#anton stephans

News ahoy! Principal cast announced for Fisherman's Friends the Musical @RichmondTheatre @FFonstage

The producers of the world premiere production of Fisherman’s Friends the Musical are delighted to announce principal cast members and additional tour venues for the UK & Ireland Tour, which will land at Richmond Theatre from 28 February – 4 March 2023. James Gaddas (Casualty, Bad Girls, Coronation Street, The Girls, Billy Elliot, MAMMA MIA! – all West End) will play Jim, with Parisa Shahmir (The…

WHAT WHY HOW WHY

LAUREN MURRAY IS NOT GOING TO THE X FACTOR FINALS

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

HOW THE HECK DID THAT HAPPEN

Again, I’m several time zones behind, but anyhow, here are my thoughts on the results show:

PERFORMING TONIGHT ARE…

NATHAN SKYES

Meh. I’m sorry to fans, but were there really no other performers available? Perhaps all the major ones are all partying at the AMAs, but something tells me it involves this year’s seemingly lower budget as well. Well, at least he sang more pleasantly than some acts we’ve seen in the competition.

OUR VERY OWN OLLY MURS!!

I’m just glad he didn’t forget his words. I may be a little biased, but he’s proven that singing is definitely his stronger point. Just what’s with the dancers at the back though? He could have just sung to Ms Caroline Flack without any lighting and I would still be screaming.

She’s trying to promote his album but he’s clearly not having any of it. I mean, look at those cute kisses! They aren’t doing a good job at hiding their love for each other, and I hope this goes on for the remaining weeks of live shows.

AND THE BOTTOM TWO IS…

ANTON STEPHANS

Finally. We’ve been eyeing this one for weeks, haven’t we? It all went downhill from boot camp, and it’s a miracle how he got this far. Let’s face it, there was really no shock here.

CHE CHESTERMAN??

Here comes the real shock. I actually thought he was safe! Either people are getting complacent, or the heartbroken girls are refusing to vote. At this point of the competition, people have to start voting feverishly because everyone is just too good.

Well, at least his opponent in the sing off is Anton, that should be easy to win over.

THE SING OFF

Che starts off slow, and then he hits those high notes he always does. I am about 80% sure he’s safe, unless one of the judges has no balls in going against the big boss Simon, or Anton has just spent a hell lot on keeping himself in.

Anton sings his second sing off song of the season, and he seems desperate now. Yes, he can sing, but I still don’t get him, and his facial expressions are scaring me. Now I’m 99% sure Che is staying.

As predicted, Nick and Simon are quick in sending the opposing acts home, with Nick possibly having a grudge on Anton (no surprises there). It moves on to Rita, who votes to send home Anton. Cheryl’s the last vote, and I don’t even have to sweat it because she’s sending Anton home too.

So bye bye, Anton, perhaps Broadway might be your calling?

Fans of underwhelmed reactions and extreme mouth movements, bad news: Mason Noise and Anton Stephans have left the building

This is Mason doing ecstatic. Or wait, was it gutted? (Picture credit: ITV)

Love and Heartbreak week came and went, named now possibly because of the heartbreak Anton’s going to experience when he realises that Simon Cowell, despite his declarations during his eviction on Sunday night, isn’t his mate. In any doubt, Anton? Do ask him when was the last time he went down the Harvester for a burger and a pint with Stevi Ritchie.

But Anton and his fellow weekend-evictee Mason Noise - a man who when he was told he was being sent home looked about as bothered as if someone had told him there was no brown sauce and he’d have to have ketchup (“It’s not ideal mate, but fair enough”) - are gone, and we’re down to the final five. Even though I’d swear there’s usually about six more weeks from now.

Should we expect a late-arrival wildcard? Alien to come back in disguise as solo artists? Or have X Factor just decided to cut their losses and bow out early, leaving Strictly to it and allowing a traumatised Olly Murs to sleep the contented sleep of a pop star again, instead of lying awake with images of a stricken Monica Michael in his head and waking up sweaty, muttering as he reads an imaginary autocue?

Caroline and Olly: united in all things, even a chill on the ankle area (Picture Credit: ITV)

I’m going to contest something though. For all of the criticism X Factor has had this year (much of it valid, I particularly feel sad that the Caroline and Olly Xtra Factor magic hasn’t transferred) this weekend’s shows reminded me that when you’d need three layers to go outside and you’re on a pre-Christmas booze break, in front of X Factor with a curry on Saturday night is a good place to be.

Fakegate/ Yawngate was the stuff X Factor Twitter dreams are made of. Che Chesterman landing himself in Sunday night’s bottom two was the classic shocker (oh, and served to remind the judges that not everyone’s a fan of the ‘get a classic song, make it a completely different one’ strategy, no matter how much the voice behind it gives you goosebumps).

Nick called him fake, he yawned in his face (Picture Credit: ITV)

A travesty he was in the bottom two though (Picture credit: ITV)