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Chapter One

‘Triple J’ and George – Separate Paths

Louis Walsh definitely took notice as he watched the three earnest young boys bound onto the stage and yell: ‘Hello, London!’ Already he could already see the potential in this new group.

Met by girlish screams from the 8,000-strong audience in the capital’s O2 Arena, they were a refreshing change from the hundreds of hopefuls the judges had seen that day. Shy and nervous, overconfident and bizarrely talentless, weird and wacky – the four-strong team of judges must have been tearing their hair out in frustration at what they’d had to sit through already.

With two of the lads casually dressed in white T-shirts and the other one in blue, they all shared broad smiles when Louis asked: ‘So who have we got here?’

‘We’re Triple J,’ said the confident boy in the centre to more screams of support.

The camera panned around the audience to show just a few of the giggling girls in the crowd, all whispering and pointing. It was clear that their first impression had been a good one.

Attempting to calm the growing atmosphere, Louis asked: ‘Have you got people with you here today?’

‘Yeah, all our mums are backstage,’ laughed a very cute second band member, setting off another round of clapping – this time from the boys’ families, who were anxiously waiting with presenter Dermot O’Leary.

‘They’re more nervous than us, I think,’ added the third and final boy in the act.

‘Off you go then,’ Louis said abruptly, giving them the cue for their one chance to begin.

The crowd was suddenly silent. Would these three young boys have the talent to match their looks? Might this be the last time Triple J would grace a stage before disappearing into obscurity?

From the moment they launched into song, the boys’ powerful voices echoed throughout the arena as they gave the Rihanna and Calvin Harris classic ‘We Found Love’ everything they had. Moving effortlessly around the stage, their voices harmonised and soared, brimming with emotion.

Judge Gary Barlow instantly sat back in his chair – it was as if he had been metaphorically punched in the face by the wall of sound! Guest judge Rita Ora bobbed her head in time to the beat as the rumbling cheers from the audience grew and grew.

‘Shine a light through an open door…’

The lyrics were spookily appropriate because everyone listening to them suddenly knew that this performance had definitely opened the door for three talented boys. Finally they finished, throwing their heads down with the effort of the last few notes. Then the trio anxiously stood back up, to be greeted by thousands of instant, screaming fans. One by one they had risen to give the boys a standing ovation.

The crowd loved them. Now all they could hope was that the judges felt the same way…

Judge and solo artist Tulisa Contostavlos was quick to voice her praise. ‘This is what a boyband’s about – good-looking lads,’ she announced.

Louis had the excited sparkle that said ‘definite potential’ in his eyes, while Rita Ora enthusiastically agreed, saying: ‘I think the girls will love you.’

But it was Gary Barlow who fated the boys to stardom.

‘In a good boy band it’s not just about looking good, you’ve got to sound great, too – and you really do sound great,’ he told them.

Brimming with excitement, the three boys could barely believe what they were about to hear.

Tulisa: ‘Yes.’

Louis: ‘Yes.’

Rita: ‘Yes.’

Gary: ‘That’s four yeses, well done!’

The arena exploded as the boys patted each other on the back in disbelief before running backstage. Throwing their arms around their mums, all three were nearly toppled over by the force of their families’ affection.

And that was how the world was introduced to singing sensations Jamie Hamblett, 23, Jaymi Hensley, 22, and 19-year-old Josh Cuthbert.

Within days of the boys’ audition being aired, their Twitter account, @triplejofficial, had gathered more than 60,000 followers. It was obvious that they had been a staggering success, and the boys could hardly keep up with the constant stream of tweets from fans – all wishing them luck and declaring undying love for the instant heartthrobs.

But that was just the beginning. No one could anticipate the transformation that these three boys would undergo.

By contrast, Bristol teen George Shelley was alone when he took to the stage for his X Factor audition. He had no one to share a nervous smile with, or to sneak him a comforting wink if the judges were a little harsh on him. Prompted to audition by his good friend Emily Tollner, he didn’t even tell his mum that he was going until the last possible moment. And so it was probably a shock to everyone who knew him when he casually walked out to take his spot in front of the judges.

Wearing a hoodie and jeans, with a guitar slung across his front, the first thing anyone noticed was his mop of perfectly constructed, immaculately messed up curls. Then he flashed his killer smile at the audience and got himself an instant fan base. With his peachy skin and fresh-faced good looks it was obvious he was going to be a firm favourite with the girls.

His grin was definitely verging on cheeky as he stood in front of the judges. Tulisa looked stern as she asked his name.

‘I’m George Shelley,’ he replied, without a hint of nerves.

The audience cheered and made a mental note to themselves to remember that name. If he could actually play the guitar he was clutching, and even half hold a tune, then surely this gorgeous boy was going to go far.

‘How old are you?’ Tulisa continued, still refusing to smile.

‘I’m 18,’ he said, prompting a wave of ‘Awww’s.

And the questions kept coming.

‘What are you doing with yourself at the moment?’ asked another judge.

George explained that he worked in a coffee shop, before he began chuckling to himself – making a few hundred more audience members fall hopelessly in love with him in the process. ‘I’m going to sing ‘Toxic’ by Britney Spears,’ he added.

It was a brilliant song choice – so different to what everyone was expecting from the teen dream standing in front of them. Tulisa suddenly took notice and cracked a smile.

‘Hmm… Interesting choice,’ she said. ‘Go for it…’

Both guitar and voice sprang to life, surprising everyone in the room. The girls in the audience were transfixed by his sweet voice and Louis looked totally overjoyed at the package of talent in front of him. Especially as he sure could play the guitar!

‘I’m addicted to you…’ he sang, and surely half the audience was already starting to think the same thing.

When he finished the audience moved as one to stand up and applaud the talented teen in front of them.

Louis could hardly contain his excitement as he managed: ‘Great look, great vocal!’

Gary instantly agreed. ‘It’s a yes from me.’

‘And a massive yes from me,’ said Tulisa, who by now had definitely been won over.

George put his hands to his face in shock. He couldn’t believe the reaction he had got. He gave the audience one last smile, along with a casual wave, before walking off stage.

All four boys had never felt so excited in all their lives. It takes guts to stand up on stage and sing in front of famous and talented stars, but for them the bold gamble had paid off. They all went back to their respective homes, buzzing with excitement. They told family and friends, and even their local newspapers about their experience. Then they had to wait for Bootcamp to begin.

Triple J member Jamie – known as ‘JJ’ – excitedly told his local paper, the Newmarket Journal: ‘I have always loved singing but never had the bottle. Singing is something I’ve always wanted to do and I’m grateful that I’m doing something I’ve always wanted to do.’

It was a sentiment that all four boys shared. Triple J and George Shelley were off to Bootcamp to begin their musical journey. There would be heartache ahead before their rebirth as the band we all love today – Union J.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. So let’s go back, before we go forward…

DID YOU KNOW?

Glamour model Bianca Gascoigne and former Popstars and Pop Idol contestant, Hayley Evetts, auditioned for the judges this season, too. Hayley made it as far as Bootcamp, but Bianca didn’t get past the auditions.