Get set for The X Factor: Celebrity

Published: Mon 30 Sep 2019

Get set for The X Factor: Celebrity

This year, The X Factor is back but not as we know it Well-known faces with dreams of becoming superstar singers will be fighting for the chance to be crowned The X Factor 2019 Champion in The X Factor: Celebrity.

This brand-new take on the nation's most talked about music talent show will make its debut on TV screens this October and will feature some of the biggest names from the world of music, film, sport, television and social media.

The celebrity hopefuls will be leaving their comfort zones at the door as they battle it out in LA to make it through the first stage and all the way to the live shows in London to ultimately win a life changing record deal.

Music mogul Simon Cowell, Shermazing' Nicole Scherzinger and fan favourite Louis Walsh are returning as judges and reuniting with Mr Saturday Night himself, Dermot O'Leary for this unmissable series.

The celebrity singing sensations lined up to sing for Simon and co in LA are:

OVERS

Journalist, Martin Bashir

Talk Show host, Ricki Lake

Quiz show champion, Jenny Ryan

Actress, Victoria Ekanoye

UNDERS

Reality star, Megan McKenna

Model and Actress, Hayley Hasselhoff

Soap star, Jonny Labey

Film star, Olivia Olson

Actor, Kevin McHale

GROUPS

Reality stars Samira Mighty, Zara McDermott, Wes Nelson and Eyal Booker who form The Islanders

Sports stars Ben Foden, Thom Evans and Levi Davis who form Try Star

Professional dancer, Brendan Cole and actor, Jeremy Edwards who form Cole and Edwards

Social Media Stars and CBBC Presenters Max and Harvey

Influencers Sofia, Alondra, Laura, Wendii and Natalie who make up V5

Notes to editors

GROUPS

THE ISLANDERS

Eyal, Samira, Wes and Zara all shot to fame in 2018 when they appeared on the fourth series of ITV2's Love Island. They've all since followed their own journey whilst remaining the best of friends. Wes reached the Dancing on Ice final in 2019, whilst Eyal has been snapped up by numerous modelling agencies as well as appearing on E4s 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.

MAX & HARVEY

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, earning them the number one UK act on the platform and helping them to build up a diehard fanbase which has since risen to a combined social following of over eight 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. They've also published a book Max & Harvey: In a Book' which chronicles their career and lives.

TRY STAR

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.

COLE AND EDWARDS

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.

V5

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.

OVERS

JENNY RYAN

Jenny Ryan is one of the Chasers from ITV's 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.

VICTORIA EKANOYE

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'.

MARTIN BASHIR

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.

RICKI LAKE

Emmy award winner, 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.

UNDERS

JONNY LABEY

Jonny Labey is a British actor best known for his role as Paul Coker in EastEnders.

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