Latest news with #LouisWalsh
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE X Factor's Wagner exposes 'fakery' on controversial talent show: 'Nothing you saw on TV was real'
X Factor star Wagner has claimed that the controversial ITV talent show was 'scripted' and that 'nothing viewers saw was real'. The singer, 69, reached the quarter-finals of the show in 2010 in a season that was won by Matt Cardle and also spawned chart-topping boyband One Direction. In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Wagner has lifted the lid on went down behind the scenes, confessing he had hardly any contact with his mentor Louis Walsh and insisting producers pulled all the strings. 'The judges are actors', he claimed. 'It was a reality TV show but nothing is real... Everything is planned in advance and my contact with Louis was just the for cameras.' Insisting that the vocal coaches had more of a mentor than the judges, he went on: 'So yeah, I never had much contact with Louis, but I must say he was pleasant every time I met him.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Wagner continued: 'I don't think the judges even got to choose the songs. I'm sure the producers would pick the songs for us.' He added that the judges' feedback also wasn't genuine, claiming the vocal coaches would give feedback to producers so they could script the televised interactions... 'They [the judges] would look at the camera, but every now and then they would look away and read the script. Some would look more than others!' He mused: 'The show couldn't trust the "judges", everybody became a judge! At first it was that image of Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne were "experts in music", but then all of a sudden everybody was in and everybody became judges... 'The script was to make sure the entertainment would keep going because they couldn't rely on the judges to be witty or quick thinking.' When wildcard Wagner appeared on the show, critics of The X Factor staged an internet campaign for him to win the show, saying they should vote to keep him in to 'p**s off' Simon Cowell. Yet ultimately, he was was eliminated in sixth place after a unanimous vote by judges in a sing-off against Mary Byrne. At the time, Simon suggested that an internet campaign to 'derail' the show by making him the unlikely winner had failed. 'There were people out there trying to derail this show,' he said after Wagner's exit. 'We've put this show back in the hands of the public.' Discussing the show, Wagner mused: 'It's not democracy, it's showbusiness. 'They knew that they wanted to promote One Direction and everybody else were just extras in the play. 'All I know is that on the day that was sent home a girl from merchandizing said that I was the only one who had sold all my merchandise. 'She said that I was at the top of the votes and One Direction was behind me - and then I was eliminated!' There is no suggestion that the vote was rigged. Wagner also revealed that Louis faked interactions between the pair. In every episode, Louis kept mispronouncing his name, saying it like Wag-nah rather than the correct Vawg-ner. 'It was a joke that Louis agreed with me!' Wagner explained. 'He said "I'm gonna call you Wagner all the time and you're gonna say Louis, my name is Vawg-ner." 'That was fun and it was Louis's idea. It was smart.' Created by Simon in 2004, The X Factor helped to launch the careers of some of the UK's biggest stars, including Little Mix, Olly Mursand Alexanra Burke. But behind closed doors, the ITV show was far from a rosy experience for many of its contestants, with some claiming that bosses convinced them to fake certain moments in a bid to boost ratings. While the series pulled in a record 18 million viewers at its peak, in later years it came under fire for manufacturing results and storylines, and was quietly placed on hiatus in 2018. Despite not winning The X Factor, Wagner still managed to cash in on his fame, selling personalised videos to fans. 'From the videos I would get £100,000 a year,' he revealed. 'I used to make an average of £2,000 a week just on videos. So that was good.' Yet when sales dropped, Wagner ended up trying out a new business, briefly owning a hair transplant clinic in his native Brazil. But it wasn't a role he enjoyed and Wagner ended up returning to the UK where he started his band: Kings With Wings: The Wagner Rock Band - a name he says is inspired by his love of birdwatching. 'I got lots of bookings but I felt so awkward singing She Bangs, because my God, that is a stupid song but people love it,' he explained. 'I sang She Bangs wherever I went. But with the band I'm having my own repertoire. I'm singing great songs, Jumping Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley... 'And there's nothing like singing with musicians instead of singing to backing tracks.'
Extra.ie
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Muireann O'Connell left speechless after Louis Walsh encounter
Yikes, it seems Louis Walsh is at it again! Ireland AM star Muireann O'Connell took to social media this week to detail how the music mogul left her speechless after accidentally insulting her to her face. The Limerick native and her co-hosts Tommy Bowe and Alan Hughes attended the 'A taste of the Amalfi Coast' launch at the garden terrace in the Intercontinental Hotel Dublin on Thursday night, where they had a surprise encounter with the former X Factor judge. Yikes, it seems Louis Walsh is at it again! Pic: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock Muireann sported a black and white chequered high-neck top, having worked out at her new home before doing her hair and makeup for the night. While she stunned on the night, Louis had some choice words about Muireann's appearance, with the Virgin Media presenter taking to social media to document the moment. 'The hair saga continues. I exercised and had an hour to get ready,' she began. Ireland AM star Muireann O'Connell took to social media this week to detail how the music mogul left her speechless after accidentally insulting her to her face. Pic: Brian McEvoy 'This is what's after happening and to be fair to Louis Walsh, he's right, I just met him and he's like, '[that's a] Lovely big wig'.' Muireann then stuttered as she said: 'Is it that… it's very…. okay.' 'What am I going to do with my hair lads?' she mused following the awkward interaction. Louis also put his foot in it with another popular presenter at the event, asking an openly pregnant Doireann Garrihy if she was drinking. The 2FM star, who announced her pregnancy last month, jokingly replied 'it's No-secco Louis!' as a bartender poured them both a glass. Oh Louis, can't take him anywhere!
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Ireland AM hosts in disbelief at viewer's embarrassing concert confession as artist forced to stop gig
IRELAND AM's hosts were left in stitches after a viewer shared their mortifying concert mishap live on air. The hit breakfast show was back on air this morning for another jam-packed with Presenters Advertisement 2 Ireland AM's hosts were left laughing at a viewers concert confession 2 Alan Hughes read out the gig fiasco live on air On today's episode, the trio were discussing the upcoming concerts taking place in Ireland this summer . The gang were particularly excited about British pop group, Simply Red's 40th anniversary tour, which is hitting Alan began to read out an email which was sent in by a viewer who had previously attended a Simply Red concert in the 3Arena. The 61-year-old recalled the message, which wrote: 'I went to a Simply Red concert with my wife, who may have had one too many glasses of wine . Advertisement READ MORE IN IRELAND AM 'She starts singing out of tune at the top of her lungs and we all begin to move away from her.' The mortified concertgoer continued to reveal how Simply Red's lead singer , Mick Hucknall, stopped the song and looked down at his wife with a dissatisfied look. Alan added: 'So the wife went totally quiet and Mick started the song again.' The popular presenter began to cry with laughter as he tried to finish off the last part of the email. Advertisement Most read in News TV He continued: 'Then he goes, 'I left her on her own and met her outside on the way home'.' The three hosts were in fits of laughter at the viewer's honest recount of the story. Muireann O'Connell left speechless by Louis Walsh A shocked Muireann remarked: 'I can't believe she was that loud that he stopped the song.' Tommy replied: 'And in the 3Arena too, it's such a big venue.' Advertisement Alan chuckled: 'Well let's hope they were right up at the stage.' This comes after Muireann was left speechless after FEAR FACTOR The Virgin Media presenter attended a glam event alongside Tommy and Alan last night. The popular presenter took to her Louis Walsh . Advertisement She explained: "The hair saga continues. I exercised and had an hour to get ready. "This is what's after happening and to be fair to Louis Walsh , he's right, I just met him and he's like, '[that's a] Lovely big wig'." Muireann put her hand over her mouth and stuttered as she said: "Is it that... it's very.... okay." She asked her fans: "What am I going to do with my hair lads?" Advertisement
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Ireland AM star Muireann O'Connell left speechless as Louis Walsh accidentally insults her to her face at glam event
IRELAND AM star Muireann O'Connell was left speechless after Louis Walsh accidentally insulted her to her face. The Virgin Media presenter attended a glam event alongside her co-hosts Tommy Bowe and Alan Hughes last night. Advertisement 3 Muireann attended an event at a five star hotel last night with her peers Credit: Instagram 3 Louis Walsh had an awkward encounter with Muireann Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 Louis thought Muireann was wearing a wig Credit: Instagram The Limerick beauty and her pals enjoyed some drinks and delicious food at the 'A taste of the Amalfi Coast' launch at the garden terrace in the Intercontinental Hotel Dublin. She had worked out at her new home before doing her hair and makeup for the night out. Muireann wore her luscious blonde locks down - and the volume caught one star's eye. Advertisement read more muireann o'connell The popular presenter took to her Instagram story and shared her shock after her awkward encounter with X Factor icon Louis Walsh. She explained: "The hair saga continues. I exercised and had an hour to get ready. "This is what's after happening and to be fair to Louis Walsh, he's right, I just met him and he's like, '[that's a] Lovely big wig'." Muireann put her hand over her mouth and stuttered as she said: "Is it that... it's very.... okay." Advertisement Most read in News TV She asked her fans: "What am I going to do with my hair lads?" And unfortunately, it wasn't the only dilemma Muireann suffered yesterday. Muireann O'Connell faces renovation dilemma After blood, sweat and tears, the popular presenter The Limerick beauty has jumped straight into renovations and has been sharing snippets of their plans along the way. Advertisement Muireann Holding up two green tiles - one matte and one glossy, she said: "There is no gloss in Ireland. We have been on to so many places but there is the matte. NIGHT-MUIR "Now we can get the gloss with the lead-in time of eight weeks, but we don't have eight weeks as certain things have happened... things have broken in the house. "Builders have been in and all that kind of stuff so we have to do the bathroom. It's starting very soon." Advertisement Muireann said that they still "love" the gloss tiles and that they may DIY it themselves. She explained: "We think we can make the matte gloss. We looked it up online. So we're like, let's just get the matet and turn them into gloss tiles. "We might ruin our bathroom, but that's up a no-gloss in Ireland. Like we're glossy. We're not flat. We're not flat people. Anyway, that's a tile update."
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
X Factor star Wagner reveals his jaw-dropping transformation after returning to the UK following failed hair transplant business in Brazil
X Factor icon Wagner Fiuza-Carrilhohas has revealed his jaw-dropping transformation, 15 years after rising to fame on the iconic ITV show. The singer, 69, rose to fame thanks to his outlandish performance style, and earned a huge army of fans which saw him reach week eight of the competition. Despite moving back to his native Brazil, Wagner has now returned to the UK after his attempts to launch a hair transplant business failed. And despite being on the cusp of his 70th birthday, the performer showed off his new ripped physique in an interview for FUBAR Radio. Chatting to host Andrew White, Wagner spoke about his decision to return to the UK, saying: 'I went to Brazil for 22 months, and I came back in December, I went there to open a Vinci hair clinic franchise. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'A hair transplant plant clinic, but I couldn't stand living there. And my original plan, it was to have the clinic there and run it from here. It wouldn't work. 'I would have to be there. So I sold it back to the Da Vinci hair clinic in friendship with the owner, a good friend of mine, and I'm back.' In 2010, Wagner became famous overnight when he auditioned for series seven of The X Factor and made it all the way to the quarter final as part of the over 28s category under judge Louis Walsh. The singer was loved for combining classic songs into one memorable performance, such as She Bangs and Love Shack. He eventually eliminated in the quarter final, finishing in sixth place after losing the sing-off to fellow category member Mary Byrne. Wagner, whose hobbies are body building kand karate, goes to the gym six or seven days a week. In a recording of his interview, Wagner also showed off his impressive new grey beard, revealning it helps him to hide from fans. He said: 'It gives me a break, because it takes them a while to spot me if I have only the moustache. Oh, people beep the horn in the cars, and everybody says, Wagner, Wagner, wherever I go, which is lovely. Despite moving back to his native Brazil , Wagner has now returned to the UK after his attempts to launch a hair transplant business failed (pictured with his two children) 'But at the same time, as I aged, and I don't like my neck, although I work out, I thought, this is the best makeup I can have. So, when people then say, are you Wagner? And then I say joking, I'm Wagner's dad.' The performer went onto discuss the downfall of The X Factor, with the show shelved by ITV bosses in 2018 in the wake of declining ratings. He explained: 'Everybody's on their phones scrolling, and nobody pays attention to TV anymore. And that's one of the reasons why the X Factor finished. 'Yeah, the other reason was people stopped buying records, and they couldn't have any prize to offer to the winner anymore. 'So, joining the impossibility of offering a substantial prize to a winner and the drop in in viewings. It's finished. 'Nowadays, people might have millions of views on you, on YouTube or on TikTok, but they walk on the streets and nobody recognises them. So what I've achieved, well, it can no longer be achieved.' Wagner and his partner Lydia met in December 2010 at a gig in Dudley, weeks after he was voted out of The X Factor at the quarter-final stage. Despite their 36-year age gap, the performer insists he isn't bothered by the different because his 'spirit doesn't get old.' Wagner has continued to perform gigs since his X Factor stint 12 years earlier, and also earned extra income through personalised video messages. He said that he believes he kickstarted the personalised message craze through sites such as Cameo, after Lydia suggested he start charging fans for clips. He also revealed that he is still in touch with many former X Factor contestants, including Sam Bailey, Mary Byrne, Rebecca Ferguson and Tracy Cohen, and has even kept a pair of sunglasses given to him by One Direction's Zayn Malik.
