Wednesday, 16 January 2008
Leon Jackson Could Lose his Voice
The family of the Scot fear his voice will change after an operation to remove his tonsils.
'Leon has come under a lot of criticism for canceling gigs but he is very ill,' reveals a friend to the Sunday Mail.
'His doctor has told him he must stop using his voice until he is fully better or he will have to have the op.
'In singers, this can lead to a permanent change in voice and difficulty in pronouncing some words.
In other X Factor news - Rhydian has signed a £1million record contract.
Saturday, 5 January 2008
Leon Jackson Recovering After Week Off For Wee Cough
He also cancelled shows in Falkirk and Dunfermline, leading to criticism from members of the public and even fellow singers.
He has spent the last week at home with his mum, and is expected to be back performing within the next few weeks.
A spokesman for Leon said: "He's having a quiet week at home this week to recover."
Monday, 31 December 2007
Leon Jackson celebrates birthday atop charts
The single, already the fastest selling of the year, has sold 395,000 copies in the two weeks since Jackson won the ITV talent show this month.
Jackson, from West Lothian in Scotland, will cap his chart success with a performance on Monday night opening Edinburgh's Hogmanay street party celebrations alongside rock band Kasabian and singer Calvin Harris.
Last year's "X Factor" winner Leona Lewis was close behind at number two with "Bleeding Heart" -- itself a former number one -- and topped the album charts for a seventh week with "Spirit".
Elsewhere in the singles charts American rapper Soulja Boy Tellem rose two places to number three with "Crank That (Soulja Boy)", while American producer Timbaland and Colorado rock band OneRepublic were six higher at number four with "Apologize".
Reformed boy band Take That climbed two places to number five with "Rule The World".
Producer Mark Ronson also rose two places to number six with "Valerie" featuring Amy Winehouse.
The highest climber in the top 10 was "Goodbye Mr A" from indie band The Hoosiers, which jumped 19 spots to claim 10th place.
In the album charts boy band Westlife were steady at number two with "Back Home".Take That's "Beautiful World" climbed to number three from eighth place, while Amy Winehouse's best-selling "Back to Black" rose five places to number five.
Monday, 24 December 2007
X Factor's Leon Bags Christmas No1
X Factor winner Leon Jackson has capped an "amazing year" by claiming the coveted Christmas number one.
The Scottish star's debut single When You Believe was predicted to out-sell its rivals and 275,000 copies were snapped up this week - more than the top ten combined.
Jackson's release was also the fastest-selling single of the year despite the controversy surrounding his win over Rhydian Roberts on the ITV show.
The 18-year-old from West Lothian said: "I'm absolutely over the moon. It's the best Christmas and birthday present ever. Having the Christmas number one is an amazing ending to an amazing year and I'm overwhelmed and thrilled. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me."
This time last year the former shop assistant was working late night shifts at a Gap clothes store before auditioning for the television talent show.
Celebrity Dannii Minogue, Jackson's mentor during the X Factor, said: "It's amazing to have been a part of 'The Leon King's' success story. He totally deserves this Christmas number one as the nation have been with him every step of the way since we fell in love with him at his first X Factor audition. It's been a pleasure to nurture Leon's raw talent and I know he will deliver a debut album we will all be proud of."
Jackson's release is the third consecutive X Factor winners' single to top the Christmas chart and follows in the footsteps of A Moment Like This, last year's festive hit from Leona Lewis, and Shayne Ward's 2005 track That's My Goal.
Katie Melua and the late Eva Cassidy's cover of What A Wonderful World fell one slot to number two and next was Lewis' latest release Bleeding Love which also fell a place.
Up four to number four was the old Pogues and Kirsty MacColl hit Fairytale Of New York which was given a boost by the furore surrounding Radio 1's ill-fated decision to censor the lyrics,
Despite singer Amy Winehouse's personal problems the Mark Ronson track Valerie which features her vocals is up three to number eight.
Sunday, 23 December 2007
Rhydian Blasts Leon Jacksons Hit Single
RHYDIAN Roberts has slammed X Factor winner Leon Jackson’s debut single as it today looked set to be Christmas number one.
The Scot stunned the nation last weekend after beating bookies’ favourite Rhydian in a shock TV phone vote.
But last night, as the 18-year-old prepared to top the charts with his debut single When You Believe, runner-up Rhydian blasted the smash hit.
His outburst comes as TV watchdog Ofcom probes a staggering 2,500 complaints from fans who claim they were unable to vote for Rhydian because of jammed phone lines.
Leon has been on a whirlwind tour of the UK all week.
But as the 18-year-old notches up an estimated 300,000 sales to win the race for the coveted Christmas number one slot, his Welsh rival Rhydian has told how he is ready to sign his own deal with Simon Cowell’s record label Sony/BMG.
When asked if he had bought Leon’s single, Rhydian, 24, from Sennybridge, Powys, said: “No. I don’t particularly like the song to be honest. I didn’t like my version either.
“In fact I’m kind of glad I didn’t win because my rendition would have got slated, I reckon.”
Some Welsh radio stations even imposed a ban on Leon’s song in protest – which was only lifted at the request of Rhydian’s family.
But despite the fall-out, Rhydian – who is to become an ambassador of Glamorgan county cricket club – insists he and Leon are still good mates.
He said: “Me and Leon get on relatively well. I was happy for him. I was obviously disappointed that I didn’t win, but it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
“I was a bit gutted at the time but I’m looking forward to the future – things are in the pipeline. First and foremost I’m going on holiday with my family to Mexico.”
Following his holiday, Rhydian is expected to sign on the dotted line for a £1m album deal with Simon Cowell.
But he may also have to decide whether to pursue an advance made by West End legend Sir Andrew Webber, who rang Rhydian following last week’s final.
Sir Andrew, who is said to be eyeing Rhydian for the lead in the new Broadway sequel of his smash Phantom of the Opera, has already said that Rhydian would make a “fantastic Phantom”.
Rhydian said: “Things are going to be announced in the near future. It wasn’t such a bad thing losing. There could well be a contract coming up.”
But he admitted he would have to weigh up an offer from Sir Andrew carefully.
He said: “I would love to play a role in one of his shows but whether the record company have a different plan... usually what happens is you become a recording artist first.”
Wales on Sunday can also reveal how the Welsh Rugby Union is keen for him to sing the national anthem ahead of the Wales v Scotland Six Nations match at the Millennium Stadium in February.
Rhydian’s uncle Nigel Roberts said: “I spoke to the WRU an hour before Rhydian went on to the X-Factor final, and they wished him all the very best.
“They said they are very happy to sit down with us and talk to us about Rhydian singing in the Stadium in the New Year.”
The offer came about after Wales on Sunday told WRU chief executive Roger Lewis that Rhydian wanted to fly the flag for Wales ahead of the match.
Mr Roberts said: “It was a great result and I was very happy Wales on Sunday brokered that conversation.
“It is one of Rhydian’s ambitions to sing at the Millennium Stadium because he’s such a proud Welshman and it’s one of his all-time goals.
“They haven’t put their itineraries together but the WRU do want to talk to Rhydian with a view to him singing. “Ideally that meeting would take place as soon as possible in January.”
And in a nod to Leon, Mr Roberts said he’d like to see Rhydian sing ahead of the crucial match.
He said: “That’s the ideal one because, obviously, it’s Wales and Scotland. That would be particularly sweet, wouldn’t it?”
Saturday, 22 December 2007
X Factor winner Leon Jackson’s debut single is set to be the fastest seller of 2007, as well as the Christmas Number One!
X Factor winner Leon Jackson’s debut single is set to be the fastest seller of 2007, as well as the Christmas Number One!
‘When You Believe’ could sell a massive 300,000 copies in it’s first week of sale, following Jackson’s surprise triumph in the X Factor final last weekend.
HMV’s Gennaro Castaldo says, “Leon is selling incredibly well, particularly in Scotland and the North.
"He's definitely on target to sell at least 250,000, possibly 300,000 copies, which will make it the fastest-selling single of the year."
Friday, 21 December 2007
Watchdog probe into X Factor final, Was It Rigged?
Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has asked ITV to hand over information relating to the final of the X Factor.
The show was plunged into controversy after hundreds of viewers claimed that they could not get through to vote for Welsh runner-up Rhydian Roberts on Saturday evening.
Despite being the favourite to win he lost to Scottish singer Leon Jackson, who is now expected to land the Christmas Number One.
The regulator confirmed earlier this week that it was investigating the final of the X Factor following complaints from viewers.
The fact that Ofcom has asked ITV for the information was revealed in a letter to Culture Secretary James Purnell. It said it had also asked ITV for the full findings of its Deloitte report into problems with participation-TV on programmes such as Saturday Night Takeaway.
The broadcaster was criticised for not publishing the full report in October.
Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards wrote: "The Deloitte review publicly identified seven programmes or series where failures occurred (Soapstar Superstar, Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, Ant and Dec's Gameshow Marathon, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, X Factor, Dancing On Ice and The British Comedy Awards).
"We have therefore asked ITV for the full findings by Deloitte on each of these programmes and for all other relevant information on all of these programmes (including of course information necessary for us to be able to assess the most recent set of complaints received over the past few days)."
He added: "This should assist us to complete our thorough investigation into these programmes."
So Guys n Gals, What Do You Think?
Was It Fixed? Make sure you take part in our poll on the right of this page.. Or leave your comment on this below.Thursday, 20 December 2007
Leon Jackson Fans Camp Out To See First Concert
FANS of Leon Jackson are set to camp out overnight to see his first gig as X Factor winner tomorrow.
Tickets will be released before dawn for the chance to see the heart-throb take part in a special gig just a few miles from his home.
The 18-year-old star will also sign copies of his debut single When You Believe, which looks certain to be the Christmas No1.
Leon said he was thrilled to be travelling north of the Border for the first time since beating Rhydian Roberts in Saturday's final.
He said: "I'm so excited about coming home for the first time since winning The X Factor.
"It's going to be such an honour to perform the single in my homeland - I can't wait.
"The signing will be amazing too. I can't wait to see everyone."
The 18-year-old will perform at the Almondva lecentrein Livingston - not far from from his home in Whitburn - at 8pm tomorrow.
In a bid to cope with the rush, 750 fans can get hold of free wristbands from the centre's HMV store from 7am on the day. They expect some to camp out all night.
The wristbands guarantee access to the signing of his single at HMV at 6pm, where they can meet the star before watching him perform in the centre later.
Leon hopes the homecoming concert will also give him the chance to spend some time with his mumWendy.
He has only seen her for 10 minutes following his win in London before he was whisked away to a press conference and to fulfil new work commitments.
An insider said: "Leon is so excited about going home. It's the first time he'll perform as the winner and the first time he has been on home soil since winning.
"He's looking forward to being back and spending some time with his mum and he'll also be able to thank some of his home fans for their support."
Former clothes shop assistant Leon broke down in tears as he landed a £1million record deal.
He thanked his Scots fans and said he was proud to have put Whitburn on the map.
Grateful town leaders want to thank him by hosting a civic reception in his honour.
Provost Tom Kerr, who met the former Whitburn Academy pupil last week, sent a letter to Leon's house offering to throw the bash.
And the council leader will tomorrow put a motion before the full council to get official backing.
Tom said: "It was a delight to meet Leon and his mum last week. He certainly has a star personality."
After his win, Leon said he wanted to buy 40-year-old Wendy a new house.
But yesterday she said she wouldn't allow him to spend all his earnings on her and she was happy in the council flat where she brought him up.
And the down-toe arth single mum added: "I haven't even got a packet of Christmas cards yet or a tree up or anything."
Punters enjoyed an early Christmas bonus after backing Leon at the weekend.
Bookies paid out tens of thousands of pounds to loyal fans who bet he would win the show.
A pensioner in Portsmouth won £8000 after putting £1000 on Leon with her first-ever flutter.
Ladbrokes said they paid out £20,000 to Scots punters - half in West Lothian.
Joan Longridge, 66, from Whitburn, pocketed £100 after putting £20 on Leon.
She said: "I will be buying my Christmas dinner with my winnings and also Leon's single for my granddaughter."
Kirsty Wilson, 18, put £5 on and scooped £20 profit.
She said: "Saturday night was brilliant. I know Leon and I thought he was brilliant. I will definitely be buying his single."
Tam Stewart and his wife Isabel, 68, also from Whitburn, had placed £6 on Leon, picking up a £21 profit.
Tam, 66, said: "We voted 10 times. He is a brilliant laddie. He came from nowhere to win it."
Meanwhile, dozens of fans had problems downloading When You Believe from music website iTunes.
Download Leon Jackson "When You Believe" From Woolworths Today