Union J: The Unauthorised Biography

JJ worked for Sir Michael for four years while he began jockeying professionally. It was hard work, but he loved it, and he was proud of his older brother Ashley, who was apprenticed to trainer Luca Cumani. The boys spent their lives criss-crossing the country competing in races, trying to build up experience and a number of winners on the racecourse. In spare moments JJ and Ashley would sit on the sofa at home, watching their rides back on video to see where they might have improved. Dad Paul was always behind them, encouraging them to race as much as they could. ‘He keeps asking, “Why haven’t you got a ride today? Phone your agent and ask why you don’t have a ride,”’ said JJ at the time. ‘Then he tells us to go for a run or something, to get us out of the house.’ While a horse-mad teenager, JJ’s little sister Otea was born, and he dotes on her to this day.

During this time, JJ even rode one of Her Majesty the Queen’s horses and was then lucky enough to meet Her Majesty. ‘Once or twice a year, she would pop into the yard to check on her horses – it was so weird seeing her,’ he told the Daily Express. ‘She sauntered in wearing Wellington boots as if it was normal – and she walked into the horses’ box that I was in at the time. She said hello, fed the horses grass and left. Apart from The X Factor, it was the most surreal moment of my life.’ Living and breathing flat racing, Ashley and JJ’s bond grew ever stronger, and they were each other’s biggest fans. ‘When I ride against Ashley, if I can’t win, I want him to win instead,’ said JJ.

But a career in horseracing wasn’t to be. JJ was just 21 when he realised that he would have to give up his racing dreams. As a flat jockey, it was important he kept his weight at a very low level: if the jockey was too heavy, it would slow down the horse. At a regular weight of just 7st 12lb, he was much lighter than other guys his own age and ate a special diet at home to keep him at the right frame. At 18, JJ had no problems in keeping his weight down, saying, ‘I don’t have to watch what I eat, but I don’t eat that much anyway – I hate getting full up.’ But as he grew older, it became a struggle. He reluctantly realised he would have to quit the saddle and find something else to focus on in his life. It was a huge decision for JJ to take – horses were his family’s world. Still, he could be proud of his successes – by the time he stopped competing in October 2009 he’d ridden in over 260 race rides and had 24 wins in just four years of appearing on the racecourse. He wasn’t ready to give up horses for good, though, and carried on as a part-time work-rider for Newmarket trainer John Gosden, taking his horse out every morning.

JJ decided to take this opportunity to try to make it in singing, acting and modelling – something he’d always secretly dreamed of. ‘I have always loved singing but never had the bottle,’ he told the Newmarket Journal. ‘When I stopped race riding it gave me the drive to do something else.’With his chiselled good looks and toned body he signed up to a modelling agency and began attending auditions to try to land acting parts. One of his first was for a BBC series called The Cut. Although he didn’t get the role, JJ’s experience was growing and he was really enjoying this new challenge in his life. With the same drive and focus he’d previously applied to horseriding, he was determined to make it in the world of acting, but things were proving difficult. By 22, he’d been involved with a couple of failed singing projects and done a bit of acting but, as he himself admitted, ‘nothing really took off’.

But one day in 2011, JJ was contacted out of the blue by a songwriter who’d seen his picture on his agency website. US-based songwriter Kasey Monroe had seen something in JJ’s publicity shots and got in touch with him, asking if he could sing. JJ recorded a clip of his singing voice on YouTube, which impressed Kasey, who’d worked with some of the biggest names in pop, including Madonna and Westlife. She put JJ in touch with Julian White, a music manager who was putting together a new boyband. He was working with two ex-members of a band called Brooklyn who’d appeared on The X Factor earlier that year – and one of them happened to be a certain Jaymi Hensley! The boys hit it off straight away and JJ was hopeful that this would be the big break he’d been waiting for. ‘This is a fantastic chance for me and I’m really excited,’ he told the local paper in Newmarket. At the time, JJ was known as Jamie, but he quickly realised that with another member also called Jaymi, although it was spelled differently, it wouldn’t work. He came up with a new nickname for himself – JJ, standing for ‘Jockey Jamie’! Having met up with Jaymi and Josh, JJ was onto something good, and the next year would change his life forever.

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In the middle of the summer of 1992, Britain was gripped by Olympic fever. The whole country cheered on Linford Christie as he won the Men’s 100m in Barcelona, but in the village of Winkfield, near Ascot in Berkshire, Kathryn and Graeme Cuthbert had something more important to focus on. They’d just had their first baby, Joshua Thomas John Cuthbert, who’d been born on 28 July. With his big sparkling blue eyes, he was a gorgeous boy from day one, and as he grew up he loved nothing more than playing with his favourite toy, Olly the Octopus, and kicking a football about in the garden. He started at the local Cranbourne Primary School at age four, and aged seven he was chuffed to bits when his little brother Callum was born, followed three years later by his sister Victoria.

It was a normal, happy childhood, filled with school and football practice. Josh supported Chelsea and was already showing a strong talent for the game himself. He got into pop music, buying ‘Don’t Stop Movin’ by S Club 7 as his first ever single, and enjoyed playing the class clown. Despite his cheeky side, Josh was a softy, too, always looking after animals. Throughout his childhood he had a hamster and a goldfish and loved nothing better than going to the zoo. Even now, he adores his cat Oreo, who he calls the ‘mascot’ of Union J! But as a child, no one in his family knew of his secret skill – singing. That was until one day when, aged 10, he landed the role of Scrooge in his school’s production of A Christmas Carol. ‘I had no idea he had a voice – we were blown away by him singing,’ Josh’s mum Kathryn told the local paper. ‘We got him straight into Stagecoach in Bracknell, who told him to audition for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.’ Within a few months, young Josh’s life was transformed. At just 11, he landed the role of George in the West End production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It was an incredible experience for a young boy – appearing at the historic London Palladium for nine months alongside stars like Christopher Biggins and the late star Stephen Gately, whose previous band Boyzone had been managed by Louis Walsh. His family were thrilled – especially his nan Jean, who spent over £800 on tickets, going to see her grandson in the show every week!

Although he’d already had an amazing break in acting early on in his life, Josh still lived a regular life, moving up to Charters School in Sunningdale when he was 11. With his good looks, he began getting lots of attention from girls, but his heart was reserved for someone else – his PE teacher! He developed a huge crush on the gorgeous hockey player, whose beauty hadn’t escaped the other boys in his school – Josh confessed that most of them tried to get a look at her when she was playing a match. As he grew up, Josh’s romantic side emerged and he had his first kiss aged 15, playing Spin the Bottle. At school, he was a real character who left an impression on all those around him. ‘He brought a smile to the face, could be a bit cheeky, but had a sparkle about him,’ said headteacher Martyn Parker.

After that taste of the big time with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Josh began to think seriously about making singing his aim in life. His other passion had been football, and he’d played for quite a few teams, including Ascot Juniors, but an injury put paid to his sporting dreams. So instead he focused on singing and in early 2007 he asked his mum and dad if he could audition for that year’s X Factor. Leona Lewis had won the year before and it would be Josh’s first opportunity to audition for the top-rated show, as that year was the first they’d lowered the minimum age for participants from 16 to 14. Having turned 14 the summer before, Josh just squeaked in and his mum Kathryn reluctantly agreed to let him go. It was an amazing eye-opener for Josh, who reached the Bootcamp stage before being turned down. ‘I was his chaperone and it was a very intense experience,’ said Josh’s mum. ‘He was probably too young then.’ While at The X Factor he also met Blair Dreelan, a singer who was auditioning as part of his band 4th Ba5e. They hit it off, and when 4th Ba5e split up, Josh and Blair started a group together called M4. Although that didn’t work out either, they stayed good friends and Blair was to play a key role in Josh’s future.

After his GCSEs, Josh went to Farnborough Sixth Form College, although he still hadn’t given up on his dream of making it in the music industry. Having attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School’s Saturday classes regularly for a few years, he’d made friends with Jaymi Hensley, another talented singer a couple of years older than himself. Together they talked about their passion for making it in music and before long Josh thought his big moment had come. Aged just 17, he won a place in a boyband called Replay and they signed a two-year management contract. He hoped that this meant his pop dreams were about to come true, although progress with Replay was slow and he wasn’t sure they were going to be successful. But soon another incredible opportunity came up that would rock Josh’s world. ‘About a year into the contract, I got approached by Jayne Collins, who was The Wanted’s manager,’ Josh explained. ‘She’d seen me performing with Replay and wanted me to join The Wanted as the fifth member.’ Josh met up with Max and the rest of the Wanted boys and their management where they outlined plans for the band. It sounded amazing and Josh desperately wanted to leave his current group and join The Wanted, but it proved impossible. ‘Me and my parents spent a lot of money trying to get me out of the contract, but there was nothing we could do – I was tied down,’ he said. ‘I missed out on a massive opportunity there. Every time I hear them I kick myself.’

Josh was gutted. He thought he’d missed his big break – after all, how many opportunities to join a successful boyband would occur in his life? But he was determined not to give up, to think positively and keep going. He carried on auditioning when he could, fitting it in around his studies until he left college in 2010. Josh took on jobs to make ends meet, including one stint selling mobile phones and then another working in an office doing IT sales. Although he found the work ‘really boring’, he had no other options until fame came calling again. But there were no guarantees. In his lowest moments Josh couldn’t help but wonder whether he would ever be able to sing for a living. His next big adventure came when he joined another boyband, this time called The Boulevard. Alongside bandmates Ryan Davies, Andy Rice and Alistar Jay, they supported Boyzone in a series of gigs across Ireland. Yet again, it was a near-miss for Josh, as the band had hoped to sign a record deal, but none materialised. It was a difficult time for Josh, especially because in 2011 his beloved nan died, leaving him gutted. ‘She struggled as a single mum to raise a family and we had nothing,’ he said. ‘She could always sing, and I grew up listening to her sing to us as kids. She always taught me to be humble and take every chance you get, as things happen for a reason.’

And things were definitely about to happen for Josh – finally. Now well known among music managers thanks to his stints in various bands, his stunning model looks and voice, he was snapped up with his friend Jaymi to join another new band called Rewind. There were five of them in total, with Billy Ashley, Ben Weedon and an ex-jockey called JJ Hamblett rounding out the group. Rewind started gigging around the country at various Pride events, but the boys weren’t happy with how things were going. Three of them – Josh, JJ and Jaymi – decided to change managers and go with Blair Dreelan instead, who had by then moved into music management. (He’d also had a brush with tabloid notoriety himself when his girlfriend, Sarah Robinson, left him for The X Factor’s 2010 winner, Matt Cardle!) It had been a whirlwind few months, but the buzz between the three guys was there – and after the rollercoaster journey they’d all been on in their earlier attempts at a pop career, they all hoped that this would be the band that stuck. And as a newly formed three-piece, they needed a new name. With all their initials the same, it seemed like destiny: Triple J were born.

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George Shelley grew up surrounded by music. He was born in Bristol on 27 July 1993 – just one day less than a year after Josh! – and his nurse mum Toni decided to name her third son after one of the patients she’d bonded with. Even as a toddler, he couldn’t wait to start playing musical instruments and began singing as soon as he could talk. His mum would fill up bottles with uncooked rice so little George could turn them into maracas, and an early photo shows him as a cute toddler, with baby-blond hair and dimples, sitting proudly behind his Mickey Mouse drumkit. ‘George, even as a young boy, always wanted to join in and used to pretend he was playing on the drums, using a saucepan and a wooden spoon,’ Toni told the Bristol Post newspaper. ‘He has always been the sort of person who could pick up an instrument and play it – a talent he got from his granddad.’ George’s granddad, Dave, a retired policeman, was a real rock’n’roller, playing in many bands – he was to play an influential role in his grandson’s life.

George was born into a big family: he has two older brothers, Tom – who is his half-brother – and William. When George was nearly three, his little sister Harriet arrived. ‘I remember walking past my mum and dad’s room,’ he told Bliss magazine. ‘My mum told me to put my head on her belly and she said, “That’s your sister.”’ Sadly, after Harriet was born, George’s mum Toni and his dad Dominic split up. George stayed with his mum, living in a ‘really small house’ in Clevedon and going to Happy Hours Day Nursery. He then started at Backwell Infant School, moving on to Golden Valley Primary School and then Yeo Moor Junior School as his family moved house a lot. George was a smiley, sweet little boy and began showing an enthusiasm for the guitar, which his mum Toni also played, often performing at pubs, clubs and festivals with songs she’d written herself. The family wanted to encourage George to explore his musical talent, but they couldn’t afford to pay for lessons. So with some help from his granddad Dave, George began teaching himself to play guitar and was so excited when he got his own guitar for his 13th birthday. He spent hours honing his skills, practising chords and trying to learn his favourite pop songs, especially those by the Black Eyed Peas. ‘Where Is the Love?’ was one of his top tunes.

But George also had to deal with some difficult times, too. His brother Will, who had joined the Royal Marines, went off for his first tour of duty in Afghanistan when his little brother was only 13. George had to deal with the fact that Will was risking his life for his country, and that he might not see him again. ‘It was really hard knowing your big brother’s going out there fighting for his country and he might not come back,’ George told The X Factor, years later. And after starting high school, sensitive George found himself the victim of cruel bullies who ended up physically hurting him, just because he didn’t fit in. ‘I was 12 stone and really short. All the other boys loved football and I just wanted to play my guitar. I was always the last one picked because no one wanted the fatty who couldn’t run,’ he told the Daily Star Sunday. ‘The worst thing that happened was we were playing football and one of the kids purposefully kicked the ball as hard as they could right at me. I put my hands up to protect my face and ended up breaking my wrist.’

It was a nightmarish experience for George, who felt he was always a bit of a ‘loner’ at school. But after this traumatic experience, he transferred schools to Kings of Wessex in Cheddar, where he found his niche in the creative subjects. He even landed plum roles in school productions of Animal Farm and Much Ado About Nothing – as well as bagging his first kiss with a girl called Sandy! Meanwhile, his guitar playing went from strength to strength, and George performed in the Priddy Folk Festival near his home in Somerset, aged just 14. His dad Dominic was still an important part of his life. He spent as much time as possible at his dad’s house in Nottingham, where George was accumulating even more brothers and sisters! With his new partner Rowena, George’s dad Dom had three children – Leo, who came along in 2003; Archie, born in 2008, and little Spencer, born in 2011. Including George’s stepsisters Annabelle and Louisa, he now had a truly huge family! George adored his little siblings and they, in turn, looked up to their cool big brother in awe.

Creative George went on to study graphic design at Weston College, part of Bath Spa University, where he received distinctions for his work. During the holidays he earned extra cash working part-time in Costa Coffee. He expected that he’d follow a career in design, perhaps in America, after graduating from uni. Meanwhile, his older half-brother Tom emigrated to Australia, where he worked as a builder but was also a drummer in a band. Seeing his eldest brother follow his musical ambitions stirred something in George. He’d long harboured a secret dream no one knew about – that he wanted to follow a career in music, too. By now, he was really talented on the guitar and was able to pick out a tune on ‘anything from a bongo to a banjo’, according to his mum Toni. George also had a gorgeous singing voice, but modestly held back from pushing himself forward. But a devastating event in March 2011 changed his attitude. Toni, who’d been working as a nurse, felt very ill one day and went to hospital. There, she was diagnosed with a severe migraine and sent home – whereas, actually, she was having a stroke. Toni suffered a brain bleed, which left her with loss of feeling on her left side. She had to have surgery on her wrists as well after she developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a painful condition where the hands and fingers develop a dull ache and tingling sensation after a nerve is compressed. Having to leave her job and spend months recovering from a big health scare was traumatic for Toni and the rest of the family. Seeing his mum go through such a scary illness left its mark on George and he knew then that he should follow his heart.

Just a few months later, he was hanging out with Weston College friend Emily Tollner when they saw that The X Factor auditions would be coming to Cardiff. ‘Go on,’ urged Emily – it would be just a short journey away across the River Severn. Her encouraging words gave George the confidence boost he needed. And so, on a March day in 2012, he packed up his guitar, bought a train ticket and plucked up the courage. He was going to enter The X Factor.

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The X Factor is the biggest show on UK television. Before then, Britain had had singing contests, like Pop Stars and Pop Idol – which Will Young won back in 2002 – but nothing quite like The X Factor had ever been seen before. From the moment the series hit TV screens in 2004, it became the biggest deal going. Millions of viewers tuned into the four-month-long series each year, which offered a million-pound record contract to the winner. Anyone over 16 could enter and have their chance of singing their way to superstardom. And thousands upon thousands did – in 2006 an incredible 200,000 wannabes auditioned for the show. By the time Union J were ready for their bite at the X Factor cherry, the show had made stars out of many of the winners – including Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke and Matt Cardle. Even those who hadn’t won the big prize found that X Factor exposure in front of millions of the viewing public had transformed their lives. JLS, Olly Murs, Stacey Solomon, Rebecca Ferguson and even joke band Jedward had all become hugely successful following their involvement in the show, but in 2012 the name on everyone’s lips was One Direction.

The five-piece boyband had been put together by The X Factor in 2010, after originally auditioning as solo singers. They ended up coming third overall, behind Rebecca Ferguson and outright winner Matt Cardle. But since then their success had eclipsed everyone’s wildest expectations. Not only did their debut single, ‘What Makes You Beautiful’, shoot to Number One in the UK, it went on to become an enormous hit in the US, too. With their debut album, Up All Night, selling in its millions across the globe, the boys were famous worldwide. They had become the first British group in American chart history to hit Number One with their debut album when it was released over there in March 2012 – and entered into the Guinness World Records as a result. As the boys from Triple J and George Shelley separately travelled to their first X Factor auditions, the papers and internet were full of One Direction’s international success. They internet truly global superstars, and their journey had begun this same way just two years before: travelling to an X Factor audition alongside thousands of other hungry would-be superstars. In the back of their minds the boys must have wondered if this would end up being their big break – Josh and Jaymi in particular, as they’d been in a few boybands in the past that hadn’t worked out. Would Triple J be the answer? They hoped and prayed it would be.

Behind the success of the X Factor lay Simon Cowell – the music-mogul-turned-reality-show-TV-judge. He’d come up with the idea after becoming famous in the UK through Pop Idol, and had turned The X Factor into the global brand it was. Notorious for his plain speaking and harsh put-downs of singers he felt were not up to scratch, Simon’s pantomime-baddie act hid a sharp business brain. He was a millionaire many times over thanks to his production company owning The X Factor and signing the winners to his own record label, Syco. The British public had a love/hate relationship with Cowell, but it was obvious that he had the magic touch with The X Factor. He had appeared as the main judge on the show since its start, originally alongside music managers Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne. Australian singer Dannii Minogue had been brought in as a fourth judge in 2007, and her fiery relationship with Sharon saw the wife of rocker Ozzy Osbourne leave the next year – to be replaced by Cheryl Cole. This proved an amazing move for the Girls Aloud star, who became the nation’s sweetheart and also launched her own top solo career. But following the launch of The X Factor USA in 2010, both Simon and Cheryl left the show, followed by Dannii, who was focusing on her career in Australia. It was a big shock – three-quarters of the show’s judges had left. They were replaced by Take That’s star singer and songwriter Gary Barlow, N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos and Destiny’s Child’s Kelly Rowland. With this brand-new line-up, the 2011 series of The X Factor faced more criticisms and controversies than usual, as viewers adjusted to this big change in the format. And it didn’t work out 100 per cent successfully, as ratings dropped from the last series in 2010, which had seen an amazing 19.4 million viewers tune in for the final.

Both Triple J and George had made it through the first, early rounds of auditions, which were held without the famous judges being present. Luckily for Josh, Jaymi and JJ, this was the first year when acts with management deals were able to audition – in previous years they would have been prevented from entering. Now, in May 2012, they were heading for the judges’ auditions, held in huge arenas with an audience of thousands – and filmed by the TV cameras. It was a thrilling moment for the boys – but The X Factor was in turmoil. Gary, Tulisa and Louis – the only judge to remain in the series since it started – had all returned to the show, but Kelly Rowland had decided not to. The papers were full of speculation as to who might be replacing her – with names like Frankie from The Saturdays, Alesha Dixon and even Katy Perry being mentioned. But no one as yet had been signed as the new permanent fourth judge and instead a raft of ‘guest judges’ was lined up to appear. There was a chance that one of those judges could end up being a permanent fixture.

So, it was in front of Gary, Tulisa, Louis and pop star Rita Ora that a nervous line-up of three singers appeared on that fateful day. Wearing matching outfits of tan trousers, white T-shirts and trainers, and with their X Factor contestant stickers plastered over them, Triple J stepped out to immediate cheers and whistles from the audience at the O2 Arena. ‘Hello London!’ shouted Josh, whose hair was styled in a flat side-parting. ‘We’re Triple J!’ ‘And who’s with you today?’ asked Louis. ‘All our mums are backstage,’ indicated Jaymi, who wore a buttoned-up denim shirt over his T-shirt. ‘They’re more nervous than us, I think,’ joked Josh, to a ripple of laughter. ‘Off you go,’ said Louis. Triple J’s big moment had arrived.

The boys launched into a rendition of Rihanna’s ‘We Found Love’. With their tight harmonies, well-practised vocals and confident stage presence, they were an immediate hit. With Josh taking the lead vocals, standing in the centre, and Jaymi and Josh providing perfect back-up, they were cool, relaxed and impressive. The judges raised their eyebrows in surprise, and Gary sat with a stunned smile on his face. Rita Ora bobbed her head along in time with the music. After watching a succession of disappointing acts over-promising and under-delivering, with the weird and wacky in there too, the judges looked delighted to be finally in front of an act displaying real musical talent.

Josh visibly breathed out in relief as the boys finished their song. They’d given it their all and, going by the rapturous reception from the audience, it had gone down well. But what would the judges think? Tulisa was impressed, pronouncing Triple J as the sort of boyband she liked – and that they were handsome boys, too. Josh pumped his fist in a ‘Yeah!’ Pop star Rita agreed, reckoning they’d be popular with a female fan base. With his years of success in Take That, first as a 1990s manufactured pop group and then with their resurgence in the last few years, older, wiser and with more hits than ever, Gary was the don of boybands. He shared his wisdom with Triple J, that they couldn’t just look the part, they had to have strong vocals too, and that they’d succeeded on that front. They couldn’t believe it and clasped each other’s shoulders as an emotional Jaymi wiped away a tear. It was four yeses from all the judges – a full house. Triple J pumped their fists with joy and ran off the stage, leaping about. Shouting and yelling their good news, they rushed backstage, where their families were waiting anxiously alongside presenter Dermot O’Leary. Giving them all bear hugs, they shared the good news – they were through to Bootcamp.

Unlike Triple J, George Shelley didn’t have the support of bandmates to boost him up as he walked onto the stage for his huge moment. The sweet 18-year-old looked terrified as he faced the biggest audience he’d ever performed in front of. Wearing a denim hoodie and beige trousers, and carrying his beloved guitar, he not only looked similarly dressed to Triple J, but his gorgeous looks also won the immediate attention and cheers of the audience. Tulisa quizzed the young singer about what he was up to in his life and George explained that he had a job in a coffee shop. Her next question was the crucial one: what was he going to sing to try to impress the judges. His answer wasn’t what anyone was expecting – it was ‘Toxic’ by Britney Spears.It was an unusual choice – here was a teenage boy with an acoustic guitar, about to sing an electro-pop tune by a female superstar. Tulisa’s surprise was written all over her face as she urged him to start. It was clear she wasn’t quite expecting what was about to happen.

George went for it. Turning ‘Toxic’ into a quirky, up-tempo folky number, he was clearly a talented act. His voice was strong and confident as he won over the audience and played guitar expertly – all those hours of practice in his bedroom had paid off. Louis Walsh grinned through the performance, and the audience erupted in cheers as he finished. George gave a nervous half-smile as he awaited the verdict. The crowd loved it, and he could only pray the judges did, too. Louis was first in with the praise, highlighting George’s terrific voice and cute face. Gary was in with a yes, too, which Tulisa added to with another positive comment – he had definitely won the judges over. An overwhelmed George put his hands over his eyes as he grinned disbelievingly. It was straight offstage and back to his mum Toni, waiting patiently behind the scenes, for a big hug. He hadn’t told his family about his audition for the show at the beginning, being too shy to confess what he was doing. But since then he’d told his mum and family everything, and now they were there for his life-changing moment. This summer would be different from all the others so far – he was off to Bootcamp.

Olympic fever was about to hit the UK in that summer of 2012, and so for the first time ever Bootcamp would be held outside London, which was hosting the Games. Instead, The X Factor was heading for Liverpool for the serious business of auditioning the acts even further. Solo star and ex-Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger had been confirmed as the permanent replacement for Kelly Rowland, and all four judges were determined that this year they would find the ‘next big international superstar’. The atmosphere was charged with tension and expectation. This would be an intense three days, where the 211 acts who’d got through to Bootcamp would be whittled down to just 25, who would then be going to Judges’ Houses. It was tough. Sixty acts didn’t even get the chance to sing again, being sent home from Bootcamp right at the start, their dreams destroyed without a second chance. There was no room for mistakes, or to let nerves take over. Every act there had to be at the top of their game.

In this hothouse environment, there was plenty of rivalry going on behind the scenes – everyone there knew that the person next to them might knock them out of the competition. But there were also friendships being forged, too – and one of them was between Triple J and George Shelley, who had met there for the first time. The three members of Triple J spotted the 18-year-old with the guitar and walked over to introduce themselves and to ask George to sing for them. ‘We bonded really, really strongly with George,’ Jaymi told This Morning many months later. For his own part, George hit it off big time with the friendly guys from Triple J and began wishing that he could become part of a band himself. ‘I came into X Factor hoping to be put into a group scenario,’ he said. ‘Especially after my first audition, I felt like I needed something around me.’

George’s hopes were raised when at Bootcamp he was put in a mixed band alongside fellow contestants Charlie Cammish and Meg O’Neill for the next stage of auditions. But despite a strong rendition of Labrinth’s ‘Earthquake’, it didn’t work out and George was sent home. It was a crushing disappointment – but at least he could take comfort from the fact that he’d got through so far on his first attempt. And he’d made some great friends, leaving Liverpool with Triple J’s numbers keyed into his mobile phone. Still, for George, it was back to his ordinary life, back to working as a barista in Costa Coffee and looking forward to the next uni term starting in September. He couldn’t help but imagine, however, what might have happened if he’d made it through.

Meanwhile, Triple J endured their own marathon to make it through to Judges’ Houses. They came on stage to perform their first song in front of the full panel of Nicole, Tulisa, Gary and Louis – and, of course, a huge cheering audience of thousands in Liverpool’s Echo Arena. Looking full of excitement and anticipation, and almost like a real pop group, JJ, Jaymi and Josh greeted Nicole. The upfront star wanted to know why these three boys thought they deserved to win. Already showing the leadership qualities that would see him become the ‘dad’ of Union J in the months to come, Jaymi spoke up, promising that Triple J weren’t like other boybands currently on the scene – they were unique. With fighting talk like that, the boys would have to impress.

They launched into a surprising song – a rendition of Guns N’ Roses’ ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’. Usually a full-on rock track not known for its melodious vocals, the Triple J boys turned it into a tightly harmonised number, walking around the stage and showcasing the confidence they had with each other. For the first time, Jaymi’s vocals came to the fore and he impressed the audience with his powerful, clear voice. Nicole thanked the boys for their performance, as JJ, Josh and Jaymi walked offstage into the audience and a huge cheering reception. The judges liked Triple J, but competition was beyond fierce to land a coveted spot at Judges’ Houses. They had to consider who was going through and who would be competing against them. Already, another group was standing out as one to watch as well as Triple J – another three-piece called GMD3.

The judges decided to put them head-to-head in the next stage of Bootcamp, where both groups would be singing ‘Moves Like Jagger’ at the same time. Louis prepped the two groups for their big moment before starting proceedings. As the familiar whistling introduction to the hit Maroon 5 song began, Triple J were stunned to see GMD3 start by doing backflips. It was a slick move that impressed the judges straight away – Triple J would have to make their vocals even more bang-on to compare with that. They gave it their all and sang their hearts out, but just halfway through the song, Gary raised his hands to bring them all to a stop. Louis explained what was happening – the judges were ready to confer. The Triple J boys huddled together as they strained to hear what the judges were saying beneath their breath. Gary was of the opinion that both bands were better than before, and Nicole and Louis were particularly impressed with one band, whose members had really left an impression on them. But who were they talking about, and who would be put through to the next stage?

Wearing a stripy grey shirt, Jaymi looked pained as he clasped his hands together and waited with the other two boys to hear the verdict. Louis revealed that the judges had come to a decision and that the band coming back tomorrow would be GMD3. Was this the end of Triple J’s dreams? They watched the other group happily leave the stage. Triple J pulled together, their hearts beating fiercely. But Louis wasn’t finished with his big reveal – Triple J would also be returning to the auditions tomorrow! Josh yelled in delight and the others gasped in disbelief. They vowed to the judges that they would give it their best and thanked them from the bottom of their hearts. Yet again, they ran offstage on a complete high, buzzing with possibility.

As Triple J inched their way through Bootcamp, there was one more final hurdle standing between them and Judges’ Houses. The standard of groups that year was high and already the judges had put a number of acts through – MK1, Times Red, Rough Copy, Mitsotu, Poisonous Twins and Duke. Now there was only one space left for another group and the judges were divided. They could see the merits of both Triple J and GMD3 and so reluctantly came to a harsh solution. Gathering both groups onstage, Gary broke the news, looking serious. He explained that, unbelievably, Triple J would again be pitched against GMD3 for the last remaining spot. Both groups would have to sing a cappella – without any backing track – and show the judges just how good they were. With only a minute to decide their song, Jaymi gripped his stomach with nerves, while Josh and JJ looked dumbstruck.

Adrenalin rushed through their veins as Triple J frantically discussed their song choice and tried to practise as much as they could in the few seconds available to them. As they were passed three microphones, Jaymi rubbed his face, the stress clear for all to see. Taking swigs of much-needed water, Josh urged his bandmates to do anything but make a mistake. Gary signalled that the time was right to begin and that it was Triple J first. The boys launched into a harmonious version of Chris Brown’s party anthem ‘Yeah 3x’. It was a clean, sharp version and GMD3 looked pale with nerves as they stared across at their rivals. Gary thanked the band sincerely, as the boys put their arms around each other. The next few minutes would be agony.

GMD3 chose to sing ‘Bless the Broken Road’ by country singer Rascal Flatts. Their vocals were sweet and perfectly in tune – Jaymi looked across, impressed by the other group. Josh crossed his arms, a deadly serious look on his face. GMD3 were storming it and there was no chance Triple J would be the clear winners in this sing-off. Although they tried to keep their expressions neutral, the judges were evidently impressed – especially Tulisa, who sat with her chin in her hands, gazing up at GMD3. They ended with a perfectly delivered melisma (packing a series of different notes into a single syllable) – it had been a great performance. Gary thanked the groups and asked for a few moments to make their decisions. The judges conferred again, with Nicole voicing her concerns that both groups were deserving of the spot. But it sounded as if there was no doubt in Tulisa’s mind, as she praised one particular group for moving her. With their eyes red-rimmed with tears, JJ, Jaymi and Josh pulled together to hear their fate.

Gary was apologetic as he delivered their verdict. Accepting that they had always been pitched against each other, it was going to be a hard moment when just one of GMD3 or Triple J would see it through to Judges’ Houses. And the name on his lips was … GMD3. That was it – Triple J were out! The tension and anxiety that had been rushing through them these past few days suddenly left, and the boys came back down to earth with a bump. Turning to congratulate their fellow group, the boys were resigned but grateful for the experience. Jaymi turned to mouth ‘thank you’ to the judges. Gary congratulated Triple J for their hard work, looking genuinely devastated to be sending home the three talented boys. They stumbled offstage in shock, with Jaymi only managing to utter a few words about how good GMD3 had been to a waiting Dermot. Josh’s emotions had overcome him and he was by now in floods of tears. Ever the optimist, Jaymi told the waiting cameras that this woudn’t be the end of the band – they were still going to chase their dream of pop success.

It had been their best shot, but now Triple J had been kicked out of The X Factor. As Josh, Jaymi and JJ gathered their bags and began the long journey home, they tried to come to terms with the crushing blow just dealt them. Perhaps Triple J wasn’t meant to be. And the fact was, it wasn’t. But though the boys didn’t know it then, soon enough they would be back on The X Factor – in an incredible twist to their line-up and name that would leave everyone amazed.

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It was just an ordinary summer’s night for George Shelley when a phone call arrived that would change his life forever. The teenager was sitting at home in Clevedon, chatting with his mum, when his mobile rang. It had been a few weeks since George had suffered the disappointment of not making it through the Bootcamp phase of The X Factor, but he’d managed to put it to the back of his mind. Instead, he was focusing on going back to uni and moving on with his life. But as George’s mum Toni watched her son’s face go ‘taut’ as he took the phone call, she knew something was up. ‘It’s The X Factor on the phone,’ George mouthed at her, stunned. Indeed, it was one of the show’s producers, who asked if George would be interested in returning to the show. Circumstances had changed and they were now keen to see the talented West Country teenager once more. George couldn’t believe it. As he put the phone down, he explained to his mum: ‘I’ve got an hour to call them back with my decision. If I agree to go back, I’ve got to be in London tomorrow morning!’

It was a no-brainer – George and his mum decided to go to London for this out-of-the-blue opportunity. George didn’t know it then, but behind the scenes there had been a lot of interest in him since he’d left The X Factor, and the stars were about to align in his favour.

Triple J’s manager Blair Dreelan had spotted the handsome singer at Bootcamp and thought he had the potential to be developed into a solo star. After getting George’s details, he stayed in touch with him and decided to manage him – but then, spookily, The X Factor producers also contacted Blair about Triple J returning to the competition. Incredibly, a last-minute slot had opened up due to a visa issue with one of the groups, South London’s Rough Copy. The Judges’ Houses episodes were to be filmed mainly abroad, so Nigerian-born member Kazeem Ajobo had to apply for a visa to travel to the United States and then back to the UK. Unfortunately for Rough Copy, the application hadn’t been approved in time, so the band wouldn’t be able to travel and take part in the show. With days to go before filming was required to start, The X Factor producers convened an emergency meeting with Louis Walsh – who was to be the Groups mentor – to discuss who could replace Rough Copy. There were two groups who’d stood out in the Irish mogul’s eyes: Triple J and Times Red. ‘When Rough Copy left, I found it difficult to choose between two groups to fill their place. In the end, I invited boyband Triple J to come to Judges’ Houses, but still felt that, as I’d lost such a strong group in Rough Copy, I wanted to make sure the category was the best it could possibly be,’ he told the Mirror. ‘I asked Gary, Nicole and Tulisa if they minded if I took a seventh act. They were happy as they felt they’d got the right six acts for their Judges’ Houses trips, so I asked Times Red to come along and they said yes.’

Producers quickly got in touch with Blair Dreelan to see if Triple J would be able to return to The X Factor – but they had another suggestion as well. Louis had felt that the band would benefit from adding another member to the line-up, and they already had someone in mind. Blair explained to Sugarscape.com that The X Factor suggested putting a fourth member into his group. Initially unsure of this idea, Blair was amazed when producers told him who they were thinking of to take this fourth spot. It was the same George Shelley that he knew and was now managing – what were the chances in a competition where 180,000 people had auditioned? It seemed like fate to Blair and so he accepted their suggestion.

The X Factor and Blair prepped the Triple J boys for what was about to happen – they were going to become a four-piece! The boys were chuffed – after all, they’d met George at Bootcamp and already hit it off with him. Jaymi had even shown Blair a picture of George, telling him how he thought he looked amazing. He’d then used his computer skills to scan in George to a line-up of Triple J, unwittingly predicting what would really happen to the band in real life when they became Union J. Triple J’s manager sensed that their personalities would mesh well, but with only a few days before they were due to go to Judges’ Houses, time was of the essence. The boys spent the next four days getting to know each other and practising their singing for the competition. It was a whirlwind time: just a few days before, they had thought their X Factor dreams were finished, and now they were about to return for a second chance at a place in the live shows with an extra member, in a doubly shocking twist.

It was a thrilling time for the newly formed band, who hit it off as a foursome straight away. ‘When they suggested it, it made sense,’ the boys told We Love Pop magazine. ‘When George came along, it wasn’t a big deal, as we were literally all so new to each other anyway.’ It was a second chance at The X Factor that none of them had been expecting after their bruising Bootcamp experience, and they were ready to take it on. After telling their families this exciting news, the boys began packing for the mystery destination. But one more thing needed to be sorted out before they could leave: a new name. Obviously, they couldn’t be ‘Triple J’ any more. Instead, the boys put their heads together and came up with an idea – they would take the name ‘Union Jack’ and shorten it to ‘Union J’, representing all their names. Although George’s name began with a G, it had a similar sound. As Jaymi pointed out later, even when they tried to change it to the Spanish spelling of George – Jorge – it wouldn’t work, because that was pronounced ‘Hor-hay’! And so Union J were born and they immediately released their first statement to the media. ‘We couldn’t believe it when we got the call about going to Judges’ Houses, and of course we jumped at the chance,’ they said. ‘It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We’re so happy to be a four-piece, too. The group feels so right together – it feels like we’ve been together for years!’

It was time for the groups to discover who was to mentor them and where they were going. Firstly, waiting at the airport, they discovered their destination – Las Vegas! The boys and the six other groups boarded their plane and spent the long journey across the Atlantic full of nerves and expectation. However, they also used the time to their advantage, practising harmonies and singing – after all, they’d only had a few days together so far, and this was an incredible opportunity to potentially make their dreams come true. Arriving in the dazzling American city, they all headed to Caesars Palace hotel and casino to find out who was going to mentor them. Pulling up in a white stretch limo, it was Louis Walsh! The longest-serving X Factor judge, Louis was also a seasoned manager of boybands, having driven both Boyzone and Westlife to huge success. He explained to the waiting wannabes that although there were seven of them in front of him, there was only room on the show for three acts – less than 50 per cent. The bands making it through would be the ones who impressed Louis by committing themselves fully to the competition the next day. Accompanying him was Sharon Osbourne, the former X Factor judge and a renowned music manager in her own right. Her advice was also deadly serious – the groups there had the chance for the biggest break of their life. In the setting of Las Vegas, where superstars from around the world performed, they had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As if the groups needed reminding. Meanwhile, the other acts gathered in different corners of the globe to sing for their lives. Gary Barlow was at the grand Boughton House in Northamptonshire with the Over-28s, where Cheryl Cole came to offer advice. Nicole Scherzinger took her Boys to Dubai, with Ne-Yo as her second-in-command. Lastly, Tulisa took her Girls all the way to St Lucia, where Tinie Tempah helped her choose.