WHEN they first burst onto the scene with an X-Factor audition in 2009, they didn’t receive the best reaction. The set of twins with gravity defying quiffs were branded ‘annoying’ by Simon Cowell and were even the target of a campaign to eliminate them from the reality show.

However, John and Edward Grimes have become one of the show’s most successful alumni.

With three albums, their own TV show and two Eurovision Song Contest appearances under their belts, the twins have built up a fiercely loyal fanbase.

Five years on from their tuneless yet energetic appearances on the X- Factor, a more grown-up and much calmer, and incredibly polite Jedward spoke to Catherine Earp about their upcoming concert in Fareham, and what life is like in the famous duo.

“We’re really excited to come to Hampshire, we’ve been before to do different things but it’s cool that we’re doing a concert there,”

Edward said. “It’s really cool to go back to do a two-and-a-half hour show and do acoustic songs. John knows guitar and we’re going to do 25 songs. We’re going to have our dancers, and they’ll be on stage doing dancing and everyone will be getting ready to dance and have fun.”

On top of a number of costume changes and different hairstyles, Jedwards concerts are famous for the lengths that their fans will go to.

“Fans usually get tattoos”, they agreed. “Some fans get whole sleeves of Jedward tattoos, different songs, different lyrics, it’s all crazy.

We have a song called Luminous, and it has real heartfelt lyrics.

They’re all about being luminous and shining and being different so loads have tattoos of that. It’s kind of crazy getting tattoos because we don’t have any.”

The fans, sometimes known as ‘Jedheads’, keep in touch via social media and make Jedward concerts a big reunion.

“There are loads of fans travelling to the UK from countries like Germany, and they’re all a unit. They all contact each other and if there are fans coming over from abroad, UK fans will let them, stay over in their houses and look after them. It’s almost like a family occasion.”

After they play Ferneham hall in Fareham on Sunday, John and Edward are continuing their UK tour, then filming a new series of Jedward’s Big Adventure before heading off to Australia.

They then plan to get back into the studio to record their fourth album which has all the songs penned by the boys themselves.

Despite being 21-years old and having worldwide success and a net worth of millions, the boys remain firmly grounded. Both are adamant they have never touched drugs or alcohol and they spend their days off watching DVDs, spending time with their dog Blaze and recording their YouTube videos which regularly attract millions of views.

But what is it about the pair that appeals to such a large fanbase?

“I think they like that we make videos, and that they’re like songs and that we make funny videos of ourselves chilling out and doing crazy stuff. There’s just no other twins like us.”

  • JEdward appear at Ferneham Hall on Sunday. Buy tickets here>>