Film and TV

Union J speak out against finalist Christopher Maloney after X Factor exit

By Becky Barnes
December 06, 2012

Heartbroken girls across Bracknell have been crying into their pillows after heartthrob boy band Union J’s X Factor journey ended.

But former telesales worker Josh Cuthbert, 20, from Winkfield, and bandmates Jaymi Hensley, JJ Hamblett and George Shelley, say they were not surprised to go home after Christopher Maloney gained a higher proportion of the public vote on Sunday.

The band has publicly spoken out against Christopher after they were voted off the show, telling hosts of ITV’s This Morning on Monday that ‘losers do better than winners’.

And Jaymi commented: “I don’t think it would do amazingly well for the show if Chris won.”

Josh said he was ‘gutted’ not to make it through to the final, but was pleased for Jahmene Douglas and James Arthur in the boys’ category.

The former Charters School pupil said: “I wanted to say thank you to everyone who got us fourth.

“We hope you all continue to support us – fingers crossed this isn’t the last of us.”

As the boys rehearse for ensemble performances during the live final this weekend, they are looking to the future as they wait to be snapped up with a highly-anticipated record deal.

Josh’s mum Kathryn Browne, 50, from Winkfield, said: “The boys were obviously sad not to have made it to the final, but they are very excited about what their future holds.

“This is not the end, but merely the start of the next chapter in their lives and I have no doubt they are going to be very successful.”

The four-piece were praised on Saturday night for their ‘best performance of the whole series’ with a cover of Labrinth’s ‘Beneath Your Beautiful’ featuring Emeli Sande.

Judge Nicole Scherzinger noted Josh’s ‘beautiful’ start to the song, which singled him out as the strongest member of the band for a second time.

As the boys were voted off on Sunday’s results show, judge Louis Walsh hailed them ‘the next big boy band’.

Kathryn said: “They were good enough to get into the top three and to win it, but the public felt otherwise.

“Their final song was another brilliant performance, although I have to say that I cried throughout.”

Visit www.getbracknell.co.uk for more on Union J’s X Factor journey.

| Submit Comments | View Comments (2)

« Previous Story | Next Story »

Most recent user comments 2 of 2

Christopher Maloney? Pub singer! Union J? Not good enough – just another boy-band! Jahmene? Great voice, too much warbling! James Arthur? The real deal?