It’s no secret that X Factor Celebrity hasn’t exactly been setting the ratings alight, but those who’ve given the series a wide berth missed a real treat during the most recent episode.
Contestant Thom Evans made an absolutely savage dig at Louis Walsh after his performance in boyband Try Star was criticised on Saturday night.
The former rugby player and his bandmates Ben Foden and Levi Davis had sung a version of Blackstreet’s No Diggity, which they originally performed during the audition round at Simon Cowell’s house.
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Thom Evans made a savage dig at Louis Walsh on X Factor Celebrity
ITV
Giving his comments, Louis threw shade at Thom and Ben, saying: “They’ve done this song before… Levi you are an amazing, amazing soul singer and your two backing singers are OK.”
However, Thom was having none of Louis cattiness and called him out it with a real zinger.
As host Dermot O’Leary handed him the mic, Thom said: “Louis, I just want to say, with all due respect, you’ve been a backing singer to Simon for most your life, so...”
The comment was met with a standing ovation from Simon Cowell, while Nicole Scherzinger was left open-mouthed and a floundering Louis had little in the way of a comeback.
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Simon and Nicole applauded Thom's comments
ITV
Thom later went on to say: “To be serious though Louis is right, Levi has got an amazing voice. It’s a pleasure to perform on the stage with him. But we are rugby players and we all hustle together.”
Levi added: “And we all have a place in the band. Thom is the looks, Ben’s the logistics. In all fairness we have so much fun up here, that’s all we can ask for.”
The current series of X Factor Celebrity has seen ratings fall to record lows with less than four million tuning in each week.
It was supposed to be followed by an All Stars version featuring former contestants including Alexandra Burke, Fleur East and Ray Quinn next month.
However, Simon announced last week he had shelved plans for the series, instead deciding to launch X Factor: The Band - a hunt for a new boyband or girl group.
The move was in response to Simon’s former charges Little Mix launching their own similar show on the BBC next year, claiming he’d had the idea first.
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Simon Cowell has scrapped plans for X Factor All Stars
Rodin Eckenroth via Getty Images
He said he’d originally been approached to produce Little Mix The Search, telling The Sun: “I told them the problem was we have a conflict of interest because we are launching X Factor The Band in 2020. We were told their show was going to launch in 2021.
“Then we had the fallout and find out Little Mix were bringing their show forward. Was that intentional because we are doing our show? I have no idea.
“But regardless, it was too much fun not to do this year. I would rather it was us doing it first.”
X Factor Celebrity continues on Saturday at 8.20pm on ITV.
X Factor: Celebrity Line-Up
Jenny Ryan(01 of14)
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Jenny is one of the Chasers on ITV quiz show The Chase. Her knowledge has seen her compete on The Weakest Link, University Challenge and Mastermind. She initially was hired to write the questions for The Chase, then later became one of the Chasers in 2015, after fellow Chaser, Anne Hagerty recommended her. (credit:ITV)
Kevin McHale(02 of14)
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Kevin is an American actor, best known for the role of Artie in Glee. As well as acting, he has also co-hosted the Teen Choice Awards with Demi Lovato, and currently hosts a podcast called Showmance whilst focusing on perusing a solo music career.
Kevin’s first foray into music was in pop boy band, NTL, who opened for The Pussycat Dolls on their tour. Since then he has released solo EP’s and wants to continue performing on a bigger scale and eventually have a music label of his own. (credit:ITV)
Max and Harvey(03 of14)
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Young duo Max and Harvey are 16-year-old Berkshire based twin brothers who rose to fame when a clip of them singing Justin Bieber went viral on app Tik Tok. After becoming the number one UK act on the platform, they have a diehard fanbase with a combined social following of over 8 million.
The pair began their singing career by performing at school talent shows and busking in their local town. Since their rise to fame, they have released numerous original songs, toured, have their own show on CBBC Max and Harvey: FOMO and documentary My Life: Max and Harvey, which gave fans an insight into their lives. (credit:ITV)
Cole and Edwards(04 of14)
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Brendan Cole and Jeremy Edwards have been good friends for over 10 years having met at a Capital Radio event. Brendan is a professional ballroom dancer who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing for 15 years and has since appeared as a judge on New Zealand’s Dancing with the Stars and as a guest judge on Britain’s Next Top Model.
Jeremy is best known for playing heartthrob Kurt Benson in Hollyoaks. After leaving in 1999, Jeremy joined BBC’s medical drama Holby City. More recently, Jeremy returned to screens in CBBC’s Millie Inbetween. (credit:ITV)
Hayley Hasselhoff(05 of14)
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Hayley Hasselhoff is an American actress and model, and daughter of David Hasselhoff and Pamela Bach.
In 2010, she landed the leading role in TV series Huge, as well as featuring in her family’s reality TV series The Hasselhoffs. In addition to acting she has modelled since the age of 14 and is now recognised for her efforts in promoting body positivity as a plus size model. She has modelled in New York Fashion Week and she recently released a plus sized clothing collection in the UK and features as ITV’s This Morning’s fashion expert around body positivity. (credit:ITV)
Jonny Labey(06 of14)
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Jonny Labey is a British actor best known for his role as Paul Coker in EastEnders. Following his character’s death on the show, he went on to win ITV’s Dance Dance Dance in 2017 with his girlfriend at the time, he then went on to tour with Strictly Ballroom as the lead role.
Jonny wants to show people he is more than just a character from EastEnders and is in it to win it! (credit:ITV)
Martin Bashir(07 of14)
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Martin Bashir began working as a journalist in 1986 but is most well-known from his BBC interview with Princess Diana for Panorama in 2003. He has won several awards for his work, including three BAFTA nominations and the RTS Journalist of the Year award in 1996. (credit:ITV)
X Factor: Celebrity(08 of14)
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X Factor: Celebrity (credit:ITV)
X Factor: Celebrity(09 of14)
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X Factor: Celebrity (credit:ITV)
Ricki Lake(10 of14)
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Ricki Lake is an American actress and talk show host, best known for The Ricki Lake Show which lasted 11 years. Her on-screen breakthrough began when she played the lead role of Tracey Turnblad in the 1988 film Hairspray, since then she has seen a lot of TV and film success, as well as being the Executive Producer of a documentary and the co-author of two books. (credit:ITV)
Try Star(11 of14)
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Thom Evans, Ben Foden and Levi Davis are all professional rugby players. Thom is a former Scottish international rugby union player and model, although his rugby career was cut short due to a serious neck injury.
Levi Davis has represented England internationally at under 18 and under 19s level, and now plays for Bath United.
Ben Foden currently plays for Rugby United New York but has also played for England internationally. Together they can’t wait to take singing more seriously and would love to make it through to the live shows. (credit:ITV)
X Factor: Celebrity(12 of14)
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Eyal, Samira, Wes and Zara all shot to fame in 2018 when they appeared on the fourth series of ITV2’s Love Island.
Wes reached the Dancing on Ice final in 2019, whilst Eyal has been snapped up by numerous modelling agencies as well as appearing on E4's Celebs Go Dating.
Samira has performed on the West End, featuring in Disney’s live action remake of Beauty and the Beast, whilst Zara has worked on a number of projects that help engage young people into politics, a real passion of hers before Love Island. (credit:ITV)
V5(13 of14)
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V5 are international social media influencers, made up of Sofia, Alondra, Laura, Wendii and Natalie. They have a combined social media following of 11 million followers, with over 250 million channel views on YouTube. (credit:ITV)
Victoria Ekanoye(14 of14)
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Victoria Ekanoye is best known for playing Angie Appleton in Coronation Street. She has also appeared in The Lion King in the West End as well as touring the US, South America and Europe in The Blues Brothers production.
Victoria is currently filming for a new CBBC and Netflix show The Worst Witch. (credit:ITV)