last night as she saw her protégé crowned X Factor winner in a final that included performances by Sir Paul McCartney and Leona Lewis.

McElderry intends to spend his first royalty cheque on a new house for his mother, Eileen, 47, who raised him as a single parent in a Tyneside flat.

With his squeaky-clean image, he has an old-fashioned appeal. Louis Walsh, the X Factor judge, said: “He has the potential to sell millions of records. He’s like a young Cliff.”

Simon Cowell, who will sign McElderry to his record label, SyCo, said: “He’s got a very good recording voice. We’re going to take our time with Joe. We’ll do our best and he could surprise a lot of people.”

The ITV show received the royal seal of approval from Prince Harry, who took his seat in the studio audience alongside his girlfriend, Chelsy Davy. His appearances comes after the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were outed as fans of Strictly Come Dancing, the BBC’s rival Saturday night offering.

The X Factor has trounced Strictly in the ratings this year, with Saturday night’s show pulling in 14.5 million viewers to Strictly’s 9.1 million.

The talent show is a banker for ITV, making the broadcaster £75 million this series. Advertising revenue from the final totaled £18 million. However, Cowell has threatened to pull the show unless ITV bosses investment a further £3 million for extra production costs.

He wants to shake up the format next year and wants to sign up Robbie Williams, the pop star, as a fifth judge.

Cowell said: “A lot of things are going to change next year if we bring the show back. The show needs to change or it starts to fail.

“I like Robbie Wililams. He’d make a good judge. He’s got good instincts, he doesn’t take himself too seriously and he’s a fun guy to be around.”

Cowell’s plans for 2010 extend far beyond these shores. The X Factor juggernaut is heading for the US and Cowell has plans to roll it out in other countries around the world. Even North Korea and Afghanistan could find themselves succumbing to the charms of Cheryl Cole.

Asked if he would consider taking The X Factor there, Cowell said he would liaise with the British Government first to establish the policy on working with such countries.

"It really wouldn't worry me too much," he told BBC Two’s Newsnight.

"I mean, on principle I can't see it happening but most places - and you mentioned Afghanistan and places like that, where these shows run and you allow the public to get involved - I think it's more of a positive thing than a negative thing."

Cowell also plans a “referendum-style” political show which would engage a mass audience and provide a hotline to Number 10.

Fans of Stacey Solomon, the 20-year-old single mother from Dagenham, need not fear they have seen the last of her. Although she was voted out on Saturday night, she has already been approached with offers of music deals.

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Joe McElderry unrecognisable from his X Factor days as he showcases edgy look

Joe McElderry - who found fame on The X Factor in 2006 - debuted an edgy look as he appeared on ITV's Steph's Packed Lunch

  • 20:19, 28 FEB 2022
  • Updated 08:18, 1 MAR 2022

joe mcelderry x factor journey

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X Factor winner Joe McElderry looked incredibly different from his days on the singing competition in his latest TV appearance.

The 30-year-old has embraced an edgier look from his days on the show where he beat Olly Murs.

No longer clean-shaven, the singer showed off designer stubble and had slicked back his wavy hair.

Revealing a bare chest, Joe wore a grey silk shirt with a plunging neckline.

He told Steph's Packed Lunch that he got to The X Factor bootcamps but quit three years before returning to the show and winning.

joe mcelderry x factor journey

He said: "So I would've been about 15. I got to bootcamp and on the second day I was like, 'I don't like the cameras being here.' Just overwhelming.

"I pulled a producer to one side and I was like, 'excuse me, I'm just going to leave now, this isn't for me.' I don't think they'd ever really had that before. You could tell they were a bit like 'sorry what?'"

Joe was just 18 when he won The X Factor - but was immediately the subject of a hate campaign

"I just said, 'I don't feel like I'm good enough and I don't feel like I'm ready or confident enough and I left."'

His cover of Miley Cyrus ' The Climb was his debut single and flew to number one in the UK charts.

He's also stepped into the world of musical theatre and in 2015 he played the lead role of Joseph in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

He's recently been documenting his workout journey on his social media.

Joe said he had already made it to the X Factor bootcamps when he was 15 years old

In one snap he was on all fours on the floor of a gym, covered in sweat.

He captioned the photo: "If you assault bikes! You know this feeling very well."

In another he wore a pair of orange shorts and a work out top as he gave the thumbs up.

Joe has been documenting his workouts on social media

He was met by fans who praised him for his fitness journey.

"OMG looks like hard work," one wrote.

"Well done Joe," said another.

Joe was met by cruel trolls in 2015 when he was blasted for showing off an alleged "fuller frame".

joe mcelderry x factor journey

He was hurt and furious by the comments and told The Mirror: "It was a bad angled photo and I would go as far to say it was an edited photo as well, but that's a whole other story."

"I reacted to it in a funny way by posting a topless picture from the gym and made a joke out of it, but I also wanted to send out a message to kids and teenagers that of course your body changes when you get older, of course you change shape, of course your shoulders get broader, of course your arms are bigger."

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preview for Joe McElderry reveals why he turned down X Factor All Stars

Former X Factor winner Joe McElderry reveals why he turned down scrapped All Stars series

"It just didn't feel right for me."

The singer won the series almost exactly 10 years ago, and was asked back for the planned show that has since been scrapped.

Appearing on today's (November 8) Loose Women , however, Joe explained that the idea of doing it just "didn't feel right" for him.

Joe McElderry on Loose Women

"I had a conversation earlier in the year," he revealed. "I felt that people have come to my shows and bought albums and stuff, and I wanted to kind of do a tour to celebrate it, rather than go back on the show, and kind of do the whole stand in front of the judges.

"It just didn't feel right for me. I did say if you do a big celebration concert, I would be happy to be there, I love the show, and I'm forever grateful for the platform it gave us.

"It's not anything about that. It just didn't sit right with us. I kind of want to celebrate with people who have been to the shows and supported."

Simon Cowell revealed earlier this week that the planned series – which would have seen past contestants return – was not going ahead. The judge is instead opting to do a spin-off called The Band to find a new girl group and boy band.

The X Factor: Celebrity continues on Saturday (November 9) at 8.30pm on ITV.

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COMMENTS

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    Joe McElderry (born 16 June 1991) is an English singer. He auditioned for Series 6 of The X Factor UK and made it all the way to the final as part of the Boys category mentored by Cheryl Cole. Due to the eliminations of Rikki Loney and Lloyd Daniels, McElderry was the only act left in his category. He was crowned the winner defeating Olly Murs from the Over 25s category mentored by Simon ...

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