Corrie’s Kirk tries out on X Factor

Dozy Corrie star Kirk Sutherland will swap the knicker factory for the X Factor as he tries to dazzle Simon Cowell.

Andy Whyment's character Kirk Sutherland tries out on X Factor

The underwear-stitcher – played by Andy Whyment – does a turn for the TV talent contest along with thousands of other hopefuls by performing Kings Of Leon chart-topper Sex On Fire.

His efforts will be seen as part of a 50th anniversary special celebrating the Coronation Street landmark birthday next month.

Kirk strutted his stuff for the judges, including Nicole Scherzinger who was on her feet in amazement at his high energy performance. And he even threw in an air guitar solo to win a standing ovation from the crowd.

Viewers will see whether Simon was impressed – or left in stitches – in a TV special Coronation Street: The Big 50, to be screened on ITV1 on December 10.

His audition is one of a number of specially recorded sketches featuring Corrie favourites who turn up in unexpected places.

Paul O’Grady will host the show and preside over a quiz to test the Weatherfield wisdom of cast and super-fans.

O’Grady said: “If I don’t dip into the lives of the folk from Weatherfield on a regular basis I get withdrawal symptoms.

“As a vampire needs blood, I need a nightly dose of Corrie. It has always been there, Bill Roache and Barbara Knox are as familiar faces as family.

The Street celebrates its 50th anniversary on December 9.

Cheryl Cole ‘near breaking point’

Cheryl Cole has been told to ‘do her job’ or face being sacked from the X-Factor, according to reports.

Cheryl Cole 'near breaking point'

Mentor and friend Simon Cowell is believed to have called a crisis meeting with the singer after she refused to choose which one of her acts to send home last week, sparking more than 1,000 complaints from viewers.

But a source told the Daily Star that with American TV bosses also scrutinising the star to decide if she would be suitable for the US version of the show, the pressure is getting too much.

“Cheryl has to sparkle this weekend and regain her credibility,” the insider told the newspaper. “The trouble is she is a nervous wreck and terrified of putting a foot wrong.

“She will be under extraordinary scrutiny. What makes it more difficult is that her American dream seems to have gone up in smoke.”

They added, “Simon’s fully aware that the mentors get close to their acts, he does too. But they are also being paid to do a job. He wants this weekend’s show to be about the singing, not about the controversy.”

 

Cheryl Cole refuses to vote

The manner of Treyc Cohen’s X Factor exit has sparked controversy and furious debate.

X Factor's Treyc Cohen

Treyc Cohen has made a controversial exit from The X Factor. The 26-year-old found herself in the bottom two alongside fellow sing-off veteran Katie Waissel.

Their mentor Cheryl Cole refused to choose between her acts.

After Simon Cowell opted to keep Katie, Cheryl made it clear that she would send the competition into deadlock, depending on how Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh voted.

However, the Girls Aloud singer didn’t get her chance because presenter Dermot O’Leary said they’d go with the majority vote; Dannii Minogue voted to send Katie home and Louis Walsh picked Treyc to go.

Treyc had attempted to save herself with Toni Braxton’s Unbreak My Heart, while Katie opted for soul classic Don’t Give Up On Me by Solomon Burke. She did it – Katie survived again.

It was [supposed to be] American Anthems week on The X Factor, but once again the judges, by and large, didn’t get the message. Compositions such as Kids In America, sung by Brit pop star Kim Wilde and written by her brother Ricky and father Marty, made it into the show.

Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole went another round in their bickering. The music mogul aimed a couple of barbed comments in Cheryl’s direction as he critiqued her acts.

While commenting on Cher Lloyd, he said: “I think your mentor got a little bit lazy.” Take a look through the gallery to see how each act fared in another very dramatic weekend of The X Factor.

X Factor – Cheryl unimpressed with Cher name?

Cheryl Cole and Cher Lloyd are in dispute, according to reports, over what to call the aspiring X Factor singer.

Cher Lloyd is reportedly considering using the stage name Cher-L

 Cher Lloyd is reportedly considering using the stage name Cher-L

Cheryl Cole and Cher Lloyd are in dispute, according to reports, over what to call the aspiring X Factor singer.

The Sun said that Cher, who impressed judges with her rendition of Shakespears Sister ballad Stay on Saturday night, wants to be known as Cher-L but that her mentor, Cheryl, feels the new name is too similar to her own.

A show insider told the newspaper: “Cher has already been called a mini-Cheryl and now she could end up with almost the same name.”

Music chiefs came up with the idea of using the name Cher-L, using the first letter of her last name to rebrand the 17-year-old rapper, after the ITV series ends.

The singer cannot use the name Cher because of the US star.

The source continued: “X Factor chiefs want Cher to change her name after the show to give her something a bit edgier and more fitting to her image.

“They don’t like her having two names and think she should have something a bit different. She can’t be known as Cher so the idea of Cher-L came up – but her mentor didn’t like it as it was so similar to her own name.

“Cher loves Cheryl and values her input and ideas but it doesn’t look like she’ll get her way on this one.”

Katie to exit X Factor?

According to reports, X Factor bosses may ask Katie Waissel to leave the competition.

Under pressure X Factor finalist Katie Waissel may be asked to leave the show according to reports.The 24-year-old first received flak after getting through to the live finals despite barely singing a note at the judges’ homes stage.

Katie to exit X Factor?

Her popularity has suffered accordingly and she has found herself in the sing-off, clinging to her X Factor dreams, on a couple of occasions.

The Daily Record says that a video shoot for this year’s X Factor charity single was delayed for hours yesterday after she suffered a panic attack.

A source is quoted as saying: “Katie is very fragile and we are very concerned for her. We are considering asking her to step aside because it is now really affecting the show. Her well-being is our number one priority.”

Apparently, Katie was taken ill during the contestants’ much-publicised October trip to Topshop in London’s Oxford Street. Could this really be the end for Katie Waissel? Watch this space.

I’m single, insists Matt Cardle

X Factor favourite Matt Cardle has dismissed reports he is back with his ex-girlfriend as “totally wrong”.

Matt Cardle has insisted he is single. X Factor favourite Matt Cardle has dismissed reports he is back with his ex-girlfriend as “totally wrong”.

Rumours were rife after pictures appeared in the press showing the pair together, but the 27-year-old painter and decorator said he is on the market.

He said: “I’m single. It is totally wrong but she is a lovely girl and we still talk to each other.”

He also praised his mentor Dannii Minogue, saying: “She is really, really caring and supportive. She is always in contact to make sure we are happy with our songs.”

Matt, who is now 6-4 favourite to win the show, admitted it was “odd” being followed by crowds of screaming fans.

He said: “It’s a bit odd if I’m honest. It is a sign that they are enjoying what we are doing on the weekend.”

But Katie Waissel clearly has no such problems. The 24-year-old tweeted a message to fans on Friday, writing: “I’ll be back out again soon, I promise!! it’s so cute whenever u scream for One Direction I can’t help but scream with you lol!!xxx”

The 11 remaining contenders will perform in Saturday’s show with the results of the public vote unveiled on Sunday.