Brenda Edwards, who as we all remember was the last female standing in last years X Factor, spoke to GMTV this morning about how so much has been happening for herself and all the other X Factor contestants since the last series ended.

Said Brenda “It’s been a year already, there’s been so much happening for me. I’ve been living the dream in the West End in “Chicago” at the Cambridge Theatre.”
She said that she is going to be watching with “eager anticipation to see what happens this year” in X Factor 2006 and said that many contestants seem to audition because they want to meet the judges.

On 14th August, Maria Lawson is set to release her R&B ballad debut single, called “Sleepwalking”.

Maria, who was contoversially voted off The X Factor over The Conway Sisters has penned all the songs on her new album herself and is hoping to take the charts by storm.

Earlier last month, Shayne Ward sat for the sculptors at Madame Tussaurds in order for them to create his wax work double. Since the X Factor winner’s rise to stardom, the museum has been inundated with requests by fans to make Shayne the first reality TV star to be immortilised in wax.

On Monday, Shayne got to meet his wax double and declared “It’s just fantastic. I can’t get over it. My mum’s going to love it. She’ll probably want to take it home with her.”

Shayne also graciously donated a £900 Gucci suit for the figure to wear.

X Factor Winner Shayne Ward has announced the dates of his 2007 tour which will kick off on 29 January 2007 in Belfast. The tour dates are as follows:

Mon 29 Jan 2007 – Odyssey Arena, Belfast

Fri 2 Feb 2007 – SECC & Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow

Mon 5 Feb 2007 – METRO Radio Arena, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

Fri 9 Feb 2007 – MEN Arena, Manchester

Mon 12 Feb 2007 – Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield

Fri 16 Feb 2007 – Wembley Arena, London

Mon 19 Feb 2007 – Nottingham Arena at National Ice Centre, Nottingham

Fri 23 Feb 2007 – NEC Arena, Birmingham

Sun 25 Feb 2007 – Cardiff International Arena, Cardiff