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Whinging N-Dubz ‘star’ Dappy reckons that it’s “unfair” that X Factor wannabes become famous overnight.

Here’s the story from The Sun…

TULISA Contostavlos’s N-Dubz bandmate Dappy has branded it “unfair” that X Factor contestants find instant fame – while he struggled for seven years for recognition.

The rapper, 24, says acts on the show have it too easy and that he was once so desperate to make it that he PAID someone to ask for his autograph.

But Dappy, who has now launched a solo career, says he plans to use his cousin’s place on the judging panel to his advantage.

He is going to record a track with her and their fellow N-Dubz singer Fazer and perform it on the new series which starts on ITV1 this month.

Hat-wearing Dappy – who is promoting his first single No Regrets – blasted the show for making people famous without any effort.

He said: “For X Factor, you have to stand in a queue and you’re not famous but after that first audition you get people coming up to you asking for pictures for the next six months – whether you win or lose. So you’re famous coming out of that one audition. The broadcasting is massive for that.

“The point is, we have to struggle for what, six or seven years just to get two people to come up to us and ask us for a picture.”

Recalling the embarrassing lengths he went to, Dappy admitted to TV Biz: “I had this girlfriend once upon a time and I went to meet her at the airport.

“I paid this boy five pounds for him to come up to me and ask me for an autograph in front of her. How about that?”

Dappy slammed flopstars like Wagner who find fame through the show.

He said: “Wagner is a great man but talent-wise he hasn’t really got any. But women come up to him and ask him for pictures – I mean what is going on? I’m not jealous of Wagner. I love Wagner.

“But it’s not fair that people like us, we struggle how many years trying to get success? These people go and do one or two auditions and they come back famous for six or seven months – just like that.

“And it’s a dream come true for them, just because of the coverage.”

Dappy admitted that going up against the X Factor juggernaut in the charts was scary. He said: “We’re all fighting to get to the same place in the chart. When X Factor come out I got slightly intimidated, like, ‘Oh boy I can’t really release a record right now, can’t we push it back a little bit more?’.”

But while he is happy to use the show to promote his music he says he WON’T be a guest judge or helper to Tulisa – as he would be “too brutal”.

He said: “If I think you’re cr**, I’m going to say to you ‘you’re cr**’.”

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Digital Spy report today that ITV have released a first look video teaser for this year’s X Factor. Here’s the story and the video…

The first trailer for the new series of The X Factor has been released online.

The 30-second promo marks the first time that the ITV competition’s new judges Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos and Kelly Rowland have been caught together on film.

The clip, which teases “the next generation” of The X Factor, sees the trio gradually unveiled as they stride through futuristic corridors to the sound of dramatic opera piece ‘O Fortuna’.

Along with Louis Walsh, they then meet for their first shot together at a giant red ‘X’, which is shown to be the centre of the show’s iconic logo.

Watch Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos, Kelly Rowland and Louis Walsh in the first X Factor trailer below:

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Virgin Media report today that sources from Channel 5 have revealed that this year’s newly revamped Big Brother house will be “pure luxury”.

Here’s the report…

The fly-on-the-wall series returns to TV in his new home on Channel 5 later this month – kicking off with a celebrity edition on August 18 – and show insiders have promised the contestants will be given a “home-from-home”.

A source said: “This is going to be a house that viewers and housemates have never encountered before.

“Think of the most exuberant experience ever, with luxury goods and furnishings.

“It’s a house that is being build as a real home-from-home for those who are used to the finer things in life and it’s going to be pure luxury. It is being especially designed to encourage good times.”

While the house is said to have been inspired by the decadent lives of the Romans and Ancient Greeks, not everything will be as it seems.

The insider added to the Daily Express newspaper: “It’s a house in the lap of luxury – a house of the gods.

“There will be a major twist and not everything is as it seems from the inside looking out.”

Among the contestants rumoured to be taking part in ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ are former boxer Mike Tyson, ex-’Baywatch’ babe Pamela Anderson, pop twins Jedward, and troubled Kerry Katona and her mum Sue.

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Now magazine reports today that Amy Winehouse’s ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil is not only planning a tell-all book about his marriage to Amy, he’s also preparing to contest her will after learning he’s been cut out of it.

Here’s the story…

Blake, 29, who’s serving a 32-month sentence for robbery and possessing an imitation firearm, married Amy in 2007 but they divorced two years later.

‘He’ll claim that her family and record executives forced Amy to freeze him out of her £10 million fortune against her wishes,’ his pal tells us.

‘He’s not going to let this go because he says that in her last phone calls to him in jail Amy professed her love and hoped for a reunion.

‘He also claims that he’s in possession 
of letters that prove the pair weren’t estranged.

‘Although Blake’s devastated by Amy’s death, that hasn’t stopped him from seeing an opportunity to cash in.

‘He believes Amy wouldn’t have wanted to leave him destitute, so in a perverse way he sees it as his duty to see make sure her real wishes are fulfilled.’

Read the full story about Amy Winehouse and Blake Fielder-Civil in Now magazine dated 8 August 2011 – out now!

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STV Entertainment report today that Jodie Marsh is set to join the cast of ‘The Only Way Is Essex’.

Here’s the story…

The 32-year-old former glamour model – who originally hails from Brentwood in Essex – is reportedly set to replace former leading lady Amy Childs on the ITV2 reality show, after the 21-year-old redhead quit the series in favour of appearing on ‘Celebrity Big Brother’.

With Jodie having got close to smooth-talking businessman Kirk Norcross following his recent split from co-star Lauren Pope, it is thought she would make the perfect addition to ‘TOWIE’ and would help “spice up” the upcoming third series.

An insider told the Daily Star newspaper: “Since Kirk split up with Lauren Pope he has been hanging out with Jodie. She would definitely spice it up a bit.”

However, show bosses could be set to bring in a new wave of ‘TOWIE’ stars after only guaranteeing the show’s original cast members a place in the third series.

This means the likes of Maria Fowler, Lauren Pope, Joey Essex, Chloe Sims, Gemma Collins and Kirk’s dad Mick Norcross may not be featured when the programme returns in September.

Original star Sam Faiers recently said: “It’s really sad but they have said they won’t be signing up all the people who were in the second series again.”

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STV report today that singer-songwriter Talay Riley has revealed that Cher Lloyd is starting to feel the pressure of all the “hate” directed at her following the release of her debut single Swagger Jagger.

Here’s the story…

Riley recorded a duet with the 18-year-old for her debut album for Simon Cowell’s Syco record label.

Talay told the Daily Star that the Malvern lass does not deserve the level of hate that she has been experiencing.

He is quoted as saying: “Cher is a really hard worker and a lovely girl.

“But the pressure of negativity is starting to harden her, which is sad.”

However, Cher, who is heading for her first number one in the record charts, insisted that she was feeling great.

She said: “I feel like a giant.

“My love life is good. For my ideal first date I’d like to go to McDonalds and get 20 chicken nuggets.”

She added: “It’s just funny isn’t it? Who on earth would want 20 chicken nuggets?!”

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Digital Spy today report that Leona Lewis and Simon Cowell’s record label Syco will fight off a High Court challenge over the release of her new single ‘Collide’.

Here’s the story…

The singer and her team have been taken to court by Swedish DJ Avicii over claims that the instrumental of her new track plagiarises his own song ‘Fade into Darkness’.

The Guardian reports that the High Court will hear a plea from the dance producer on Monday for an injunction against the release of Lewis’s song, which is due out on September 4.

Avicii – real name Tim Bergling – recorded ‘Fade into Darkness’ last October before being signed to independent label Ministry of Sound. Bergling alleges that his team denied Syco use of the instrumental as he was searching for a female vocalist to sing on the track before officially releasing it himself.

He further claims that ‘Collide’, which was unveiled last month, is a “straight re-recording” of his song, while a spokesman for Ministry of Sound added: “Avicii is an up-and-coming talent; we think he should be given a fair crack at making this record the hit it deserves to be.”

Syco and its parent label Sony have refused to comment on the issue.

Lewis recently took to Twitter to defend her new single against claims of plagiarism.

Listen to Leona Lewis’s ‘Collide’ and Avicii’s ‘Fade into Darkness’ below:

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Although former X Factor finalist Cher Lloyd had been trying to keep her romance with new boyfriend Craig Monk private, last night, he posted a picture of them both online.

Here’s what The Sun’s TV Biz has to say…

But the Swagger Jagger singer’s new man has decided to go public with their relationship – posting the first snap of them together as his profile picture on Twitter.

The hairdresser, 21, has also been chatting to the 18-year-old’s numerous fans on the site, asking one of them today: “Do I get approval from all the brats?”

TV Biz revealed they were dating in June, weeks after Cher admitted she had a secret boyfriend but refused to divulge who he was.

They met when the trainee crimper helped fit her hair extensions at the salon he works at in London’s Mayfair.

They had been seen together at the Britain’s Got Talent semi-finals but shied away from the press at the time.

This week the X Factor teen made headlines by saying she was more likely to win the lottery than ever speak to her former mentor Cheryl Cole again.

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Former Celebrity Big Brother winners Alex Reid and Chantelle Houghton have declared their love for each other in a “sickly-sweet” joint telly interview.

Here’s the story from The Sun…

The pair, who hooked up in May — four months after the cage fighter split from Katie Price — insisted their relationship was not a “showmance” during a loved-up appearance on This Morning.

When host Ruth Langsford asked them: “Are you in love?” they both exclaimed: “Yes!”

After Eamonn Holmes questioned whether their relationship was the real thing, Alex, 36, explained: “Love has many degrees. This feels real. This feels relaxed.

“And I don’t want to compare anything to anybody else. But this is new, this feels right, right now.

“I was very nervous when I first met Chantelle not to go straight in because my heart was still a bit broken back then, but she’s mended it.”

And Chantelle, 27, was just as enthusiastic about her new beau.

When asked what she loved about Alex, she gushed: “I always call him the hurricane. When he walks in he lights up the room and makes everyone feel good about themselves and I haven’t felt good about myself in a long time.

“I’ve got a lot going on personally but Alex has been amazing. He makes me feel so secure and happy. He’s made me feel complete.”

She insisted she didn’t care if critics thought their pairing was a PR stunt, adding: “I don’t care what they say. As long as you’re happy that’s what matters.”

And the smitten couple – who held hands throughout the interview – revealed that they’ve already met each other’s parents.

They also said that despite their previous failed marriages they would wed again.

Alex added: “We talked about this. We are both sad because it was something that was so special. For me, that was for better for worse but you’ve got to move on.”

Earlier this morning Alex appeared alone on Lorraine and announced he was in love with Chantelle after describing her as a “friend with benefits”.

He told presenter Kate Garraway: “I’ve just met the most fantastic lovely lady – Sergeant Major Lace I call her, Chantilly Lace with a pretty face.”

And asked if the relationship was a ‘showmance’, he said: “Well yes, she’s a friend with benefits”, before adding: “I love her. Oh my God I’ve just said that on national TV.”

The cross dresser went on: “It’s an exciting time. I’ve just got – it’s a bit dappy, but I’ve just bought a brand new car and I feel very proud, isn’t that silly?

“And I’ve got a fantastic girlfriend and I’ve got really good projects going on. I’ve got my gym franchise which I’ve just started, The Alex Reid Academy, which is great and it’s all about me getting out there and changing people’s lives, and that’s one of the reasons why I’m fighting on Saturday.”

And despite his break-up with Katie, 33, Alex said their romance had “brought lovely gifts”.

Talking about their relationship, he said: “Listen, I had a wonderful life before Miss Price and I’ve got a fantastic life now.

“And undoubtedly who I am – I’m always asked questions about Katie – I don’t want to talk about her.”

He added: “I didn’t know quite what I was expecting when I got into that, but hey, it brought lovely gifts. It closed many doors but it opened many doors.”

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The Daily Star reports today that Lady GaGa is in secret talks to play Amy Winehouse in a film about the singer’s tragic life.

Here’s the paper’s article…

Hollywood movie moguls want to capitalise on the global outpouring of grief following her death on July 23.

LA producers think outrageous pop phenomenon GaGa would be perfect in the starring role.

A Hollywood insider said: “Lady GaGa worshipped Amy and would love nothing more than to transform herself into her idol on the big screen.

“She’d be spot on performing Amy’s songs and has got the right look and bolshy attitude.

“GaGa’s been itching to make the transition from music into movies and sees this as the ideal role to launch her film career.”

It has been reported that after completing her nearly two-year long Monster Ball world tour, the Poker Face singer, 25, was inundated with film scripts.

However, she has been waiting for the perfect part.

Our insider said: “GaGa’s management team had been discussing possible film ventures before Amy’s untimely death.

“But there’s only ever been one role she wants and that’s to play Amy.”

Talking about the death of Amy, GaGa said: “I am just so devast-ated and so sad. I really could not speak for 48 hours straight, I was in such shock.

“She was the most lovely and nice and kind woman.”

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