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 Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 11:22 am Post subject: well....... |
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Cowell's rage as 'signed up' boy band trick their way on to show
By NICOLA METHVEN and VICTORIA BONE
X FACTOR bosses have been duped by a boy band who lied their way on to the show.
Avenue were specifically formed by mogul Ashley Tabor to appear in the talenty series.
They failed to declare their managemnet deal as required.
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The band - Johnny, Jamie, Max, Scott and Ross - have made it through the "bootcamp" stage. Now they could be barred.
Judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne are furious.
ITV said: "They've been hoodwinked. They're livid."
Last night, a spokesman for Tabor, a business associate for Walsh, said: "We have been advised the contract is outside the rules of the show."
X FACTOR bosses were fuming last night after finding out that a boyband had lied their way on to the TV talent show by not admitting they had already been signed up.
The ringers – called Avenue – were put together by pop mogul Ashley Tabor, a business associate of judge Louis Walsh.
They deceived producers by failing to declare their management deal at the auditions and have made it through to the “bootcamp” stage.
But now that the deception has been uncovered Louis and Simon Cowell are furious.
A spokeswoman told the Mirror: “They only found out about this in the past few days and they are livid.
“Ashley and the boys have hoodwinked the judges, the production company, everybody.
“Ashley admitted he has a management deal with Avenue and we are investigating. We will take whatever action is necessary.
“This goes against the whole nature of the show.”
The X Factor, brainchild of Simon Cowell, prides itself on discovering unsigned raw talent. So it is a huge embarrassment that Avenue – Johnny, Jamie, Max, Scott and Ross – slipped through the net.
Music executive Tabor sent them to audition in Manchester in June, knowing that the TV exposure would help to launch them as a band.
He told them not to mention that they already had a manager.
X Factor rules state that contestants must declare management deals and be able to quit them before the live studio shows begin.
But show bosses have examined the forms signed by each member of Avenue and found they all lied.
Tabor last night would not comment. But his spokesman said the Avenue’s contract had now been cancelled. He added: “We put them under contract as we believe they have a bright future.
“At no time did we inform the show or judges we were involved. We have since been advised the contract is outside the rules of the show.
“We were unaware of that. The contract has been cancelled. Avenue are no longer professionally represented.” X Factor fans were furious at hearing the band had lied. One wrote in an internet chatroom: “It’s a FIX! This show needs to keep within the rules and not just put on their own ready-made artists.”
We can reveal that Avenue were put together specifically with the show in mind. Max, who appeared last year, and the four other lads were brought together by Tabor’s company Global Talent.
Last year, he got the contract to manage X Factor finalists including Brenda Edwards, Chico Slimani and Andy Abraham and he organised the X Factor and Butlins tours, starring singers from the series.
But Tabor and Walsh have fallen out over the management of show winner Shayne Ward and Tabor has lost the contract to manage any of this year’s winners.
Tomorrow night viewers will see Avenue try their luck. Jamie, 25, tells the panel: “We really want success. It needs something fresh out there at the moment.” Max, 17, adds: “We just sing together and like doing it.” But after they’ve performed their version of Will Young’s Leave Right Now, an unimpressed Simon says: “I just don’t get it. I’m going to say no.”
Louis, however, puts them through, saying: “I think your personalities are better than your vocal talent.” Sharon agrees, saying: “I think you would all scrub up well.”
With two out of three votes from the judges, the band qualify for the “bootcamp” stage.
TABOR, who began his showbiz career as a runner at Capital Radio, is the son of betting shop millionaire Michael. He lives in Knightsbridge, London.
Michael also co-owns the exclusive Sandy Lane Hotel in Barbados, a favourite spot for Simon.
In a 2002 Rich List Ashley was named one of the top 10 eligible bachelors in the country.
This is not the first time that The X Factor has been accused of a fix.
In the first series in 2004, Matt Johnson succeeded at the auditions despite previously making the final of Popstars: The Rivals as a member of runners-up One True Voice.
He already had a solo deal with Jive Records organised for him by none other than Louis Walsh when he tried again for The X Factor.
victoria.bone@mirror.co.uk
TEARS WEGO AGAIN, SHAZZA
ANOTHER furious row breaks out in tonight’s X Factor after Sharon Osbourne is left to deal with three sobbing girls singlehandedly.
Eskimo Blonde fell at the final hurdle last year when Simon Cowell didn’t pick them to compete in the studio competition after they visited his home.
Now they’re back to try again – with a new member.
But as they audition in Manchester they discover that old lead singer Hari – whom they haven’t spoken to since their failure – is also trying her luck again.
Hari, 20, sails through to the next round with her performance of Mariah Carey’s Sweetheart but the other girls – Jemma, Danielle and Gemma – are canned.
They sing Viva Forever by the Spice Girls and receive a mixed reaction.
Louis Walsh brands it “nothing special”. Simon is typically rather more direct.
He tells them bluntly: “You lost something that was very good about the group and that’s Hari. Without her, you’re just what we see a thousand times.”
He says no, but Louis gives them a chance, leaving Shaz with the casting vote.
The men then retire sniggering to their dressing room, leaving Sharon alone to make the casting vote.
As Sharon tries to tell the girls it’s a no, they start to cry. Distraught, she moans: “I just can’t do it. Don’t do this to me, it’s not fair.”
Eventually, Tony the burly bodyguard is called upon to turf the blubbing girls out.
Sharon storms off to find the other judges and shouts: “Simon, it’s your responsibility. You had a relationship with those young girls, I don’t even know who they are.
“You are both taking the p*** out of me and it’s not fair.
“I wouldn’t do that to you, I would support you.
“You’re being really, really condescending to me and it’s not fair. I thought we were a team.”
As Simon apologises, Shazza doesn’t believe he means it and yells in his face: “You’re taking the mickey out of me.”
When she flounces out, the two men sit and giggle at her outburst
Seen the show once , once was enough ,and the whole thing seems rigged to me anyway.
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