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X Factor's 'terrible twins' the Grimes brothers survive another week
Monday, 26 October 2009
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They can't sing and they can't dance, but the Grimes brothers from Dublin have continued to defy the odds and survive in 'The X Factor' for another week.
The Lucan twins were the sixth act to make it through in last night's results show, however, their triumph was marred by booing from the audience.
The indomitable John and Edward -- dubbed the 'terrible twins' -- have set the singing contest alight with their sky-high hair-dos and energetic dance routines.
And that recipe for success saw them sail comfortably through to the next round.
While they have come in for sharp criticism from some quarters regarding their singing ability, one million Irish viewers tuned in to watch their exploits when they performed Ricky Martin's 'She Bangs' on Saturday night and survived the vote last night night.
But that love hasn't been reciprocated from the twins' 'X Factor' mentor, Louis Walsh.
The pop impresario has said he "doesn't care" about Irish interest in the twins as nobody here can vote on their fate.
When contacted in advance of last night's results show, Louis made it clear that it was the opinions of British viewers -- and not Irish fans -- that count.
Asked what he thought of the boys' chances of surviving for another week, he said; "I don't know, I think they should do ok. Nobody can vote in Ireland, so I don't care."
TV3, which broadcasts the ITV-produced series in Ireland, said the British broadcaster, which has suffered phone-in voting controversy in the past, had refused to allow votes from outside the country.
"We are really disappointed we can't vote. It's something we fought for . . . but it was ITV's decision," explained a spokeswoman.
But this has not stopped Irish interest in the show ,with viewing figures up "massively".
"The twins are a huge talking point and the fact they're Irish has meant there's a lot of interest. Everybody loves to hate them," she added.
The twins, who turned 18 earlier this month, have been on the receiving end of some hurtful criticism, with judge Simon Cowell once referring to them as "vile little creatures".
However, the boys, who are students at Dublin's Institute of Education, have also garnered rave reviews with Robbie Williams, one of their most vocal supporters. At a recent concert in London, he urged the crowd to back the twins but this entreaty was met with a chorus of boos.
Dozens of Facebook sites have been set up with the sole purpose of campaigning for the teenagers to be booted off the show. At the same time, their performances are among the most eagerly anticipated, with viewership figures reaching almost 15 million.
The twins have admitted in the past to being hurt by things said about them.
"We are not just two guys who sing and have this annoying personality. We can actually do it," they said.
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47 Comments
i think the boys are just being made a fool of, they are just being voted in 2 annoy simon cowel and if i was dere mother i would not let dem participate in dat show anymorem dey are talentless and being made tick of through simon cowell
Posted by orla | 10.11.09, 11:11 GMT
Surely the voting is fixed, no one with an ounce of sense would vote these two horrible little boys any where near winning, if they win then X Factor must cease to be
Posted by Dennis | 29.10.09, 06:50 GMT
John Sergeant votes for the twins ;-) other vote purely because Simon has declared his dislike for them - others because they bring something 'different'
Cheryl lost all credibility the other night voting for Mis Frank in the vote-off IMHO
Posted by orangeanorak | 28.10.09, 22:22 GMT
Eamonn - sorry couldnt find the fadda
Why bring trash like that up.
I despair that everything involving anyone born on this island will be used by idiots like you to spout the same old sectarian tripe that we have listened to for too long.
Do us all a favour and crawl under the nearest rock
Posted by Tony | 28.10.09, 22:09 GMT
Sean, from Co. Down Northern Ireland I wonder if you could could provide us a link to the recording of Besty actually saying that quote.
Seems made up folklore goes beyond Leprechauns in some parts!
Posted by Steve | 28.10.09, 20:19 GMT
The show and it's concept are banal rubbish. Peter Kay summarised the whole thing up neatly with his;
'Britain's Got the Pop Factor... and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice'.
Watch that once, and get on with your life having had the whole experience summed up for you in an hour or 2.
Posted by Patrick D | 28.10.09, 17:24 GMT
In reply to 'MUSICIAIN' - "Who from Xfactor has ever gone on to be huge?"
Umm....JLS ???? HELLOOOOO!!!! JLS are adding extra tour dates because of high demand.
and also - Alexandra Burke, 2 number ones now! I'd say these 2 acts havent done too badly.
Posted by Pauline | 28.10.09, 15:13 GMT
Because Colin, it's not restricted to UK residents. Hence the entrants from France, Spain and other foreign countries.
And of course, the reason that they're still in is because EVERY Single Irish person who lives in the UK is compelled to vote for them. Quite right. Spot on all those who recognise this fact. I'd like to point out that there is not one iota of sarcasm in my writing. This means that Leona Lewis won it as the equally large west Indian community threw its weight behind her and Will young won because of the pink vote.
It's always a great joy to see the enlightenned views of such a progressive region of the UK.
For what it's worth; the "possibility" of their staying in because of their Irishness isn't getting a mention here in Britain (the mainland).
Posted by derek | 28.10.09, 15:01 GMT
For what is to most people in a civilized society see as simply a light humored competition broadcast in the UK and Ireland - However I see several political jibes at people from the south of Ireland - If I could maybe speak for what many believe in the UK "MAINLAND" Thats is - Scotland - Wales & England and the Irish Republic - Wouldnt it be wonderfull to cut away and dispose of what is a Pathetic Narrow-minded Backward Society that is Northern Ireland. A black hole for Great Britain's Exchequer.
I am a proud Irishman proud of our close relationship with English Scots and Welsh. We are friends.
I now live in Germany and I feel more at home here then I would in Northern Ireland - IRELAND.
Nobody wants the Northern Unionist Narrow mindedness, you are slowly exiling yourselves from the rest of the World.
My anger commenced at the first comment.
"The bigger question is how did two foreigners become eligible for a British talent contest?"
Posted by Tony | 28.10.09, 14:37 GMT
As much as simon doesnt like the 2 boys, i think they alone bring in thousands of viewers as the public seem to love to hate them!
Posted by d | 28.10.09, 14:18 GMT
Éamonn- I wasn't aware that Lucan was a Unionist area. It's astonishing how you Northerners manage to involve politics and religion in absolutely everything.
Posted by Jason | 28.10.09, 13:22 GMT
The bigger question is how did two foreigners become eligible for a British talent contest?
Posted by Colin | 28.10.09, 12:24 GMT
John & Edward are a geg. The only true highlight of what is a dull & boring format.
I very much doubt that "most self-respecting music fans" even watch the show.
X Factor is simply a vehicle to make Simon Cowell & his cohorts extremely rich. So the suggestion that multiple voting will be outlawed anytime soon is naive.
It ruins my weekend. 2hrs on a Saturday & 1 on a Sunday. Good grief.
Posted by Belfast Yip | 28.10.09, 12:24 GMT
Give it a rest you nordy losers
Now how can you answer with such strong debating skills.
Seems pretty soon the people of the ROI will be taking their kids to school over the border as well as to do the shopping
Posted by Steve | 28.10.09, 11:32 GMT
"most self-respecting music fans ... consider the X Factor a vehicle to discover untapped talent"
No they don't. The X Factor has nothing to do with musical talent. It's a big, bouncy, lit-up vaudeville show to showcase the ability of singers to impersonate Mariah Carey by inserting too many notes into previously well-loved songs. The winner will not be writing their own material or doing anything musically interesting (that's if they survive at all: remember Steve Brookstein? Or Leon Jackson?).
Simon Cowell said in 2005, "The only thing that would make me happier is more money." He's not interested in music, or talent, or in Leone or Alexandra or Danyl. Just in money, and more money.
Posted by John Self | 28.10.09, 11:16 GMT
You guys just dont get it ............. its not a talent show ......... its a popularity contest.
Posted by Alan | 28.10.09, 10:19 GMT
I will defo be voting for them & so are all my friends
Posted by Fee | 28.10.09, 10:09 GMT
Eoghan Quigg comes from a nationalist area of the North. And these two come from a unionist area of the south.
Posted by Éamonn | 28.10.09, 09:44 GMT
i think its halarious how serious you are all taking the show! some of them can sing, some of them cant. its an "entertinment show" so take it as it is. if you dont like it, turn it over!!!
the twins are funny, they didnt ask to be put through so stop having a go!
Posted by amanda | 28.10.09, 08:28 GMT
Tammy, seriously? With the execption of maybe one, Leona Lewis.
Who from Xfactor has ever gone on to be huge? Theyre are buskers on the streets of belfast with more talent than most of them, and especially the twins.
Besides a christmas number one and theyre quick 15 mins, they have all just disappeared. Reason for this?
Anyone with true musical talent that wants to make it in the music industry as an individual doesnt need a public vote in a talent contest to do it.
What I hope for is that at some point the public wakes up and realises what Xfactor really is,
A vehicle for Simon Cowell to make a cool couple of million quid, very easily off the back of the general public and go on to conquer the world with his unoriginal, manufactured and less than talented pop stars.
Posted by musicain | 28.10.09, 08:10 GMT
47 Comments