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Nicola: “Watching The X Factor brings back memories from Popstars: The Rivals”
NICOLA Roberts admits she will find it difficult to watch tonight’s X Factor results show as yet another of the acts gets voted off.
The experience of being on the stage in front of millions of viewers and the judges is one that she went through on one of the earliest music talent shows, 2002’s Popstars: The Rivals.
And the latest of Simon Cowell’s TV singing contests brings the memories flooding back.
So much so that when Nicola sees the contestants squirm, she feels for them every inch of the way.
Nicola, 26, said: “Every time I watch X Factor, especially the audition process, I can feel the nerves.
“I feel sick just like I did when I was taking part in Popstars: The Rivals.
“The feeling comes back because I identify with these people who love to sing and want to be surrounded by music and to be successful. Watching the show reminds me of how that feels and it is all too familiar.”
Tipping both Misha B and Little Mix as the most talented of the surviving finalists, Nicola added: “I actually love Little Mix. They are really fun and nice to watch.
“I met them the other night and they are really genuinely close in their support of each other.
“I think they are going to have a really good work ethic. If you have that understanding of each other you are prepared to work hard.
“Determination can’t be overlooked. They are really lovely girls.
“Misha B is really talented. Her understanding of music and her dedication to it is apparent.
“It is very clear to see. But just as much as it is a talent competition, it’s a popularity contest as well.”
Next up for Nicola is new single, Yo-Yo in January. Taken from her recent Top 20 album Cinderella Eyes, it follows hit singles Beat Of My Drum and Lucky Day.
“It feels like ages ago that I released the first single from the album. I feel like this year has been a blur,” she said.
“It’s strange because I spent so long making the album in the studio and submerged myself into that way of life.
“I had to put it out there and, at times, it felt like I would never see that day. I got so used to seeing the songs as demos or on my laptop.
“It was amazing, after 18 months of hard work, to have that little CD.”
Cheryl Cole is reportedly the BBC’s top choice for the judging panel on the UK version of ‘The Voice’. The Girls Aloud singer, who was last month axed from ‘The X Factor USA’, may already be in discussions for the role via her management, according to Metro.
A source is quoted: “She is still lying low at the moment but there have been conversations with her management and things are moving forward. The BBC are hopeful she will commit.”
It was announced yesterday (Friday) that BBC One will debut ‘The Voice’ in 2012, following the Dutch format’s success in the US.
BBC One controller Danny Cohen said: “I’m absolutely delighted that ‘The Voice’ will be coming to the BBC. It’s a big, exciting and warm-hearted series and will be a fantastic Saturday night event on BBC One.”
Cheryl Cole had previously been tipped to defect to the BBC for ‘The Voice’. A source at the singer’s record label had said: “Universal are heavily involved in recruiting judges for ‘The Voice’ when it moves to the BBC and they are urging Cheryl to be the big star of that show.”
Meanwhile, Robbie Williams has also been rumoured to become a judge on the BBC One show as a possible rival to his Take That bandmate Gary Barlow, who has joined ITV’s ‘The X Factor’.
Courageous Cheryl Cole sent US X Factor judge Paul Abdul a bunch of flowers yesterday in the clearest sign yet that she is getting over her cruel show snub.
The Geordie singer – who has been a total recluse since she was booted off the show two weeks ago – sent the gift to show she has no bad feelings towards Paula.
And the heartfelt gesture was not lost on the American star, who tweeted: “Gorgeous flowers from a gorgeous girl. Sweet friend… love you #Chezza thank you so much!”
Paula, 48, has been in New Jersey all week at X Factor auditions alongside new judge Nicole Scherzinger, while Cheryl has been hiding out in a UK bolt-hole, trying to put her fortnight from hell behind her.
At the time of her sensational sacking there was a suggestion she had clashed with Paula. But last night a source close to the 27-year-old revealed: “Paula and Cheryl really are good friends.
They have spoken on the phone several times in the last two weeks and Paula has been offering Cheryl plenty of advice about what to do next.
“Cheryl wanted to send the flowers to show that she does not blame Paula in anyway.
“Whether she can say the same for Nicole and Simon Cowell is another matter and maybe it is telling that they didn’t receive any flowers.”
Since Cheryl was unceremoniously dumped by her former mentor Cowell she has not been seen in public – and is said to be deeply upset by his comments about her.
The music mogul has said this week Cheryl should have a “thick skin to cope with this”.
And he also added: “I am sorry this has caused so much anguish and embarrassment, but I stand by what I believe was the right intention. And I would say that to her face right now.”
Cheryl’s family are trying to encourage her to leave her hideout and return home to Newcastle – but her only concern is to avoid the limelight.
Our source said: “Cheryl’s definitely on the mend. But she still gets very upset every time she heard Simon talk about what went on. She trusted him implicitly and genuinely thought of him as a friend.”
Simon Cowell opens up about Cheryl’s US X Factor saga
Simon Cowell finally has broken his silence on the X Factor Cheryl Cole saga, hoping to set the record straight on the Geordie singer’s axing from the US show.
Publicly apologising to the Girls Aloud star, he told the Sun: ‘I’m sorry. I’m not a monster.’
It seems the music guru still hopes to make things right with his former pal, claiming he was only looking out for what was best for her during the entire fiasco.
‘I’m sorry. I hope we’re still close friends’ he said. ‘She’s still a star. The hardest thing to accept is that everyone has painted me as a monster because I embarrassed her.
‘But the truth was I was protecting her. I just want people to be in the best place at the right time,’ he admitted, ‘I just thought she’d be happier in the UK.’
And despite hearsay that her accent put her on the chopping block, Simon has insisted it has nothing to do with it.
‘We noticed she was quieter than normal. The feeling was that she was slightly out of her comfort zone in America. The intention was to do it quietly and say to her she had an option to rejoin the UK show.’
He also denied reports that she had been sacked, insisting he wanted her to go back to her role on the UK show.
‘At the end of the day we were saying, ‘move to another show for even more money’. There was an offer of around £2.5million on the table including bonuses. How is that sacking someone?’
He also revealed that he didn’t tell her to leave the US show – but instead executive producer Richard Holloway delivered the final blow: ‘I wasn’t the right person. I felt she would be more comfortable to hear it from him.’
With Nicole Scherzinger now confirmed as the new judge replacing Cheryl on the US X Factor, it seems Cheryl’s fate has been sealed. But despite this, Simon insists that there are other roles for her on different shows.
Cheryl still hasn’t spoken out about her ordeal, but a friend told The Sun: ‘If Simon wants to say it wasn’t personal, that’s up to him. But the reality is he really pushed her into doing the US show. She would have been happy doing another year on the UK show.
‘At least he has said she walked away and that she wasn’t fired.
‘She just wants to take a break from all this and look to the future. It has been completely exhausting but she isn’t going to let it get in the way of her life any more.’
Paula Abdul has spoken of her sadness after her The X Factor co-star Cheryl Cole was dropped from the U.S. TV show.
Abdul and Cole had signed up to sit on the panel of the new American version of the British talent contest along with music mogul Antonio ‘L.A.’ Reid and creator Simon Cowell.
Auditions began in Los Angeles earlier this month (May11), but Cole was axed this week (begs23May11). She will reportedly be replaced by Nicole Scherzinger.
Abdul, who previously worked with Cowell on American Idol, reveals she was travelling when the news broke, and admits she will be sad to see Cole go.
She tells reporters during a promotional trip to Singapore, “This is all news to me. This apparently has captured the news while I was travelling so I’m just finding out things as you are. I don’t know whether this is true. You probably know more than I do.
“All I can tell you is that she is lovely, and I was really excited about the relationship and friendship we were forging. Regardless (of what happens), I’m looking forward to continuing that. She’s lovely.”
