Rita Ora

Plus, Misha B says she’s “cool” with Tulisa now, but who cares? And Rita Ora favourite for fourth judge role

We’ll kick off today’s look at X Factor news with the report that global superstar band One Direction are set to release a new album at Christmas.

The 1D boys, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik, are currently on tour in the Stated with fellow X Factor success story Olly Murs, and in addition to their relentless live performance schedule, they’re also set to star in a movie.

So with the news that there’s to be a new album – which is pretty much a cert to go to No1 in the yuletide charts – I can’t help wondering if the lads are an unstoppable force of nature or candidates for a spectacular celebrity burn out.

The editor of Rolling Stone magazine recently claimed that 1D were “being worked like dogs,” and I have to say, I agree with him.

Let’s hope the meltdown, when – and I suspect it’s not even an if – it happens doesn’t ruin anyone’s life.

However, in happier news, cancer survivor and pop star Anastacia has revealed that she’s “so excited” at the prospect of being a guest judge at the X Factor auditions in Glasgow tomorrow… Continue reading »

Plus, Tulisa denies there’s any “rift” with Rita Ora, and Carolynne Poole tries out again

Gary Barlow has been a very busy bunny of late, for not only has he been filming the first of this year’s X Factor auditions, he’s also been jetting around the world gathering musical contributions to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee track, entitled Sing.

And in addition, he organized the amazing concert that we saw as part of the celebrations last weekend, in which he sang with former X Factor judge, Cheryl Cole.

But today, it’s been revealed that all his hard work is to be recognised by the Queen who’s set to award him an OBE in this year’s birthday honours list.

An insider told the Sun, “The Queen was delighted with Gary Barlow’s brilliant work and dedication.

“She made it clear he should be rewarded at the first available opportunity. Mr Barlow was told of Her Majesty’s offer a few weeks ago.

“He was quite surprised, but he has accepted it.” Continue reading »

Plus Simon Cowell pulls out all the stops for Rita Ora

We’ll start today’s X Factor news round up with the report in The Sun which claims that One Direction star Louis Tomlinson was horrified to discover a naked man was trying to break into his hotel room in New York!

The drama began when Louis heard noises outside his room, and when he went to investigate, it turned out that the naked man – who was extremely drunk apparently – was actually looking for the loo.

A friend of Louis’s told the paper, “Louis heard the noise because he wasn’t sleeping well with jet-lag and at first he thought it would be another fan who had sneaked past minders.

“When he saw it was a small naked man he called security, who sorted it out.

“This bloke wasn’t even a hotel guest, but a drunk who was looking for a toilet.”

Meanwhile, Harry Styles has revealed that he’d love to shave al his hair off, but has been banned from doing so by the band’s management.

While speaking to Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw, Harry said, “I want to shave my hair off, and no one will really let me… Continue reading »

Plus Matt Cardle says he’s GLAD his record label ditched him

It’s been reported today that as Geri Halliwell proved such a flop with the audience when she made an appearance as a guest judge at the X Factor auditions recently, she won’t be asked back.

One of the show’s producers told The Sun’s TV Biz that it is “highly unlikely” Geri will be asked to return in any capacity, despite the fact she thought she had the job in the bag, even announcing that she’d have George Michael as her assistant at Judges’ Houses.

Geri ought to recall that old adage about counting chickens before they’ve hatched.

However, Rita Ora on the other hand was so popular when she was a guest judge that she’s been invited back to today’s auditions.

Rita, whose debut solo single R.I.P. topped the charts this month, also managed to “bond instantly” with Tulisa, who said of her, “She’s great for the panel. Despite just breaking into the commercial scene, she’s been in the industry for years and knows what she is talking about…” Continue reading »