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"I pace and pull weird faces and make weird noises. Some people say they warm up, but I just make noises like animals," says Aiden Grimshaw, ahead of his headline London gig at The Scala, on the final night of his UK tour.

"There was a woman in Manchester whose job was to take pictures of me before I went on stage and she looked really freaked out," recalls the singer who shot to fame on X Factor with his peculiar facial expressions, as we discuss how he prepares to perform.

aiden grimsahw

Grimshaw, who admits "it's been nice to get out and play music to people", after two years out of the spotlight writing his largely praised debut album Misty Eye, seems to have been on somewhat of a 'lads on tour' trip across the UK over the past few months...

"I think we've been really lucky because the crew have been really cool guys, it's like three of my mates and a really cool bus and we've been watching classics like Man On Fire with Denzel Washington and Rocky 4. It's been an emotional journey of action."

Grimshaw, who came ninth in the X Factor 2010 but has now shaken off the reality TV curse and done something credible, often comes across as intense in his performances, but in person he's not one to take himself too seriously.

Now that the tour is coming to an end, he's looking forwards to a break: "I'm going to take a couple of days off, drink lots of Lemsip, maybe have a massage.

"Hopefully a few more people will want to hear the tour, as this tour has only been small. And then it's Christmas, so I'll be putting Christmas trees up."

aiden grimshaw

The singer from Blackpool, is also hoping Misty Eye - a collection of interesting down tempo electro songs he penned himself - will be heard by a wider audience...

"It's been good, all the reviews and stuff and people have said they really like it. I think it's out there now and people have just got to make that choice to listen to it.

"I don't think it was ever going to be something that happened straight away. It feels organic and it feels like it's getting there."

That show that spring-boarded Grimshaw and his now relaxed quiff to fame is on TV again, but he's not desperate to watch it: "Sometimes I try and catch it on repeat on Sunday, but I've not seen any of these ones"

"It's Judges Houses' now isn't it?" he asks, surprised when I tell him they are on to the live shows already and asks if there's any "good'uns", but really, I think Grimshaw's outgrown the show - and rightly so.

PHOTOS: This year's X Factor finalists...

X Factor judge Tulisa has revealed she hasn't had to give her Girls, Lucy Spraggan, Ella Henderson And Jade Ellis, any advice about handling the fame that comes with the show because they're all "tough cookies".

During an interview at ITV headquarters, the N-Dubz singer who's ditched her peroxide blonde locks for dark hair again ahead of the first live show this Saturday, told The Huffington Post UK: "Everyone seems to get the gist of how it works.

"I think at this stage it's a lot easier than how it's going to be at live shows, so I'm sure there will be scenarios then when I might have to sit down and reassure them, but as it stands they know what they're doing."

x factor

Ella Henderson, Jade Ellis, Tulisa and Lucy Spraggan

The outspoken judge added: "Sometimes as a mentor you don't want to talk for the fact of talking… I take one look at a person and have a short conversation with them, and from the second I meet them I know what they are about."

Tulisa, who appeared to be the only judge to be genuinely happy with her X Factor category when Simon Cowell broke the news two weeks ago, said of her girls: "I'm very confident. Obviously you never know what could happen, as you've seen before, the whole way everything is perceived before the live shows just completely gets flipped on its head once they start."

tulisa

An emotional Tulisa at Judges' Houses

Last year Tulisa mentored the Groups and won the competition with girl band Little Mix, a victory she's hoping to repeat: "All I can do is give 100 per cent to my girls… fingers crossed that means one of them will win."

INTERVIEW: Tulisa reveals her plans to quit showbiz

Meanwhile, Tulisa and her girls are also rooting for wildcard act Amy Mottram to the return to the show: "They miss her like hell," she said.

"They got to know her and go through the emotions behind the scenes, whereas I only got to see Amy when I delivered the news.

"She is so lovely and one of those people where you know there isn't an ounce of bad in her body. The way she reacted, she was hugging me, which made it even more heartbreaking," Tulisa revealed.

X Factor contestant Lucy Spraggan says she's not worried about the songs she'll have to sing at the live shows as she's "putting her trust in the competition" and thinks she will be able to perform her own records.

The singer/songwriter came a cropper at bootcamp when she had to perform without her guitar, but she believes the show will not put her on the spot in the same way again.

Asked how she'd feel if she had to perform in an ABBA-themed week, she told The Huffington Post UK: "I will wear that wig with proud. I've already got catsuits in my room ready.

lucy spraggan

"The thing is this year they've let people like me in and they wouldn't then go back to things like they were before, that would really put you on the spot and make you look bad.

"It's a game-changer this year to bring the element of musicians. I'm putting my trust in this competition and I think they're putting their trust in us."

However, Spraggan, who is being mentored by Tulisa in the Girls group, knows not all of her songs will work on the show: "I've got 200 songs, I don't think every single one of them would suit the show. I couldn't just go on and sing about Jeremy Kyle on a live show. It's a bit of a risk."

The 20-year-old from Sheffield agreed to take her music down from iTunes after her hit song Last Night (Beer Fear) charted in the top 5 and looked set to oust former X Factor winners Little Mix's single Wings from the number one slot.

And since the show began, she's noticed a lot more people coming to her gigs: "I was doing a gig a month before my audition aired and there were about six people there... then I did a gig after my audition and it sold out The Leadmill in Sheffield which is a huge difference."

Lucy, who is openly gay, has also been receiving love letters from her fans: "I've been getting emails from people saying 'Hi, I'm a chatty 45-year-old woman from Norwich' and I'm like 'Oh, um hello.'"

The first full-length trailer for director Gore Verbinski's The Lone Ranger has arrived, featuring Armie Hammer as the eponymous masked man and Johnny Depp as his faithful sidekick, Tonto, riding through some stunning Western scenery in what looks like a railroad adventure.

The Huffington Post UK first saw Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp filming in Monument Valley, Utah, back in April, with the help of a helicopter to capture the breathtaking huge rocks and vast landscape featured in the film.

The finished flick, now in post-production, was shot over the course of 150 days and cost Disney a reported $250 million to produce.

Jerry Bruckheimer was the man in charge and the film also features Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Wilkinson, Barry Pepper and Harry Treadaway.

The highly-anticipated flick is a big screen re-boot of the story that first appeared in 1933 in a wildly popular radio show which spawned an equally popular television show that ran from 1949 to 1957, as well as comic books.

There have also been two previous attempts at Lone Ranger - on film in 1981 and as a TV movie in 2003, but with Depp on board can this version finally reach blockbuster status?

The Lone Ranger is out in cinemas on 9 August 2013.

X Factor contestant Rylan Clark stunned viewers on Sunday evening with his incredibly emotional response to getting through to the final stage of the competition.

Sobbing all over a pillow, collapsing on the floor and making inhuman sounds were all part of his reaction, but what did his demure and classy mentor Nicole Scherzinger really think when she saw the Essex singer's pantomime?

"I was like, that was a very expensive pillow," she says, sitting with her three X Factor Boys at ITV's headquarters.

nicole

Nicole Scherzinger with Rylan Clark

And she reveals she was rather proud of her own performance during that scene: ""I loved it, I was gearing him up for it, I was trying to be all dramatic and everything with the whole 'risk' thing.

"I should have won an Emmy for that 'but it's a risk I wanna take' line."

Rylan explains the hotel where the scene was shot in Dubai phoned him up afterwards. He thought they were going to charge him for the cushion but says excitedly now: "They actually sent me the cushion!"

INTERVIEW: Rylan Clark on death threats and how Nicole has helped him cope

And if viewers thought Rylan's performance last weekend was over the top, he guarantees there's a lot more to come: "This is where the hard work begins for me now. I'm in my element, performance is what I want to do, as a dance artist my worse fear is just standing with a microphone and singing.

"So this Saturday I've got so much in store. We're going to a futuristic Egypt theme and there's a throne and a lot of naked men."

"I'm waiting to be asked my bra size at some point," laughs Jahmene Douglas, the shy X Factor contestant with the big voice who's made it to the finals.

The former supermarket shelf stacker is learning to get used to all the pampering that comes with the singing contest: "It is quite alien because you're getting spray-tanned and makeup put on, it's really quite strange.

"But you know they're making you look good enough for TV, your eyebrows look like Bert and Ernie but you've just got to trust them."

jahmene

Jahmene on the X Factor

At Judges' Houses, viewers saw Jahmene's mentor Nicole Scherzinger tell him to "grow some balls" - has he achieved that?

"It's harder than it sounds," he giggles.

In his softly spoken manner, with a voice that reminds me of Michael Jackson, the 21-year-old explains: "It's just about believing in myself and knowing that everything's all right for the performance.

"Bootcamp is nervewracking for everyone, it's just a horrible experience, I think even if you put Stevie Wonder in that place he'd break down. It's nice to get to the final stage to prove yourself."

Jahmene, from Swindon, was found on YouTube by the show's producers and stunned viewers with his first audition when he sang Etta James' At Last. He says he's now "excited" and adds: "We've got so many surprises, it's just going to be so much fun."

"Take your clothes off, I need to know if you wear a wire," Jason Statham orders Jennifer Lopez in his latest crime/action thriller, Parker.

Set in New York, Statham plays a thief who never steals from people that can't afford it. He's virtually unrecognisable in one robbery costume, which sees him dressed as a priest (complete with white-haired wig and glasses), as he commits a crime with a crew dressed as clowns.

He also explains he doesn't "hurt people that don’t deserve it,” before beating the hell out of his enemies.

Nick Nolte and Michael Chiklis also star in the film, which is due out on 25 January.

Rimmer, Lister, Kryten and Cat are back, in the first original Red Dwarf series since 1999. Can the silly sci-fi comedy characters still create laughs?

Speaking before the red carpet premiere of the new series, Chris Barrie, who plays space's most anal hologram, Rimmer, expresses his worries: “Has it occurred to anyone that people saw series 2, 3 and 4 when they were smoking god knows what? And that we’re know measured against their memories of that?”

“I was smoking god knows what when we made it,” jokes Craig Charles, who plays the last human male in the known universe, Dave Lister.

“They might say ‘Damn this isn’t nearly as funny’,” frets Barrie.

“They were probably stoned out of their heads,” laughs Charles.

red dwarf

Robert Llewellyn, who plays neurotic Series 4000 mechanoid robotic servant, Kryten, steers the conversation on to more serious terrain: “Suddenly what we’ve become aware of is the range of people that watched the show.

“There are people that were teenagers in the late Eighties who would have watched it when they were at university, had children - and the children have watched it on Dave or DVDs.

“Those kids weren’t even born when it was first on and they’ve now seen it all back-to-back.”

Red Dwarf has very loyal fans, some of whom are queuing up outside the Prince Charles cinema, Leicester Square, to see the stars and get a sneak peek of the first episode as we speak.

Llewellyn says his son will also show up for the occasion: “I stupidly used the word ‘acting’ to describe what I was doing and my son said ‘No dad, the others are acting. You’re just a twat with a rubber head.”

The harsh description, not dissimilar to the type of cutting lines and ‘smeg head’ insults that are famous in Red Dwarf, causes an outpour of laugher from his co-stars.

"We've got to set up a T-shirt business," chuckles Charles.

Bouncing off each other, the men – who all describe the show as “career-defining” – clearly all still get along well.

Llewellyn notes: “We are blessed with chemistry. There is something special between all of us I’ve never experienced it anywhere else.”

“We can be honest with each other because we’ve known each other for so long,” concurs Barrie.

And Charles adds: “It’s out of love, you can be rude and offensive and still laugh at it, as it’s affectionate.”

red dwarf

I ask the guys to sum up their characters in two lines…

Barrie says: "Arnold Rimmer is a very well-rounded character, and never is anal about anything.” Charles describes Lister as “a space bum guitar god, looking for a way home and a really hot curry” - and Llewellyn thinks “Kryten is just thrilled that there is still an ample supply of laundry that needs doing and acres of floors that need mopping”.

How seriously can these grown men take each other while dressed in rubber costumes?

"I remember when we were outside in the freezing cold and I turned round to Chris in a moment of clarity and looked at myself and said ‘This is no way for a man who’s hurtling towards 50 to be dressing’," admits Charles.

But Llewellyn thinks seeing each other without their costumes on is stranger: "I don't look at Danny and think ‘God, he looks weird, he’s got funny teeth in and weird hair and a psychedelic suit’, it’s just normal. I look at Danny more when he’s not in costume.”

The first episode of Red Dwarf X (or series 10) is called Trojan and begins with the Dwarfers' mining ship still creaking though the wastelands of unchartered deep space when they stumble upon the mysteriously abandoned SS Trojan.

Rimmer receives an SOS distress call from an old foe who tells him: "Your brain is smaller than a salad section in a Scottish supermarket" - and is suddenly faced with a big dilemma.

Is the show back to original Red Dwarf at its early '90s best? There are simple gags about moose, being put on hold and pressing wrong buttons and plenty of silly faces, all of which create laughs.

Showrunner Doug Naylor confirms he's expecting Dave to commission another series, but for now fans can enjoy a return to form for the show, as it makes a TV comeback for six 30 minute episodes from Thursday 4 October, 9pm on Dave and Dave HD.

As Barrie notes: they "never stop having fun".

CHART TOPPERS

It seems even One Direction's millions of teenage fans can't stop Rihanna reaching the top spot when she releases a new single.

The We Found Love singer beat the boyband's song Live While We're Young to number one with her latest track Diamonds, knocking the insanely catchy Gangnam Style by rapper Psy and its silly horsey dance, to number two.

And one of the most anticipated songs in what seems like a long time - the James Bond Skyfall theme - entered the charts in fourth place, despite only going on sale on Friday.

Adele's big, brassy and soulful tune, which finally surfaced after over a year of speculation and which fits perfectly alongside the work of Shirley Bassey in the oeuvre of 007 title tracks, went to number one on the iTunes chart within just 10 hours of being released.

Meanwhile, folk band Mumford & Sons have reportedly matched a US chart record set by The Beatles with the release of their second album, Babel.

Earlier in the week, it was announced they had smashed Justin Bieber's record for best first-week album sales of 2012 and now NME reports the band have equalled The Beatles' record of placing six singles simultaneously in the Billboard Hot 100.

GIGS TO LOOK OUT FOR

If, like thousands of other music fans you spent your Sunday morning scrambling for Glastonbury 2013 tickets, only to find that they had sold out in record time, then mark down April in your diaries when there will be a resale of any cancelled tickets.

If, however, you're looking for a smaller gig to attend The Barclaycard Mercury Prize ‘Albums of the Year Live’ gig series continues on Wednesday 17 October with special performances from joint headliners Only Love singer Ben Howard and young Leeds Jazz group Roller Trio.

Ben Howard at Bestival 2012

The shortlisted artists will be playing the event at LSO Luke’s in London to help raise money for War Child and fans can apply for tickets through a special ballot system, which will be open for 48 hours from 10am on Monday 8 October.

Entry to the gig will be free, although a donation of £10 will need to be made to War Child in order to secure each pair of tickets. Fans can apply for tickets at: https://www.theticketfactory.com

OPEN YOUR EARS

And if you fancy hearing some dusky, enchanting vocals, after a summer of playing pretty much all the festivals, Ellen and The Escapades are about to head off on a little tour to support the release of their new single Without You on 21 October.

You can catch them at the below locations and book tickets via their website:

Thu 25 Oct - The Wilmington Arms, London
Sun 28 Oct - Pocktoberfest, Pocklington
Mon 29 Oct - The Cluny 2, Newcastle
Wed 31 Oct - Louisiana, Bristol
Thur 1 Nov - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

LISTEN: Ellen and The Escapades Can't Make It So

Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood is to get his own spin-off show about bread, the Radio Times has revealed.

Hollywood, who has become somewhat of a heartthrob to viewers of GBBO, announced that he’s filming his first solo project, to be broadcast in February: "It's about bread but I’m also cooking with bread and doing a few cakes."

great british bake off

Judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry

He added: "Most of the cakes before the 1820s were made with yeast and it wasn’t until the introduction of raising agents that you got the light, fluffy cake that we prize today. I’ve been all over the country looking into the history of bread.”

Mouth-watering BBC series Great British Bake Off - which packs into each episode enough calories to make up five times your recommended daily allowance - comes to an end next week. But viewers won't have to wait too long for their next sweet fix, as it has just finished filming a festive special.

The Bafta-winning baking competition has become essential television for would-be pastry chefs and those unable to resist their creations and the most recent episode was one of the most successful so far for the BBC, drawing in 4.8m viewers.

READ: 5 reasons we love The Great British Bake Off

PHOTOS: Contestants obsessed with cakes...

EastEnders' current storyline about teen mum Lola having her baby, Lexi, taken away from her by 'meddling' social workers has angered those working in the profession.

The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) have condemned the plot and accused BBC producers of being "too lazy and arrogant" to get their portrayal of the child protection process right, the Media Guardian reports.

The social worker and police arrive, and Lola knows she's in trouble.

Bridget Robb, acting chief of the BASW, told the newspaper: "Social workers have a difficult enough job as it is. Unlike the writers and actors on EastEnders, they have to step through those front doors that no one else wants to step through, and they do it on a daily basis, to protect children, not to target families.

"EastEnders' shabby portrayal of an entire profession has made a tough job even tougher."

In response to a complaint by one social worker the BBC reportedly said: "There was no suggestion that the social worker's actions were anything other than a genuine desire to protect Lexi, or that her concerns about Lola were unreasonable, given the picture she and the previous social worker had formed over a substantial period of time."

Read the full response here.

Reactions to the storyline on Twitter from fans of the show have so far widely condemned the social worker character:

And one social worker used the social networking site to condemn the storyline, she wrote:

X Factor has always been somewhat of a pantomime, to call it a serious talent contestant would be doing a disservice to the likes of Jedward, Wagner, Chico, Johnny Robinson, Same Difference and Goldie Cheung who all earned their screen time by being loud, outrageous, 'joke' contestants.

Therefore, many were shocked when Gary Barlow OBE, the frontman of Take That who has built a respected reputation in the music industry for his song-writing, joined the much-criticised reality show.

The six-time recipient of the Ivor Novello Award has sold over 45 million records worldwide with Take That and certainly didn't need to revive a flagging a career or earn more cash, like some stars who get involved with such shows.

gary barlow

Barlow reportedly signed up to be a judge on Simon Cowell's often cruel TV show in the hope of "nurturing genuine talent."

So it came as somewhat of a slap in the face when one of his acts, Carolynne Poole, was sent home from the competition instead of Rylan Clark (this year's 'entertainment').

On Sunday, viewers saw Barlow walk off the show in outrage (although even this admittedly seemed staged) and now the judge has reportedly thretened to quit if a similar shambles to Sunday’s deadlock drama ever happens again.

The Sun reports the Take That singer summoned host Dermot O’Leary and show chiefs to an emergency meeting to discuss his ultimatum.

The head judge is said to want to “put a stop to tricks” and end “pantomime” on the show.

An X Factor source told the newspaper: “Gary is fiercely proud of his reputation and signed up for the show because he wanted to nurture genuine talent. The reason he wanted to be on it was to put a stop to these tricks and to stop insulting the artists and viewers."

Show producer Richard Holloway has denied that Sunday's deadlock was a fix after viewers saw him whispering in Louis' ear during Carolynne's performance, he said: "We don't tell the judges how to vote and as you saw on the show Louis hadn't - and couldn't - make up his mind so he decided that sending it to the public vote was the fairest thing to do."

And an X Factor spokeswoman also said: "Carolynne had the least amount of public votes so the public's choice to stay in the show was Rylan.

"Producers always chat to judges during the show."

Read a sample of the outraged reactions about Louis' decision below...

Who’s your bet to win this series? Finalists below…

Arsenal Ladies claimed another victory at the Continental Cup final on Wednesday, as player of the match Kim Little scored the only goal of the game with just seven minutes remaining.

A crowd of 2,535 turned out at Barnet's Underhill Stadium to watch the tense final, with the high-pitched chanting an indicator of the young following. The lack of swearing and the family atmosphere made for a sweeter environment as groups of school children seemed to make up the majority of the crowd - a rarity at men's matches.

Player of the match Kim Little of Arsenal

Arsenal promised that their most expensive ticket this season will be £126, but fans who watch the Ladies' team are still getting a better deal with their £5 stub for the final. They probably got a better view too - they just had to be open to a different gender playing on the pitch.

There was noticeably a distinct lack of egos amongst the players, too, as one man in the Director's Lounge noted "it's almost proper football".

"The biggest challenge of my career has been people recognising me as a footballer and not just a girl that plays football," said Stephanie Houghton, Arsenal Ladies player and goal scorer for Team GB women's team at the London Olympics.

Arsenal Ladies have won more titles than any other British Premier League team and sealed the Women's Super League title again in September - the 11th time they've been crowned champions of England in 12 years.

Stephanie Houghton

That sort of success could go to any team's head, but the women on the pitch were still very much focused on the game and looked just as jubilant as if they'd won their first title. They sprayed champagne over one another, hugged and danced to the pop music blaring out of the stadium's speakers once the final whistle blew.

Broadcaster ESPN, who have been covering women's games for two seasons now, were at the North London ground to beam the game out live. Their spokesperson told me they bring just the same set-up for a women's final as they do for many of their other games.

Their live coverage on Wednesday attracted an average match audience of 25,000 viewers and reached (was watched at least once by) 145,571 people.

Viewing of their Women's Super League TV coverage has risen by 12 percent since last year and while 70 percent of their WSL audience is male, their female audience has also grown by 16 percent.

"I think because there is so much money involved with the men's game we're never going to be up there with them," said Houghton. The 24-year-old's career began "playing in the yard with her dad and friends" and moved on to playing in school on the boy's team, before she was scouted on a holiday football course.

However, she notes there has been an improvement. "It's nice to see the progression over the past couple of years and the launch of the semi-professional league.

"It getting televised means it's obviously going in the right direction and we've just go to keep pushing that as players… fingers crossed that it's always going to be positive feedback that we get in the media."

"It puts me in quite a childish place," says singer and producer Ben Hudson, better known as Mr Hudson.

The musician, who's worked with music heavyweights such as Kanye West and Jay-Z, and British acts like Tinie Tempah, Dizzee Rascal and N-Dubz, is explaining why he's tried something different, namely forming a band and recording a fun pop album with Bill Oddie's daughter, Rosie Bones.

"Working with Rosie is like a fresh new thing for me and I'm playing the piano on stage, which I've never done before and it's a bit scary," he says, as we sit in his North London recording studio with a cup of tea.

"It feels like the beginning, and this is art, it should always feel like you're doing something new - otherwise go and work in a factory," he adds.

Full of energy, Hudson's just answered the door to me wearing a gold paper crown: "I was in Burger King - living the dream - wrapping myself round a Whopper, and I just noticed Burger King, Big Kids the alliteration there, and I thought, 'what a wonderful play on words.' "

Big Kids is the name of the duo's band and it fits perfectly with the upbeat "trash your bedroom" style music they've created.

"As you can see, the crowns are evolving," laughs Rosie, sitting on the sofa with a plastic crown, which boasts sparkly jewels, on her head.

Their musical collaboration began after Hudson heard Bones playing in a pub in Camden: "This one gets on stage with her band, a little grungey three piece and starts singing. Normally a band comes on and you leave, but this time I listened to the whole set and introduced myself.

"I said 'lets do something' and thought it would just be Mr Hudson featuring Rosie Oddie, but we just forgot to stop and realised we had an album."

The first single they've released is the catchy 'Heart Sing', which Bones says is about "rediscovering someone who makes your heart sing".

"Have you heard it?" asks Hudson as he turns up the track on his computer. It has a big brass groove and Bones' raspy vocals dominate. "People kept saying that was the one that grabbed them," he says, explaining the reason they chose this song to release first.

big kids

Their 'Never Grow Up' album is full of similarly happy songs, I wonder - is fun something they thought was missing in the charts?

"I don't know what's in the charts," says the man who's worked with some of the biggest names in the charts right now.

Bones explains: "I've been in quite a grungey serious thing, he'd been in Hip Hop and Mr Hudson and we both basically met each other and found a common ground, which is to make something really happy in a time when things are a bit harder...

"We thought there was a little bit of a gap for something like this, and we here we are now with our stupid crowns on."

Hudson adds: "I'm not going to hate on all the stuff I don't like in the charts.

"I just think we are anti-production and anti-polish... this a little bit grungey and punk, just DIY up in here - I literally mean up in this studio, with Rosie making the videos."

Hudson is signed to Kanye West's GOOD Music label, so has the rapper heard his new work?

"Yeah they've heard works in progress, I don't think I've showed them the whole album... but I never have played stuff to people till they asked."

BIGkids' debut album, 'Never Grow Up', is out now.

"It was going to be perfect," says Michael Jackson's choreographer Travis Payne about the This Is It tour, the Jacko show which sadly never met an audience.

Much has been said and written about Jackson's state of health before he died on 25 June, 2009, but Payne is adamant the superstar was capable of touring and raring to go.

"For sure he would have completed the fifty dates, the reason being that they were stretched over 9 months.

"He was going to be in one place [the 02 Arena, London]... It was going to be great. He was going to have his nice house in the countryside where he could be with his family and then come in to the city to do a show twice a week."

Travis Payne at the 'This Is It' film premiere

Michael Jackson never got to show the world his final tour, but now a legacy-style production is coming to the 02 Arena thanks - in part - to the King of Pop's actual man in the mirror, Payne.

The dancer, who famously worked with Michael and Janet Jackson on the music video for 'Scream', believes it's "immensely" important to get a Jacko tour out to his fans after what happened. "That was a huge let down for us all," he explains.

"We were scheduled to be in the 02 the week following what was his day of passing, so we never made it. We'd just finished our last rehearsal in LA and were packing up to come to the 02 when we heard.

"So for me it's really bitter-sweet because we finally got to get here, but not in the way that we planned."

Payne, who choreographed Jackson's 'Dangerous' and 'History' tours, adds: "To have a full circle moment now being here at the 02 is a bit overwhelming, but I'm grateful."

Janet Jackson and Michael Jackson in their 'Scream' video which Payne choreographed

Payne says people can expect "the fantasy of Cirque du Soleil mixed with the fire and funk of Michael Jackson" in The Immortal World Tour and has searched the globe for dancers who can embody Jackson's signature moves.

But, he makes clear, these dancers are not replicates: "They all embody Michael in different ways, and that was always our goal, not to try and replace Michael, not to try and create a Michael Jackson show, but to create something that celebrates his artistry."

I wonder, will we ever find someone like him - the most successful entertainer of all time?

"What made Michael so special was not only did he dance and sing but he danced in his own way and created his own language... What we've seen since, I feel, is versions of Michael Jackson.

"There's not been someone since who has come along and completely been innovative on all levels. The man did over four decades of great work, that type of artist really comes along once in a lifetime and I've worked with all of them.

"There's no one like Michael, nor will there ever be."

Dancers perform 'Thriller' on The Immortal World Tour

Payne's other clients include global stars Madonna, Lady Gaga and Mariah Carey.

Fans heading to see The Immortal World Tour, which is now the highest grossing road show in America this year and arrives in London on Friday for the first leg of its European tour, can expect to see plenty of Jackson's signature moves on stage.

"There's so many - his iconic lean from 'Smooth Criminal', all the ghouls from 'Thriller', the military, all of his signature vibes," says Payne.

Although the public never got to see Jackson's This Is It tour, Payne went on to work as the producer on the film which pieced together footage of Jackson rehearsing for the event.

"I'm just so grateful that we had that footage and could assemble it so people could see what was being planned for the 02." He admits: "I was just in my hometown of Atlanta and I was in the line at the checkout at the grocery store and they the DVD on sale, so I brought it and watched it again. I've seen it many times."

Michael Jackson in 2009 at a press conference where he announced the This Is It tour

So what is Payne's enduring memory of Jackson, the man who impacted so greatly on his life?

"I always enjoyed being in the mirror with Michael and dancing with him and coming up with ideas.

"I always loved it when he thought something I did was so cool and that we had to do it.

"And his laughter, I remember his laughter, always, when he had side-splitting laughter it was always great."

For complete tour and ticket information, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/michaeljackson

'Strictly Come Dancing' stepped up a notch on Saturday night, as all 14 dancers showed off what they've been practising - with various levels of success.

It was the first time the celebrity contestants danced with the threat of elimination if they failed to impress the judges and viewers at home.

Victoria Pendleton got back in the race, Jerry Hall put in a little bit more effort and Sid Owen did his best to look like a Latin lover. Here's how they all got on and the judges' (mostly-abrasive) comments:

Nicky Byrne and Karen Hauer- Cha-Cha-Cha

Len complained there was "too much boy band dancing". Bruno added: "You had a naughty twinkle in your eyes… but you were off-synch completely."

SCORE: 18

nicky

Nicky and Karen were first on the dance floor

Colin Salmon and Kristina Rihanoff - Viennese Waltz

Bruno: "A bit careful for me." Darcey: "You have got to watch you don't stoop… but well done; a man that can ballroom and Latin."

SCORE: 24

Dani Harmer and Vincent Simone - Salsa

"You sort of just went splat darling," quipped Craig. Len was kinder: "You little munchkin, you came out and gave it some welly."

SCORE: 27

fern

Fern and Artem perform

Fern Britton and Artem Chigvintsev - Viennese Waltz

"You give us such a beautiful feeling when you dance," gushed Darcey before giving some technical tips. Bruno said: "You look like you are casually dusting."

SCORE: 24

Richard Arnold and Erin Boag - Cha-Cha-Cha

"That was like a Vegas showgirl with a trout pout… in a very sick way I enjoyed it," said Bruno. Talking about the duo's choice of music, Craig joked: "I wasn't very sure you wanted to take Erin to the Love Shack." Len gave somewhat of a compliment: "You don't need to camp it up, you're a better dancer than that."

SCORE: 19

richard

Richard and Erin's dance was mocked

Victoria Pendleton and Brendan Cole - Foxtrot

Len said: "Clean, classy and confident… Queen Vic is back." Darcey offered: "You're beautiful… now you are going to have fun with this show."

SCORE: 26

Michael Vaughan and Natalie Lowe - Jive

"The timing was so bad it was good, you couldn't do it worse," laughed Bruno. Craig said: "That has to be the oddest Jive I've ever witnessed... most of the time you looked like you were busting for a wee."

SCORE: 15

loius

Louis and Flavia

Louis Smith and Flavia Cacace - Viennese Waltz

"I saw more turns than the government, great posture and the best dance I've seen tonight," said Len. Bruno added: "It was like a Valentine's postcard brought to life."

SCORE: 30

Denise Van Outen and James Jordan - Jive

Darcey called their dance "amazing". Len said: "That was my cup of tea." Bruno added, excitedly: "That is the way to do a jive."

SCORE: 32

Johnny Ball and Iveta Lukosiute - Foxtrot

Craig said Johnny gave a "decent effort" and Darcey admitted it was "wonderfully better than last week."

SCORE: 20

Sid and Ola

Sid Owen and Ola Jordan - Salsa

"The timing was completely off," said Bruno. Craig called it "haphazard" but "loved the routine".

SCORE: 22

Kimberley Walsh and Pasha Kovalev - Foxtrot

"I thought it was absolutely gorgeous," said Craig but complained about her "protruding" jaw. Len was very disappointed and noted: "It was limp... you've got to do better than that girl."

SCORE: 26

Jerry Hall and Anton Du Beke - Slow Foxtrot

"Your problem is you are too vertical," said Len. Bruno joked Jerry was "stuck on Anton" and announced he is "waiting for more."

SCORE: 18

Jerry and Anton

Lisa Riley and Robin Windsor - Foxtrot

"We're getting it all with you," cried Bruno. Craig said: "I thought it was light... but it is true the man should lead darling." Darcey praised the "focus" in Lisa's eyes.

SCORE: 25

'X Factor' attempted to clear up the mess of last week's deadlock drama at the beginning of this Saturday's show, with indecisive judge Louis Walsh pleading: "It was live TV, I was like a rabbit in the headlights."

With the show's version of an apology out of the way, it was on to Love and Heartbreak week...

Sweet Jahmene Douglas, who admitted he's never been in love, was up first, singing Amy Winehouse's 'Tears Dry On Their Own', mixed with a verse of 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough'.

His lack of experience in the romance department didn't hinder the 21-year-old's performance. Louis said: "You are what this show is all about... you are one of my favourite ever 'X Factor' acts." Jahmene did his nervous giggle while the whole panel praised him and his new Motown image.

Gary Barlow's act Christopher Maloney proved to Nicole Scherzinger that he could be more than "cheesy" with an emotional rendition of power ballad 'Alone'. The Pussycat Doll said: "I'm so proud of you, brilliant song choice." But Louis laid into Gary's act, describing it as "cruise ship".

Union J were up next, making the mistake of singing a Leona Lewis song… badly. I certainly didn't want them to keep 'Bleeding Love'. But the judges were impressed. Gary called it a "total transformation" and Nicole said: "You got everything right this week."

They were followed by 16-year-old Ella Henderson, who confessed that she's never been in love. But you couldn't tell from her beautiful and powerful version of 'Lovin' You' by Minnie Riperton. She hit the high-notes perfectly and Gary said: "You completely nailed it." Nicole called her "classic" and a "timeless Goddess" and I thought "can't we just end this pantomime now and crown her the winner?"

Adele, who Ella has been compared to, even tweeted praise for the young singer:

Nicole's act James Arthur took to the stage to sing Mary J Blige's 'No More Drama' after getting some advice from R&B star Blige. I was dubious when I first heard the song choice but James did something special to it and Louis agreed, stating: "Your version was incredible." Tulisa said: "You've got this pain in your voice... I believe everything you say."

Lucy Spraggan, whose grandmother passed away this week, shook up the mood of the show with her upbeat performance of Kanye West's 'Gold Digger'. Nicole, who's quickly becoming my favourite judge, said: "You swagged it out girl."

District 3 sang boy band number 'I Swear' by Boyz II Men. They didn't want to come across too cheesy, but they did.

The second Amy Winehouse rendition of the night came from Jade Ellis with 'Love Is A Losing Game'. Jade has been somewhat overlooked in the competition so far but showed her worth with this performance. Gary called it "simple, stylish and amazing" and Nicole said: "You're like a beautiful flower."

Louis' MK1 sang Jackson 5 song 'I Want You Back' with one of their trademark raps, Gary said: "It's gone a little bit Glee for me." Nicole agreed: "I didn't feel it this week."

Gary's singing chimney sweep Kye Sones followed MK1, singing Rihanna and Eminem's 'Love The Way You Lie'. His vocals were weak, and Nicole said: "That didn't set me on fire." Gary Barlow and Louis Walsh's fall out continued as Gary slammed the judge's comments. Louis hit back, saying: "You're doing something wrong Gary... It's Gary's fault."

The man at the centre of last week's deadlock drama, Rylan Clark, was up next. Joking about Gary he said: "If you don't like it, storm off again." He broke out into Take That's 'Back For Good' in what must be the biggest insult Gary could ever face, but quickly switched it up to dance track 'Groove Is In The Heart' mixed with 'Gangnam Style'. How on earth can he say he's not a joke act?

Gary said: "If this was a competition for how many songs you could kill in two minutes you would win... I'm never going to like this."

Melanie Masson belted out 'Never Tear Us Apart' by Paloma Faith in some dreadful white flares in the last performance of the night. Nicole said: "What a way to end the show." Tulisa agreed: "You blew everyone away yet again."

Who was your favourite performance of the night and who should be sent home on Sunday's show? Let us know in the comments below.

A third series of 'Homeland' has not been commissioned yet, but that hasn't stopped Channel 4 snapping up the rights to it.

The broadcaster is so keen not to lose the hit show to a rival that they've already signed up to show the next run of the terrorist drama starring Claire Danes and Damian Lewis.

Channel 4 boss Jay Hunt told 'The Sun's TV Biz': "'Homeland' has become unmissable TV. I’m delighted we have the third season for Channel 4 viewers to enjoy."

Sunday night's episode of the Emmy Award-winning show put CIA agent Carrie (Danes) back in the action in Beirut. The intelligence proffered by her old city contact about a meeting with Abu Nazir kick-started a chain of events in Lebanon and Washington.

Meanwhile, in Washington, troubled soldier Brody (Lewis) was invited ever further along the corridors of military intelligence.

Read a full review of episode two here.

CHART TOPPERS

Adele + James Bond = a sure-fire number one? You'd think.

But alas, the hugely successful singer been beaten to the top of the UK singles chart by Swedish House Mafia - a Swedish dance group of whom most people can't name its members.

Their tune 'Don't Worry Child', which features John Martin and is admittedly pretty great, was locked in a battle for the top with the British singer's 'Skyfall' all week.

Last week's number one, Rihanna's 'Diamonds', slipped to number four, while Psy's global phenomenon 'Gangnam Style' held on to a top three place.

Meanwhile, folk four-piece Mumford & Sons regained the top spot in the album chart with 'Babel', knocking Muse's 'The 2nd Law' out of the number one position.

Ellie Goulding's 'Halcyon' was a new entry at number two and Jeff Lynne, the Electric Light Orchestra frontman, had a top 10 album with his solo record 'Long Wave', in at seven, while his band's greatest hits compilation entered the chart at eight.

Further down the chart, critics' darlings Tame Impala scored a top 20 album with their psychedelic rock effort 'Lonerism', new in at 14.

GIGS TO LOOK OUT FOR

If you fancy seeing Tulisa and Jessie J battle it out for the Best Female Artist title or simply love urban music, then tickets are now on sale for the 17th Annual MOBO Awards.

This year's event will take place at the Echo Arena Liverpool on Saturday 3 November. Public and VIP tickets can be purchased on 0844 8000 400 and online at www.mobo.com.

Or if you're in the market for music less likely to be heard in the charts, Oui Love returns in November 2012 with three of the best up-and-coming artists from the live French electronic music scene.

Glittery electro-disco duo Jupiter, "the new wave of the new wave" trio Juveniles, and hypnotic Franco-American producer/songwriter Yan Wagner will go on a mini-tour to Brighton, London, and Manchester.

LISTEN: Jupiter - Juicy Lucy (Needs A Boogieman)

Here are the Oui Love tour details:

20/11/12 - Brighton Blind, Tiger Club (in association with Melting Vinyl)
21/11/12 - London, Shacklewell Arms (in association with Bird On The Wire)
22/11/12 - Manchester, Soup Kitchen (in association with Hey Manchester!)
Tickets for Manchester and London are £6 adv + booking fee, Brighton £5 adv + booking fee.

OPEN YOUR EARS

Dublin quartet Kodaline release their debut self-titled EP, full of emotive pop songs, on Monday. For a taste of their sound watch the a live acoustic video of their tear-jerker lead track ‘'All I Want’' below.

The band have known each other since the age of eight and are now gearing up for their first UK dates in November - here's where you can catch them:

26/11/12 Manchester - Night N Day
27/11/12 London - Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
28/11/12 London - Sebright Arms

"People think that because of my nature and the tone of my voice that I'm stupid, and that's hard," says Rebecca Ferguson, the Liverpudlian mum of two who became 'X Factor' 2010's runner-up after earning a place in viewers' hearts with her soulful vocals and sweet manner.

Ferguson is undoubtedly one of the most credible acts to come out of the 'X Factor' since it began in 2004. Her debut album 'Heaven' has been certified platinum in the UK and her songs, the majority of which she writes and which show real emotion, have won critical acclaim.

And now the 26-year-old seems to have found more than just her singing voice: "I'm a much stronger person now, I know what I want. I'm a lot more feisty. I was so passive and shy then, I've got my head screwed on now."

The new feisty Ferguson was never more evident than when she recently spoke out against her former management company (who are suing her, claiming that she unlawfully ender her contract) on Twitter.

"I'm not afraid of a rant, am I? I've got to that point where I've just become a woman, I think I've just grown. I was 23 when I entered the show."

Ferguson, who's perched on the edge of a sofa in Sony Music HQ in London, is recovering from a cold, but there's been no time to rest - on Sunday she returned to the 'X Factor' to perform as part of the publicity drive to support her new sprightly Mowtown-esque single 'Backtrack' and a repackaged 'deluxe' version of her album.

She explains the decision to re-release 'Heaven' was made after two of the songs that were originally meant to feature weren't ready in time. One of these - 'Good Days, Bad Days', a wistful and modern soul-pop number - she describes as the most personal to her.

"I loved that song but it wasn't ready... it has a lot of hidden meaning to it."

I ask what's it about and she goes coy: "I'm never really going to say that. I want people to just figure that one out, it's a little question mark song.

"I'm normally really open about my songs to people, but that one I want people to think who I'm singing to and what it's about."

Popjustice joked it "sounds like it might very well be about Zayn Malik’s on/off relationship with Twitter". It could well be about her One Direction star ex-boyfriend, whom she met while on the 'X Factor', with lyrics that include "there you are, wishing on stars everyday".

There's also a fantastic cover of Gil Scott-Heron's 'Take Care', recently sung by Rihanna and Drake, on the album. "It's just something different, a bit unexpected."

rebecca ferguson

Returning to the 'X Factor' this weekend must have brought back lots of memories. Ferguson confesses: "you still feel like you're going to get judged by the judges when you get on the stage." I wonder who's she's stayed in touch with from the show?

"I caught up with a few of them last week like Rebecca Crayton from Bel Ami and John Adeleye, I text Katie Waisel, I've been so busy. It would be nice to catch up with everyone." There's no mention of One Direction, who came third that year and are still managed by the company that is suing her.

Ferguson, who is even more beautiful in the flesh, admits there are some things she would do differently if she were to relive the past two years.

"There's lot of things I look back on and think I wish that hadn't of happened, but at the same time I don't regret that they happened because I've grown from them, I don't like having regrets," she explains.

rebecca ferguson

And despite the low times - she recently revealed she almost quit music at one point - there have been plenty of highlights for the singer.

"Meeting Lionel Richie, the Christina Aguilera single... that was like a childhood dream and getting my [platinum] disc as well that was nice and the tour, seeing the fans."

Ferguson warms up when we talk about her fans: "There's a core group that I worry over like they are a family and if I don't hear from them I wonder what's going on with our Molly, 'how's our Richie?' and I worry over them. If I haven't heard from them I feel motherly."

She reveals they're also "warm and protective" towards her and care for her as if they really know her. "If I've got a gig coming up I'll send them a message and invite them," she adds.

Ferguson has got her sights set on working with hit maker Calvin Harris next and may well get the chance on her next album, which she plans to write next year. Will it be another album about love and heartbreak?

"I've gone through so much and I've met so many different people and weird and wonderful characters that I'm sure I'll gain inspiration,' she hints.

In the meantime Ferguson's indulging in one of her other passions: "I'm opening a beauty shop now... the Scousers will love that," she laughs.

Aiden Grimshaw On His Debut Tour: 'It's Been An Emotional Journey Of Action' (INTERVIEW)

'X Factor' Judge Tulisa Says Lucy Spraggan, Ella Henderson And Jade Ellis Are 'Tough Cookies'

'X Factor': Lucy Spraggan Is 'Putting Her Trust' In The Competition

'The Lone Ranger' Trailer: Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer In Gore Verbinski's Cowboy Adventure (VIDEO)

'X Factor': Nicole Scherzinger Wants An Emmy For Her And Rylan Clark's Judges' Houses Performance

X Factor Star Jahmene Douglas On His Pop Star Makeover And 'Growing Some Balls' (INTERVIEW)

'Parker' Trailer: Jason Statham Strips Down With Jennifer Lopez In Crime Thriller

'Red Dwarf' Returns – Can The Show Still Get Laughs Without Pot-Smoking Viewers? The Cast Discuss (INTERVIEW)

MUSIC BOX: Rihanna Shines With 'Diamonds', Mumford And Sons Break The Beatles' Record, Plus Gigs To Look Out For

'Great British Bake Off' Spin-Off: Paul Hollywood To Get His Own Show About Bread

'EastEnders' Baby Lexi Storyline Angers Social Workers - Do You Think It's A Fair Representation?

'X Factor' Judge Gary Barlow Reportedly Threatens To Quit The Show If There Is Any More 'Pantomime' Drama

Arsenal Ladies Win Continental Cup In Another Boost For Women's Football (PICTURES)

Big Kids Mr Hudson And Rosie Bones On Their 'Fun' Debut Album 'Never Grow Up' (INTERVIEW)

Michael Jackson's Choreographer Travis Payne Says Immortal World Tour Is 'Really Bitter-Sweet' (INTERVIEW)

'Strictly Come Dancing' Week 2 Sees Owen Sizzle And Pendleton Get Back In Race (PICTURES)

'X Factor' Review: Ella Henderson And James Arthur Bring The Emotion, Rylan Clark Is The Joke

'Homeland' Series 3 Rights Snapped Up By Channel 4

MUSIC BOX: Swedish House Mafia Beat Adele, Kodaline Release Debut EP, MOBO Tickets On Sale

Rebecca Ferguson On Changing Since 'X Factor' And People Thinking She's 'Stupid'