Sunday, 18 October 2009

The inside story on The X Factor final 10

We x-pose the secrets of the finalists

Danyl Johnson | The X Factor final 12 star makeovers | Pictures | Now Magazine | Celebrity Gossip

Danyl Johnson is determined to have a solo career

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Danyl Johnson fights for limelight

Despite being part of two boy bands in the past, Danyl Johnson had no intention of remaining a team player and always had his eye on flying solo, according to friend and ex-bandmate Stephen Blackie.

‘Danyl was in boy band Upfrunt with me, but saw it purely as a means to an end,' Stephen, 26, tells Now. ‘He did the boy band thing as a way in. All he's ever wanted is to become a solo artist - and he should have made it years ago.'

But Simon will have to think twice before he gives the 27-year-old drama teacher cheesy pop songs to sing.

‘He doesn't like pop music at all,' continues Stephen. ‘He hates plastic, manufactured bands like Boyzone and Westlife. He once flatly refused to go to a Girls Aloud concert when we invited him.'

Let's hope Cheryl Cole doesn't read this then!

Jamie Archer is a romantic

‘I once sang to a girl on a beach  in Thailand,' Jamie Archer recalls. 'It was late at night, there was a full moon and plenty of stars as well. I've got to say, she was very impressed!'

Jamie gave his fans the wrong number on his Twitter page to call to vote him through to the next round but quickly Tweeted again this afternoon to give them the correct digits.

Olly Murs is looking for some action

‘I'm useless at chat-up lines,' admits Olly Murs. 'But, hopefully, The  X Factor will bring me some female attention.'

Stacey Solomon has no confidence

After speaking to a close family friend, Now can reveal that Stacey Solomon was picked on at school because  of her looks and still suffers from low self-esteem.

‘I've seen Stacey grow up and she wasn't exactly a beauty as a child,' says our source. ‘Stacey was very shy, too. She had a hard time at school.

‘I remember her as a little girl with sticky-out ears and crooked teeth.No one would believe it now, though. She's blossomed into a swan and is such a lovely person, too.'

Lucie Jones fancies Robert Pattinson

‘Robert Pattinson turns me on, he's beautiful,' confesses Lucie Jones. 'People keep saying that  I look a bit like his co-star Kristen Stewart, so maybe I have a chance!'

Rachel Adedeji

In the bottom 2 last week, Rachel Adedeji was happy to sing Beyonce's If I Were a Boy this week - and give it her all.

'I've been working so hard on this second performance. I'm really excited about Saturday and whatever happens I'm going to give it everything,' she said before the show.

'I'm going to hold my head up high and just do it man!'

It worked.

Miss Frank are old friends

Graziella, Shar, and Shaniece weren't complete strangers when Simon and Louis offered to let them form a group and they became Miss Frank.

'On the first day of bootcamp me, Shar, and Shaniece all palled-up because we already knew each other from other auditions we'd been to outside The X Factor,' admits Graziella.

'I suppose we were lucky that we already knew each other a bit.'

John and Edward are all bravado

John and Edward Grimes know no one expects them to stay in the contest and appear to not care.

'But it's all bravado,' says Now's exclusive source.They are deeply insecure and actually can't sing that well.

'They've even asked other contestants for mini crash-course lessons in harmonising and how to hit the right notes. They can't believe they've got this far.'

Joseph McElderry keeps his options open

Joseph McElderry won't commit to who he thinks is the sexiest judge.

‘All the boys tend to fancy Cheryl Cole,' Joe confides. 'Then again, who doesn't? She's a really great mentor, too. And, of course, I think Dannii Minogue is beautiful as well.'

Lloyd Daniels fancies Jessica Alba

‘My ideal woman is Jessica Alba  - her figure's amazing,' says Lloyd Daniels. 'I think  all the girls in the X Factor house are really lovely, too, but there's no romance just yet.'

SEE PHOTOS The X Factor 2009 final 12 get makeovers>>

SEE PICTURES SNEAK PEEK at The X Factor auditions >>

SEE PICTURES The X Factor: Where are they now? >>

SEE PICTURES The X Factor live shows 2008 - best moments >>

See more X Factor gossip in Now magazine dated 19 October 2009 - out now!