Louis Walsh has threatened The Saturdays by telling them that he has a new and better girlband.
The music manager has told the five-piece that he is launching a new girl group in the New Year that will rival the ‘Up’ singers.
“Louis Walsh has a new girlband featuring Jodi Albert who goes out with [Westlife's] Kian Egan,” band member Una Healy told DS.
“When he sees us, all he says is, ‘I’ve got a new girlband’. We’re not threatened.”
Healy added that although the group are often seen as being in competition with Girls Aloud, they are more likely to be rivals with a new act.
“When people compare us to Girls Aloud that’s rubbish because they’ve been around for ages, but now there’s a new girl-band on the scene, that will be competition!” she said.
Source.
It was one of the most hotly anticipated performances of the year and Louis Walsh and Kian Egan’s new girl band didn’t disappoint.
Dubbed Ireland’s answer to Girls Aloud, the stunning fivesome, who have yet to be named, made their debut with Pat Kenny on the Late Late Show last night after months of preparation.
Viewers tuning into the Friday night show saw the bevy of beauties make their grand entrance into the world of showbiz with their debut single, When the Stars Go Blue.
And to ensure their grand unveiling made an impact, band members Kasey Smith (18), Corinna Dunne (22), Sharon Condon (22), Leigh Learmont (19) and Jodi Albert (25) were dressed to impress in a variety of sexy black outfits and styled to within an inch of their lives.
Meticulous
A source on set revealed: “The girls had a team of top hairdressers headed by Gary Kavanagh of Peter Marks and numerous make-up artists on hand to get them ready.
“There was also a number of stylists there with clothes from Warehouse, Topshop and Karen Millen to ensure they were looking their best,” the source added.
And despite having worked meticulously to prepare his new protegees for the world of pop, co-manager of the group Louis Walsh was nowhere to be seen.
The pop mogul was happy to place his trust in colleague Kian Egan as Louis was tied up with preparations for tonight’s X-Factor show in London.
The Herald can reveal a proud Kian watched from the side of the stage and afterwards said he was “thrilled” with the girls performance.
“The song was chosen by Louis. It’s one of many that they have recorded in the studio,” Kian explained.
Meanwhile a visibly impressed Pat Kenny welcomed the group on stage afterwards and told them they had given “a fantastic debut”.
However, the long-time chat-show host was quick to give Kian’s girlfriend, Jodi Albert, a grilling about how she got in to the band.
But a diplomatic Jodi was quick to laugh off claims that she had been given preferential treatment because of her relationship with Kian and said she had worked just as hard as the other girls.
Grateful
“That’s fair enough, I would probably think that myself if I wasn’t in the band and I wasn’t doing what I do,” Jodi told Pat and the audience.
“But the four girls stood beside me saw me going though the exact same paces as them, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done to sing in front of Kian and Louis in an audition situation, but to be honest I love it so much and I’m just so grateful to be in the band,” she added.
And despite her one-time successful acting career with a role in Hollyoaks, Jodi claims her loyalty now lies with the band.
“I think when the acting thing took off for me it was great, but I’ve always wanted to sing, it’s always been close to my chest,” she said.
Amazing
And the clearly smitten songstress had plenty of praise for her hubby-to-be, Kian Egan.
“It’s great because he has experience and what he’s achieved with Westlife is amazing and what Louis Walsh has done for Westlife is amazing.
“I have every faith in him, he’s a natural manager and I love taking his guidance.
“I’m so happy that he has a reason to care more about this band as well,” she laughed.
The happy couple left Montrose together afterwards while the rest of the band members exited separately.
- Lorna Nolan
Source: Evening Herald (Ireland)
Who are they? Doubtless we will come to know them better than we know our neighbours, but for now, Louis Walsh’s new girl band are just shiny with potential.
In their first interview, they tell Julia Molony what it’s like to have the pop world at your feet before you’ve ever sung a note in public.
Their top-secret identity has only just been revealed. And on the day I meet them, they are so hot off the press that they don’t have a name yet.
They do, however, have a team that includes Louis Walsh and Kian ‘Westlife’ Egan, a million-euro budget, a record deal with Universal, and a trip to London booked to begin recording their first album. They are the much-speculated-upon, breathlessly hype, brand spanking new outfit getting the Louis Walsh treatment.
When I meet them, on the day of their first shoot together as a band, they have all the wide-eyed excitement of Cinders catching her first sight of the magic wand.
Let the record state - for posterity, and because this is their first official unveiling - that they are: Jodi Albert, Kasey Smith, Corinna Dunne, Sharon Condon and Leigh Learnmont. Jodi, you may have heard of before. She’s Kian Egan’s girlfriend - a fact that has stirred up accusations of favouritism. But as I’m soon to discover, she has a defiant answer to that charge.
The girls have an early start this morning. It’s likely to be the first of many dawn wakenings, pop stardom being a perpetual routine of red-eye flights and crack-of-dawn appointments at which you are stage-managed out of Uggs and tracksuits, and into full make-up, ball gowns and furs. Kasey, Leigh, Corinna and Sharon are hanging around expectantly in hoodies and jeans. Kian and Jodi are flying in from London and they’ve been delayed, so we sit and shoot the breeze about the X Factor.
After about an hour, Jodi arrives in a flurry of apologies and velour sportswear, with Kian in tow. The couple have just recently moved out of the centre of London to a new house in the country. Later, as he chats amiably while the band are in hair and make-up, Kian tells me that it won’t be long before the rest of the band join himself and Jodi in the UK capital. He’d like to see the girls placed in a hotel rather than an apartment so that they can have some space from each other. When Westlife started, he tells me, they were all put up in an apartment together, and they nearly killed each other.
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The infamous Late Late Show clip haunts Boyzone to this day.
But there’s no fear of history repeating itself, as Louis Walsh’s new and much hyped girl band will be polished to perfection when they make their long-awaited debut on the show.
The as yet unnamed band were scheduled to make their debut on the Late Late Show last week.
However, their appearance was postponed a few days beforehand.
“They were scheduled to appear last Friday for quite a while, but it was not to be. However, we have been told they will be ready to go with their Late Late date on Friday, December 5,” a show insider told the Herald.
Perhaps Louis didn’t want a repeat of the Boyzone debacle on the Late Late when they were first unveiled by host Gay Byrne.
Hundreds of thousands of viewers and a studio audience were left bemused after Louis unveiled Ireland’s first boy band to an unsuspecting public.
Dressed in the fashions of the time, Ronan, Keith, Shane, Mikey, Stephen and Richard Rock (who was dropped soon after) pranced around the studio to some dance music.
The band’s first appearance on the Late Late in 1993 has now gained notoriety, thanks to their poor dancing performance. Recently, when they appeared on Jonathan Ross’s TV chat show, the host put the clip on for everyone in Britain to see while Boyzone squirmed.
But Louis’ new girl band should have no such fears, as they are being groomed for pop success.
The band are You’re a Star songstress Sharon Condon, Kasey Smith, Dublin singer Corrina Duran, Leigh Learmont and Kian Egan’s girlfriend Jodi Albert. Given Walsh’s previous successes with Westlife and Boyzone, it should come as no surprise that a number of music labels are interested in the girls.
Previously, pop impresario Louis Walsh has said that he’s determined his new Irish girl band, which he’s setting up with Simon Cowell’s support, will wipe the floor with the competition.
Talent
“We’re looking for talent,” he said. “Undiscovered talent, young with a good attitude and who will look good. We don’t want good — we want great.”
Thousands of girls from all around the country flocked to the Tripod in the city centre for their chance to audition for Louis’ new band, before they were eventually whittled down to five.
Recently, the girls have been spotted being put through their paces by Louis and Kian at Tripod and enjoying lunch at nearby Caesar’s restaurant.
In the meantime, Louis is also a judge on top TV3 programme The X Factor.
Source.
Why X Factor losers Bad Lashes and Girlband were doomed from the start
Louis Walsh lost both of his girl groups in the first two weeks of The X Factor live shows, but Now can reveal that he never had a real incentive to get Bad Lashes and Girlband over the first hurdle.
The mentor’s energies were focused on the as yet unnamed girl group he’s put together.
‘The last thing Louis would’ve wanted was for a girl band to triumph on The X Factor and take the shine off his new group,’ says an insider. ‘They never got Louis’s full attention or expertise because he’s been focused on his own group since July.’
Initially, Louis, 56, joined forces with Westlife’s Kian Egan to create a group that could knock fellow judge Cheryl’s band Girls Aloud off their pedestal.
Instead, they’ll be hoping to fill the void the band will leave when they split.
After auditioning more than 700 girls in Ireland this summer, 5 were chosen: Kasey Smith, Corrina Durran, Sharon Condon, Leanne Learmont and ex-Hollyoaks star Jodi Albert ? who just happens to be Kian Egan’s fianc?e.
‘These girls have been practising around the clock,’ says our insider.
Louis’s obviously already over any disappointment about only having boyband JLS left in The X Factor. He has huge confidence in Jodi and co.
‘My new band will be massive next year,’ he tells Now. ‘Four Irish girls and Jodi ? they’re incredible.’
See the full story in Now magazine dated 3 November 2008 - out now!
Credit/Source: nowmagazine.co.uk
The girl band singer Jodie Albert has been seen hitting the dance floors in a bid to get back in shape for her new girl band. Westlife star kian Egan’s fiancee has slimmed down in recent weeks with the help of extra excercise and lots of heathly eating.
And she looked very stunning on a night out with her friends. Jodi’s spoke woman said with the auditions she wanted to make sure that she looked her best, that is why she been taking care of herself. Jodi auditioned for a place in the band along side hundreds of other girls during the summer.
Credit: Mary for typing for WestlifeFanaticVip.com
Thought I would post a quick notice here.. I have reopened the Multimedia section! The videos are all the same but the graphic section has been completely revamped and loads of new stuff has been added. Thanks a lot to Lucy for contributing with so many beautiful graphics, if you want to do the same just send me an email or contact me at the forum.
63 new Icons
13+ new Wallpapers (in various sizes)
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A ring of steel will be put around the unlikely venue of the Grand Hotel in Malahide this evening for the super-swish 30th birthday celebrations of Westlife star Nicky Byrne.
Hailed as the showbiz party of the month, the northside venue will be awash with familiar faces from the world of showbiz and entertainment.
Although he turned the big 30 yesterday, fun-loving Nicky wanted to have his party on a weekend night so everyone could really let their hair down.
And given that he has signed a lucrative deal with Hello magazine to cover the event, security will be extra tight.
More than 300 guests are invited, including all his fellow boyband pals like Shane Filan and his wife Gillian, Kian Egan and fiancee Jodi Albert alongside Mark Feehily and partner Kevin McDaid. Also there will be Ronan Keating and wife Yvonne and Nicky’s in-laws Bertie and Miriam Ahern, as well as Cecelia and boyfriend David Keoghan.
Source: Herald.ie
Pop svengali Louis Walsh & Westlifer Kian Egan have asked the ShowBiz.ie faithful to help them come with a sexy and catchy name for their new hot girlband. Well, they haven’t REALLY asked us but let’s just pretend they have… Finally the line-up is confirmed as Kasey Smith, Corrina Duran, Sharon Condon, Jodi Albert AND (dun dun dun) Leigh Learmont. BUT what will they call themselves?
Okay folkerinos. You now have the opportunity to be part of music industry history by suggesting a name for Louis Walsh’s & Kian Egan’s new girl-group. We know they and their PR people check these pages regularly SO here’s is your chance to slap a label on this foxy five-some set to take on the Pussycat Dolls & Girls Aloud. Come on!
Louis Walsh was back in Dublin over the weekend to decide on the final cut on his big budget band. On Friday night he partied at Krystle but was still amiss as to what to call this collection of four Irish colleens and one English rose… An early rumour (started by a certain naughty website, ahem) suggested the unofficial name for the band was ‘Lady Rochelle’ - we still like that name, but we’re sure you mad feckers in cyberland can do better…
We suggest you include something in the name criteria that suggests the band is female (GIRLS Aloud, Spice GIRLS, SugaBABES). Combine that with another word that suggests that they are saucy and sexy (Atomic Kitten, Dixie Chicks). Feline references help too (PUSSYCAT Dolls, Atomic KITTEN). You get the vibe… Pussyspice Girlbabes or Atomic Catchicks type of names.
Other notable peeps that partied with Louis Walsh last Friday night included Rosanna Davison & her hot friends, celeb couple Brian Ormond & Pippa O’Connor, and Bohemians FC footballer Aidan O’Keefe.
Source: Showbiz Ireland
EastEnders and Hollyoaks went head to head at this year’s Inside Soap awards – for the affections of toyboy star Charlie Hawkins.
The lucky 17-year-old, Darren Miller in EastEnders, was caught in an incredible battle of the babes between Albert Square workmate Kara Tointon and Hollyoaks’ star Jodi Albert, both 25.
They shimmied up to him on the dancefloor, cuddled him on the sofas and giggled in the girls’ loos as they cooed over him at Monday’s awards.
He joined in, lassoing Kara on the dancefloor and flirting with them both. But the girls still seemed the best of friends, drinking mojitos and joking with Kara’s sister and ex-Hollyoaks actress, Hannah Tointon, 20. Kara said: “He would make such a great boyfriend. He is so lovely.
“But Hannah reckons give him a few more years.”
The unfolding drama was better than any storyline from Hollyoaks, beaten by at the awards by EastEnders which won nine of 13 gongs including best soap.
But young buck Charlie was playing it ultra-cool. He seemed more interested in sneaking his mates in to the Gilgamesh bar in Camden, North London. He sent them texts whenever he thought the coast was clear.
Kara, Charlie’s feisty half sister Dawn Swann in Enders, got the sexiest actress award for the second time beating Jodi, Debbie Dean in Hollyoaks.
It seems Charlie’s cheeky toyboy charms work best on the more mature lady. He’s always welcome at 3am…
Kara, wearing an Uma Thurman-style wig, also had to fend off unwanted attention on the dancefloor. She said: “I love wearing wigs because no one recognises me. It is much easier than doing your hair.” A girl after our own heart.
Source: Sunday Mirror
