Walking The Dog with Emily Dean - Jedward (Part One)

Episode Date: August 18, 2025

This week, Emily and Raymond are on Hampstead Heath - with John and Edward Grimes, collectively known as Jedward! John and Edward are identical twins from Dublin - who shot to fame on The X Factor in 2009 when they were 17 years old. They have gone on to become pop culture icons - releasing four albums, representing Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest twice and appearing on Celebrity Big Brother - and much, much more!John and Edward’s family dog Blaze is back in Ireland - but they have a long history with dogs including a Shih Tzu! Raymond was utterly delighted to spend the afternoon with this iconic duo! We discuss how people treat them as a result of their public persona, how they feel after losing their mum - and why they fought so hard to be authentic to themselves on The X Factor. Follow @jepicpics on InstagramFollow @jepictiktok on TikTokFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The thing is, we're in Hampson Heat right now. Usually the wild Harry style is walking around, but sometimes they're on the hunt for Harry, but they'll see Jedward. And they'll be like, I wasn't expecting this. Do you know the difference with me? I'm on the hunt for Jedward. This week on Walking the Dog, Ray and I went for a North London stroll

with two absolute icons, the fabulous Jedwood, otherwise known as John and Edward Grimes. The twins have a beautiful Chihuahua called Blaze, who's currently with their family in Dublin, as she's a grand old lady of 14 now, so she needs her home comforts, but they couldn't have been more thrilled to meet Ray. In fact, they officially described him as Jepic,

which might be the greatest compliment Ray's ever had. Jedwood famously burst into our lives back in 2009 when they appeared on the X Factor, and they basically won over the entire nation's hearts. I mean, how could you not adore these endlessly joyful boys with their sublime hairdos? And unlike a lot of X Factor content, they've gone on to maintain a hugely successful career as musicians, TV personalities and influencers.

And after spending time with them, I can totally see why, because they genuinely exude whatever the X Factor is. They're just the definition of adorable. It was a bit of a hot day when we met up, so we ended up sitting under a shady tree with Ray, where we had the loveliest chat about pretty much everything, from growing up together in Ireland to their experience of fame, and reality TV, to their incredibly close friendship with Gemma Collins, which is my favourite friendship ever, by the way. I absolutely love these boys, and Ray is now a die-hard Jedward fan, and I'm pretty sure you will be too after listening to our chat. Usually, this is the part

where I mention something my guest is keen to publicise, but Jedwood made it clear the only thing they wanted to promote was good vibes. And I think it's fair to say they absolutely succeeded. Really hope you enjoy my chat with Jedwood. I'll start. Stop talking now and hand over to the fabulous duo themselves. Here's John and Edward and Ray Ray. Look at that dog, Jen. It looks amazing. It looks very place full of so many dogs loving life.

I like when cats and dogs get along and birds. Oh, defying all the cartoons we've ever seen. Like a snow white right now. You're our snow white today. Well, I don't do, but what I can do, I won't whistle. Em is in a glorious Bridgeton dress. It's blowing in the wind. Yeah, we mic is connected to her bra.

bra. Yeah, she is wearing a bra. My mic is in my back of my underwear. Mine's in my back of my jeans. So just visualise that nice sweaty situation. I've got my snow white. I can't do whistling, but I can do what I call a 1940s voice. What is that voice? You know, it's a very high pitch. Elegant. Oh, no, very well-come. I love your words. I love your glasses. So we've had a car you. I can carry the dog. I can carry the dog. I can carry it. Well, we've got Raymond with us. And it's a very hot day. We should say. I'm a super responsible dog owner. And I know Jedwood would be as well. We do have water though. We have it at the water. The last time we saw your dog, it was like a wig running around the ground,

but it's had a hair cut since. It does look like that. It actually has better hair than a lot of people. It belongs to Noel or one of the Leam or one of the Oasis members. Well, I need to talk about your tribute. Because you did do a tribute to Oasis recently. So we've got everything for the walk, Jedwood. We have...

We can sing a little bit later more and a bit more of a... Let's start stretches, guys. Yeah. Should we tell stretches? We've got Raymond. We've got the cooling mat. He has a special cooling mat. We are ready.

I have a parasol with him, very Bridgeton. Beautiful. And I will... Hello! Hello, how are you from Arlitz? You sound so Irish. I do. I think we met your sister's either day.

I think I met a lady that looked very like you. My daughter's over there, my daughter. Where is she? Why are you more social than her? She met you at the Oasis Conces. I love it. Oh yes. We met close to a thousand people there.

We met a lot of people. Everyone went to the waist cons to think they were going to have a waste experience then we were there. No. Where's Chenade? We should say. It's going to be hard for us to start recording the podcast because Jed would have been mobbed. They've got a queue of people wanting to take selfies. Lovely.

Hey. Is this your fellow? No, it's my brother. That's your brother. Come on, boys, let's go. Now. That's what's all about. We're out for the day.

We always meet people and then we always know the people's kids have no clue who we are. Because they're different generations. We always let on like we went to, we knew their mom or dad back in the day or where they went to the clubs. But I feel like the dog attracted to the attention. and dogs attract people to you guys you're being very kind to raise ego but I think we all know who the real deal is here I mean you too within two seconds the amount of love you seem to really I knew this was gonna happen because I've heard about this the Jed would affect what do you think it is why do people like you so much

I don't know we I think we're just approachable I think the most important things that we come from a care free place like no whatever I'm worried about I kind of put it all to the side. And when I'm around, people, I find it with myself just to, like, not really focus on the pressures that they face sometimes. I think it's just putting out good energy, even if we're having a bad day, we still know that professionally people like to get our vibes.

So it's like the Jepic energy. We're like, even if we're fighting or we're not 100%, we'll still put your differences in sight. Because we're not brothers in the end of the day. We're not saints. Well, I was going to ask you about that because I had a sister. Sadly, she's no longer with us. Let's do a little kiss to heaven, boys.

A Rachel. She was a big fan. Rachel and I, because we were so close, we weren't twins like you, but you know when you're super close, our fights would be legendary. We used to name them like episodes of friends, the one way you called me a fucking bitch

because I stole your top or whatever. Yeah, but it's fights over the most smallest things and before we came here, John wanted to, I want to wear something differently. We kind of just keep having the same fight. Like I, I don't know, over outfits or it'll be about like, He wanted to put me in jeans, a shirt, a tie, and I went to the drawer of the clothes that I cleaned recently and said, I'm going to wear this shirt.

So I quickly ironed this. And yeah, it was nice that he had a suggestion, but there's little fights like that. Yeah, but we're still always being productive because the thing is, like, a lot of people have teams. But me and John, like, all we basically have is our mom's sister, because our mom used to, like, do stuff with us. And then she passed. And you've lost your mom, so can we do a little kiss to your mom as well? Yeah. Susanna.

That's really sweet, sweet thing to do. When I mention my sister's name, I blow a little kiss up there. I know, it's a nice thing to do. It's nice to, obviously, you can all go there and reminisce. That's a nice thing as well to do. I think we're asked to do loads of podcasts, but they're always chasing, like, headlines and wanting to get, like, the scoop on this, or if you're not the hottest thing in the news. But I think it's nice to take it back to basics in, like, what's most human

and what's most easygoing and what actually matters, because the thing is, we're in Hampstead Heat right now. We get to... Usually the Wild Harry Styles walking around. but sometimes they're on the hunt for Harry, but they'll see Jedward, and they'll be like, I wasn't expecting this. Do you know the difference with me? I'm on the hunt for Jedward.

What about you and your route? Rachel, what she's got up to your sister? Oh, do you know, we got up to so much. You would have loved her. She was such good fun. I know, I'm sure your mum was as well. And you know what? I don't know if you find this,

but even though, it was a long time ago my sister died, but every time I get upset, I've now got this thing where I think, I used to think, oh, why am I still crying? And now I think, how lovely that I'm still crying, that someone can still have that impact on you even when they're not here.

And I wonder if you feel the same about your mum. Because you can still feel the energy. Do you feel her energy still? Yeah, but I feel like, I do like even when we buy, like, when going to charity shops, we find, like, plates and different things that I know she would have liked that, like, that, like, I almost buy them on her behalf

because I know she would have liked them. Let's sit down, we've got this. But it is hard, because obviously, like, we are only in our 30s and just knowing that people are getting married and so, yeah, so when people and their moms are like in their seven, and ages and they're going through something. I just think about losing my mom, she's only 56. You know, it's very young still.

I think it was the first time that people kind of saw me and John in a different light, because they almost thought that we're not human and that we didn't have the same lifestyle or upbringing as everybody else. Like obviously when you don't do what we're doing... But when you lose, like, a family member, it almost like resonates with people because... That's a really good point. It kind of cut that phenomenon of Jedward and we're not almost like alien-like.

So I don't want it is, obviously you're saying, you know, like, Jonathan and Ricky and stuff. Obviously, like, they're always having a land. but they're still human in the end of day. But I feel like with us, when we go on these shows, people don't see us as human. Obviously, we have a shower, we style our hair, but they try to like, kind of dehumanize us that they can say and do whatever they want.

And even before the show, you can be meeting as people. And then when you go on there, they're absolutely coming at you with all sorts and you thought you were, you know what I mean? It's kind of, it's weird, but I feel like we're always gonna be having a laugh even into our 50s and 60s. I can really see that with you.

I think that's very astute of you to know that. That actually, there is something very dehumanizing about that. And it's interesting, friends with Gemma Collins and I think she's had a similar thing where you get turned into a cartoon character. Yeah, a character that like people try to play out all the time. Yeah, and people have these like these prejudged opinions of you. But obviously you can't impress everyone, you're your own team and if people want to look deeper, they can find out more about you. Yeah. But sometimes they don't. And it's like he was uploading a reels and sometimes it just

attracts, I don't know, I felt like, you know when you're in school. Because people are trying make jokes like, oh, are you ever going to grow up? You're 33, like, and they always like, they always come like, almost like, trying to strip you back. They're like fat shame us and they say that oh you're balding now or you're losing the hair or they even say that to us and we know like we're doing okay But like for someone else that would be really going through it It's like all these troves are professional at like almost hitting you deep and even Gemma she's trying her best like everyone's trying their best to you know where it's to be healthy or make better choices and just you know you're on your journey to do in that and knowing that you have this constant Opinions or someone writes an article about you go into the comments and they're such things to say and it really would throw anyone but the fact that you have to find it within yourself to pick yourself up the next day.

We do that closure when you meet someone in the entertainment world because everyone else gets qualified for jobs and they kind of train how to do it but then this world is so unpredictable of your high as your lows. You can't always be going 100% you have to give time to live life. And I feel like when we hang out with Gemma we can all get closure on different scenarios.

She always does make the effort. Even like when she's going through her, we're there for her and we do like just keep, because you feel more seeing because you've done the same experience so you can really talk about it. We talk to someone that has an experience. She uniquely relates to what that's like to sort of where your public persona, if you're not careful and you're lucky that you have each other,

can sort of become bigger than who you are. Because it becomes this juggernaut that everyone's like. Sometimes I look back at, like, we say we had a premiere and we're so, like, done up. I do like rise into the occasion, but it is crazy to think that, like, when you're 17, you go out and this is how I represent myself, this is who I feel I am right now, that your image in that moment and time comes encapsulated. and then that's a part of your job. It's like everything that you are right now

becomes yours and everyone just recognises the glasses and the dog and then you're like, wait. And the Britain dress and that's me forever. Yeah. Yeah. It becomes, so obviously like as of recent I've started to go out kind of a bit more low-key as myself. Right.

I see like Harry Styles. I see like loads of different people around Hampsey going around blatantly as themselves. So I'm like, all right, I might bump me to a few people. Sometimes like we wear caps. We always don't want to be seen, but then if we don't have caps on, we feel like we're bringing the attention on us

when we should be allowed to just walk around as ourselves. but because we're the only bleached-haired twins, it almost invites people think that they're invited to come over. But then we sort of don't mind, we're very welcoming. But then it's like sometimes when you're too welcoming, people start coming in with the hits where they're like, so what are you doing nowadays? What are you doing?

I haven't seen you around. But then it's like we don't need to impress everyone, the people that care know where to find us, know that we're doing us. It's like you're watching. You know, people are listening. I think in life it's more important to have a core group of people that actually care. It's like going to a doctor or going to a dentist.

you have your clients, you have people that are your people but just because you're not having an appointment to everyone, you're still going to be put in there. It's like supporting a football team, like we're our own team and then everyone's their own team. Well, I support Edward United. But people don't think that we're not aware, we are aware of, you know, we've got to I have, I'm with Frank Lampard and at a party with Christy.

Oh, I'm a bit nice, I like then. We've always had love for the Jeds in our house. The Jets? Yeah, because we always could be Chrissy bleakly and we'd always be having the last. She seems nice. Yeah, she's really nice. She actually is lovely. Very beautiful.

And elegant. Was that the Brits? I always think highly everyone. I was like, oh, you're always filling in for this present or that present. You need to have your own show. And I was like to Frank, oh, yeah, you know, all these are girls may come and go on the scene. But fucking Christine's the one. And you know what?

They love the Jeds. And we love... So guys, we need to address the dog situation because it's just Ray here. Ray sits on your cooling mat. He's on his special... Oh, sorry. This keeps him cool. The latest thing about my dog, we're at...

I was at Brick Lane yesterday and there's just big poodle. Big Mast of serious poodle. I was no way to talk about. about your brother. And this woman set me off out in the back of brick lane with her dog to take him on a walk with treats. And I was like, sorry, he doesn't want to go out in the sun. He was, this dog, if you ever go to brick lane, you go to the back market, there's this

poodle and you might, you'll see him. John doesn't know this dog, but this owner felt the need that John needs to go walk her dog. Trusted me with her poodle. She was at Stan selling whatever she was really. I would trust Edward with my dog. I just know nothing. So let's go back in time to dogs. We grew up with dogs our whole life.

You did. You were big animal lovers, right? We used to have, like, our granding granddad. We'd find stray dogs. We had a dog like this. We had a dog like this called Oshih Tzu. A blonde version. So every time I see a Shih Tzu, I always go, oh, it's Ocky, Oscar.

And this is back in Ireland. This is when we were like three. Because we used to stay with our grandin. We were younger. When our mom was a teacher, she'd be teaching. Our dad would be in work. And then our grandad would collect us from school. So on the way, we'd each stay overnight or like to wake us in the morning.

And all the dogs were like, we had two Macs at one point because they were strays. But they used to all live. Like the cat would sleep on top of the... Yes, the aga cooker. Or whatever it's called. The cat would be the top. And then we'd have a cupboard where one dog would sleep at the top and the number one and then it was on chair and inside. And you wake up in the morning, they'd all be so happy to see.

It's like a dream. It's like a Pixar movie. It's like a Disney movie. It's like a secret life of pets. So I would say, also. I feel like it really shaped us. I feel like a really good endorphins. It gives you a dope mean to like start your day where they all come with their excitement.

So you had the indoor dogs and the outdoor dogs that were somewhat times indoor. And did you, am I right in thinking you had beagles at one point? We had two, one called Lucky and Lassie. and... Never call a dog lucky. Yeah, lucky, sadly, we got knocked down. We got hit by a car,

but it definitely is a thing where like... When you're a kid, you don't get the full story. But it was my first, like, loss of a dog, so I was so upset at the time and my dad got me a teddy bear of a dog that was like a robot dog.

That's so cute. And I was like, it's not the same, but that was my first kind of loss as a kid. But your first kind of like, this is my dog. You're not quite sad, Ed, we're talking about that. But like, even thinking about it because last,

Lassie and Lucky were like almost like a John and Edward duo. So you feel like if a dog loses their dog, you have to kind of acknowledge the loss of the dog to their dog and you see they're upset. So true. Because dogs feel so much emotions, they can feel your emotions. You know, like obviously they bring such joy but at the same time you know when they're going through stuff just like humans.

So I feel like even me and how my empathy and my sympathy is how to, even act around people has come from the interaction of being around dogs my whole life. Or like, you know, like a German shepherd's outside and knowing they're having their food. or no one went to step away or give them a moment, their own space. Our family would treat the dog as the healer. If a mom had a pain in her back and the dog was lying next, she'd be like, they know, they're not to sense that there's a pain or something kind of thing. But that's I feel with dogs.

I can tell you, you're very empathetic, both of you. So I can imagine you. And I'm interested, obviously, everyone's obsessed. You know, the twin thing fascinates people. So aside from the fact that you're famous and you've been famous since you were teenagers, there's obviously people are obsessed with twins. as well because of this telepathy and this I this closeness and this bond and all that sort of stuff and you two are especially close or were especially close because you were premature and then

sort of lying next to each other for what two or three months I remember we were born early at the time I haven't really thought about that much but when I hear about early births now because we've friends of different people who are having births now we're kind of able to more associate that's kind of like a health thing that's like obviously we're in incubators and we were very very very very small and we're kind of kept apart. Our brother was born premature. This is Kevin? Yeah, he was the first one.

And then we were also born. So I feel like we have never had the easy going ride. We've always been a little fragile. Yeah, because we've had like, we were in school, we're in a few different schools growing up. Like we never had like this settled, comfortable formula. Like we were either in Dublin or we're in Caldera and then we were, our brother was getting bullied in school.

We were getting bullied and then we kept changing schools. But then a lot of people kind of have their family. childhood friends but then we'd always be having a new restart. Yeah. I think we experienced a lot of life but at the same time I wasn't chasing materialistic things as a kid. All I wanted to be is beat out in nature making ponds and we used to build like tree house and this big strip of bushes that our grandad had so just those simple things really... And was your family, would you have described it as sort of were you well off middle class? Were you just a normal

family? I think like go-getter family trying to trying to trying to do better and like obviously our mom put end of the... He did like engineering and stuff. Like almost alarms and all that type of stuff. And our mom was a teacher but we still went to like this snobby private school. But like we didn't live that lifestyle. But then we were in school where people were like almost like befriending people that they knew what their moms and dads did. And they'd come up and ask us like our scenario.

It would be very weird when you're younger. People asking you this stuff because it didn't really define who we were as people. and like even in Dublin now people, they go, where do you go to school if they're going to entertain you as a person? Because they don't want to know where you went to school kind of thing. You're so right, that's really bang on.

I went to school around here in North London and there was a real thing. It was like, where'd you go to school? And I know they're not just asking where I went to school. They want to say, well, were your parents well off? You do you know what did your parents do? That's the next question. And then they can put you in a box, really.

Yeah. I think life's all about, I think I don't see people that ask those questions. They want to benefit or use as a stepping stone or what next social event would you be doing with me? It's kind of like they're trying to get something out of you out of that. I think everyone should be their own individual person. And fair enough, be as people, but the fact that they're...

It's like they're playing a game. You know, like private schools, sometimes there's stuff happening in the schools, like bullying and different things going on that people tried to hide for the school's reputation. And I feel like in our school, we had certain things that came out years after us being there that we were not surprised because we felt like

everyone pays so much to go to these schools that they don't want to like talk badly about it because they feel like they're all living in almost like a cult these different schools are all in competition to each other about who's the best and who has the best way of living and all this type of stuff like we were even asked to go back to our school and perform and they were going to pay us and we were just like

I don't even want to mentally damage myself going back there and... I think even before like obviously like in Ireland there's sports like hurling and differently were very outdoors so I think a lot of the kids that we around weren't necessarily outdoors either very like kind of close gardener ways but I feel like you know growing up like a hip

hit with a hurl, I had stitches. I lived life in my younger years. And you boys were very sporty because, you know, you were amazing cross-country runners, weren't you? I remember we climbed. We did it when it wasn't a flex. No one would know you were running. But cross-country running back in the day was like hardcore. Because we weren't these musly laddie lads. Like if someone gave you a belt, you'd be in a bush. But like I'm just saying like we try our best, but we weren't like a lot of the time people were down creatine and doing different sports. Yeah, I don't know if people were getting enhancements. I was getting no enhancements. I think only recently started taking a multivitamin. Only recently started taking a multi-vitamin, you know.

But what we're saying is like it is very competitive, but then a lot of people lose the love for it as school ends. That's important. I find that with a lot of, like you've got to be consistent. Even like people have known their kids, they get them into all these things and want to dizzam. By the time, actually Myers where they actually can make it an imprint on the world. It's almost like the parents who like force them to do it. And then it's like they fall out love with it when it actually matters. So I think like a lot of the time people are growing up. They want their kids doing this. They want a full schedule. And they think they're doing a great thing as a parent, getting their kids into everything. But then it almost puts pressure on these kids to outperform people in their class. But then if they find a natural love for it,

it makes them want to do it after. Because we were never in stage school. We're never like in drama class. We're never doing all these things. We just did one talent show. But we're never... This is prior to it. And when we say one talent show,

it was a pretty big talent show. No, no. I mean the school. I thought you meant a ex-factor. I thought you were referred to the X Factor. I was only a few years later, actually. Well, we did one school show. So young, we're in our school, we're in choir.

We're trying to be Pavarati, you know. I honestly think we're the only people that ever auditioned and actually just kind of like genuinely just turned up. For the X Factor. Like other people had to do two and three auditions. They knew the gig. We didn't know the gig, you know. Because some people were scouted,

and then they placed them in the audience and make it look like they naturally were selected, but they kind of pinpointed people. It's like LeVille and they cast people. But me and John were never in communication with the show, so we turned up unaware of the formula. last only years after. But we should say, and this is why I admire you guys,

is that you were sort of, I get the sense you had a strong notion that somehow you were going to be different, other, you were going to stand out a bit, possibly famous, if that's a word to use. Because you made yourselves, like you were names on the scene in Ireland, I feel a bit. I feel like people...

No, I used to walk around. I was to get, I used to get, I remember Lady Gaga said this point, she said that people would see her on the street, but they didn't know what they were looking at. They used to do that person. That's what I mean. Yeah. I did go around gold shoes.

I got a pair of gold shoes in a charity shop and I got like bits and bobs. I got a canali suit in a charity shop. I used to wear like jackets and go around a bit snazzy. And just just for the laugh because that's what I could grab, you know? That's what I mean. You know, you see those people and you exactly. That lady dog is a brilliant quote. I don't know what it is, but there's something about you that separates you from everyone else.

Yeah. I think just not say the predictable stuff, just not over thinking. I think the most important thing is that whatever makes you feel comfortable at a moment in time, it doesn't have to be a trend. like we were wearing these shoes in like 2012 or just certain things and certain moments in time as long as you're not so about the trend of now because then you

kind of age the moment that you look like you look at a date when everyone's wearing the different brands you know what I'm talking about because I'm naming brands we know what we mean yeah I don't think it's beyond what you wear I think it's just the vibes you put out in your aura I'm being optimistic I feel like we haven't really changed

I think when I said back when I was in school we were always like it was almost like we weren't desirable as the popular people are at our school. And we still bleat your own hair. When we became known and people were going, you're amazing, we almost didn't believe it because we were getting so much love. But when you're twins, I imagine, I know this sounds weird, but doesn't that prepare

you for celebrity in a way? Because you're the celebrities of the school when you're twins. Do you know what I mean? I do get you because I remember what we weren't, I thought we had a lot of people, it's like where you find people like, obviously they think they're the hot shot and think that this. We weren't like super loud in school really because we never really had the moment because Other people were getting selected for this team, that team,

but obviously we were true to ourselves in school, but at the same time it came with a lot of adversity and a lot of, like, you know... Did it? Well, you bullied a bit, you guys. Yeah, but people just with opinions and just how they treat you and just treating you like such an outsider in ways. Obviously, you weren't the generational through hundreds of years, haven't been in the school, and he knew such and such and all that crap. We were just like the first of our...

I think we were just excluded from a lot of social seeds, like parties and different things that were happening in our school, or we'd have like just always that on the outside even though we didn't ask for it, we didn't do anything for it to be a reason. It was almost like we were just an intimidate because we were twins. Like I knew that I wanted to feel more of a social conversation

than I was getting. You know like when you're watching television like, you know, Britney Spears' Backshboys or people that's interacting in interviews, I wanted to have those type of conversations, not just kind of like really kind of basic. So you were quite sort of old beyond your years maybe. Yes.

but I wanted to have more. And I feel like even in general, I know we're talking now, but even like interviews that we used to do in the early days, you're only capable of talking about as deep as the person brings with the questions and what is. It's a bit what's your favourite call that, yeah. Yeah. But I'm interested, so you didn't get,

kids who are different, and you are, that you've got a sort of aura about you both. But nowadays it's celebrated. I feel like even now we do like university shows, you look in the crowd, there's so much characters and you can see the certain groups of people, and you can see that it's celebrated to be an individual more than it's ever been. Back in the day it was like, whoa, I'm a little different here.

Yes, I think you're right. You didn't have to finish your question. Oh, no, but I like this because I've got ADHD, so I like it. Because this is what I do. I start talking and then I go off on a tangent, and then I forget what I asked 20 minutes ago, so I quite like it. I like talking like this. Don't worry.

This really suits me, doesn't it? Sometimes that's where you get the most interesting chats. Yeah. Out of the bits. I think so. The roads you never thought you'd go down. I think chats is like doing a painting. You add a little splash here, a little bit.

And then you find your way there. And I like being around people that if you serve a shot and they serve a shot, sometimes some people are always constantly receiving. They're not throwing anything in your way. I think it's true. But like knowing me and John, no one's ever hand us anything. We've always made everything happen for ourselves. We've helped our family over through the recession and everything.

And we've helped our friends and family, but it was never anything like you owe me. It was always just give, give, give. And I feel like other people, they always have something to fall back on. They can go off and be an artist. they can do this but then with us it's like we always know that we have to make it happen for ourselves and um a lot of safety a lot of people are these agents that are like selling people and they're like you please they're amazing put them on this but with me and john everything kind of happens organically

it just kind of comes our way we don't actually try to be out there but everyone's always like you're everywhere and i'm just like well we're not really trying but we find ourselves in different pockets of life because a lot of people get into the click of the tv goals opportunities if you're not on them you're nowhere but sometimes there's different ways of like different YouTubers different... Like, Ant in Deck haven't brought a song out since 924. But people are asking me every five seconds, when's a new musical, when's a new music come?

When's a new music come? The last album had 22 songs on it. I can remember so vividly watching you on the X Factor and just thinking there was something special, you know, and you could tell there was a, oh, you've been bitten, John's been bitten. No, I'm fine, it was just a... It was a was a was a was flying in. The thing is,

There was such a propaganda on the X Factor on the X Factor that we obviously were. the best singers and people would say this and that would make all the headlines. People say that about Robert Williams and all the greats. I think what people cut out with singing is all about what what flavors you like. But what I'm saying is people go by the opinions they're fed by the producers on TV and it's almost like people that fought against that mold fell in love with us because they knew what they were seeing and the vibes they were getting were real and connected to them.

It wasn't going off by what the TV was portraying and like we are aware that our performances were not like meant to be the best. But it's like the members of Wonder Wants in their auditions, were what they were, and they went on to be the big, Freud band ever, you know what I mean? I'm not having that. We brought, we literally found vanilla ice. He hadn't been around for years, and we gave instructions. I'm going for watching them on the music channels. You brought vanilla ice back? We had to go find him, we got his ice, his jacket made. We could do it a bit of ice today. I don't know. The thing is, he hadn't been seen for years. And we brought gave love to backstue boys. And I think we were meant to be forming in the final with the backstew boys that year, but then they decided not to do it.

taken away from the winner. Who cares about the goddamn winner? Where are they now? The thing is on these shows is like, Who was it that year again? Let's let it be. People can go doing further research they want. When people say like, oh, you were found.

Let's let it be. You know when you're on these shows, people go, that show made you. But a lot of people are on these shows and we're not talking about them anymore. It's because they didn't keep going and find the love within themselves to keep going.

Because a lot of people are waiting around for everyone else to make it happen for them. But then with us, it's like we just keep the dream alive yourself. I feel like now, because since then, music. Well, your grafters, you'll know. You two and know. No, you are. I wake up every day, have a shower.

Get the hair looking right. Put the sequins on and graft. I'm not trying to age myself from years. A lot of young people nowadays, I feel like young ages are trying to grow beards and trying to age themselves so dramatically when they should just hold on to whatever youth they feel they have instead of thinking that they want to just go straight to the end game. Yeah, that is a bit of a thing, isn't it, that premature ageing thing.

People are in such a hurry to grow up. I tell you what, I was going to say, I can remember looking back at that audition and there's Cheryl and Simon and Simon's obviously rude because that's his shtit. We all know it's pantote to a degree. You know, and Cheryl says, where do you see yourselves in 15 years' time? And that really made me think,

oh, this is 15 years' time pretty much. You know, it's like how weird to think of that that actually you've lasted, you've outlasted a lot of people who went on to win, you know, it is down, well, I think I know what it's down to, but what do you put that down to? I think it's down to energy.

I think it's down to like taking every day as it comes and not making crazy plans ahead of time and knocking yourself if you don't hit certain goals but as long as you try. I think it's about not doing everything at all at once and then dropping off. You have to stay consistent. No matter what level you are,

if you just keep going and are in the game, you're always present. You don't have to be always winning the game but as long as you're on that board, you're still present in the game. Always be involved, yeah. And then with us, like, we just kind of restart ourselves because sometimes we feel like everyone's seen it, everyone's heard it,

but then it's like so much time has passed that you have to keep falling in love with it and creating new conversation and keeping up a culture. Because also the landscape of the media and everything has changed so much. Back in the day, no one knew where music was going. Then it went back to, like, Fleetwood Mac. It went back to people paying homage to the years past. And now it seems like there is no mainstream now. You do for the people that love what you do and do it when it feels right.

But we are always part of the conversation. People drop our name on shows or they'll be on Graeme Norton. You bumped into your man. You met the actor die. Who? You met the actor dude and even on Graeme Norton talking about you? Yeah, Michael Fastbender. Michael Fastbender.

And Cher, heard the words Jedward go through her ears on that show. You're talking to Aaron Taylor Johnson either day. And we're always, we make these massive stars. We do make a connection. I feel like people do have time for us. We have a little chat with whoever it is when we meet them and we can see a common ground because obviously a lot of those actors,

they're just people beyond the mega blockbuster films. They do. And they're not outside of that. Well, you're both very authentic. and I suspect when your shirt or when you're Michael Fastbender

people you did a very sweet thing just then I like that Edward which is a real sibling thing which was I was talking it's the kind of thing I will have done to my sister

all kiss heaven everyone Rachel I would have done it to Rach which is you're talking and then the sibling says something and you just make a gesture with your hand like hang on it's what you do to your sibling

and I love that intimacy that you have with a sibling I love that The thing is I get excited about being around people since I don't mean to put in when you're saying so they're having a statement to say obviously. No, but I love it. And I'm saying I love that thing.

Like with my sister, I used to have a thing. And I don't know if you guys have things. Short hands that no one else understands. So I used to call it it's our language. And when she died, I was like no one else is literate. And I speak a dead language. It's really, no one else speaks it. And I would say, like, we got so lazy when we were students one summer

that instead of saying, do you want a cup of tea? Can you make me one? no I'm not I'm going out it got to the point where I remember just sitting there and I went to and my sister went ain't ain't that was all she said like no I'm not going to make you one just became aimed but we knew what we meant so do you guys have any shorthand like that where you're like only you understand the Jedward language I feel like we're just kind of I can read John even just give me a look or if I know John's not 100% I just not I just give some of that can be a bit more to

Sometimes I'm like a coach. Sometimes I'm really, really passionate about something. It's always like at 1 a.m. or 2 o'clock at night. John will come up the life plan. Like as of recent. I'm trying to go asleep. Today, two versions of songs came in that I put together and then he had just woken up

and I just need to read the right time when to show him something because sometimes I feel like I'm a bit too much and then necessarily it's trying to find a balance communication. But you have a good... What's you laughing at? I'm just saying like we makes stuff happen

like logically like John will be working on songs more than me in lyrics and he'll get really offended if I don't want to change something but then I'm like a second listener Sometimes he doesn't have a solution so there's no point I do come up with solutions You don't though, you just throw out words I do get it there eventually

Boys He likes to think he does Boys, am I going to have to separate you? No we're all separated don't worry We're good but we are good Obviously music is just one of our passions And obviously music's like air now I wrote a real sad Christmas song the other day

And obviously a happy Christmas song I want to bring out a Christmas song every year. Why not? In memory of George, who I know you met. Yes. A lovely George Michael. He was really happy to see us. We might do cover our last Christmas because we actually could sing it right.

I bet you do that well. Last Christmas gave you my heart. But the very next day you gave it away this year to save me from tears. I'll give it to someone special. Oh. I mean, I. don't know what to do. I'm so overcome with happiness.

It's nice singing Christmas songs. I just had Deadwood serenade me with last Christmas in the park on the hottest day of the year. There are two men looking slightly baffled, but then they're wearing nout, so I don't know what they're worried about. Let's go back to X Factor, because people want to know this. Looking back now as adults, as adult men, you were pretty young. You were 17. And back then, you know, I won't go. into specifics but let's just say I don't feel they had the safeguarding I don't think they

understood then look these are children essentially we're suddenly exposing them to the public it's a very very you know you're incredibly vulnerable yeah looking back do you do you can you see where there are areas where you perhaps didn't get the care just in general that you should have like they kind of guarded us from the world it was almost like right bubble of the show and it's almost like they distanced us from our families or if they came over, they didn't want us talking too much to our family. They wanted to kind of, almost felt like they owned us and we had to be where they want us to be. And I think like looking back at it, it's like we almost had like, I remember we had like camcores and stuff that we brought over

and they just miraculously went missing and it was almost like where did they go or like somewhere on the show. It was almost trying to isolate us in that show. I just feel like I had a good heart. Like I remember we were focusing on Whitney Houston and I got all these vinyl records, you know, signed. Is this on the show? Yeah. And I remember a few of the members, they obviously didn't have the confidence

to ask her for the autograph. I remember giving it to one of the members. And then I remember someone coming to me, oh yeah, I'll take those autographs. We'll put them in a safe place. I never got them back. I remember I had a sign autograph for Paul McCarton, stuff like that.

The thing is, like, they didn't just randomly change songs. They changed songs to put you in a mental state where you were. Fragile? They wanted to put you off. They gave you bad mixes. Because as a singer now, I know how mixing works,

and they'd give you echoes. and like other singers that have fed vocals in there, like different things that you, when you're listening to the mixes. Like boy bands getting to pre-record the choruses and what big notes. And you didn't have long as well. When you only had like, what, five days or something, six days to... And you know you think you know a song? Yeah.

Every week we was like learning. You knew I-Sys baby. Then you had to learn all the rap. And not just that, the dance moves, the choreography, the, blah, blah, you know. The think it's like, they would choreograph you out of time. Like, when you go there and then you go there. So they, you wouldn't know at the time where they'd give you a harmony that was clearly off.

but you're being told that's how it goes and you'd sing it and then it'd be like, oh, what was that? But then you told me to sing it that way. And the thing is like, as we were filming it, it's like we didn't want to tell them our weaknesses because I know they'd use it against us. It's almost like you, we were aware that we were how we were being seen or how we were being managed on the show. I remember even backstage, I remember Simon going to me, oh, just go along with it or just or like give it back to me and I was thinking, well, I'm not necessarily going to be giving it back to her going about because I'm just going to do whatever's true to me in this

moment because they're just digging me a bigger hole that I'm already in. And you must have realised it. realised at that point that, oh, he's doing this because it's good TV, not because he doesn't like us. He's doing it because actually I was very aware looking at that, that the more he would have a go at you, Simon Cowell, the more the public would vote for you, the more headlines. All it did was increase your popularity because all of us were outraged. And then he realised this is, you know, I actually think he was thinking, I don't want them to go because clearly they're the stars of this series. So I wondered, do you think that's partly why he was continuing to bait you almost? It's thing is, like, looking back at the time, like when you're looking at as a viewer,

it's like only looking back at now we can realise what was because everyone's such an expert of watching reality TV. And after that, they always tried to find different duos that were emulating us, and we were part of the formula. That one, like, I remember Danny Minogue, the Australian produced, we went to X Factor Australia. They told us that we were used to sell the show to the network over there as almost like a formula act. But I feel like the same time, it's still kind of hindered us and kind of put us in a place of, so the confidence when we first walked onto stage, that was me as a performer from the get-go. And the fact that I was being knocked and been told this and that, that it kind of brought me back actually within my shell.

So even though we made the impact that we did every week, it kind of, every performance was, I was in a fragile place. I bet. I was exerting this confidence. I was still in a, in a, I wasn't sure of myself. I bet you must have been, every time you stood there, you must have, the, fresh hell is coming now. I was only 17.

I was only 17. Yeah. You know, and I feel like, obviously, we were, we got on the show the first time we did it, But then other people they had auditioned two and three times and they were well rehearsed. They would have been scouted in a bar and they would have sang the songs. They would have been singing over the last few years. Every week it was a new song. We did.

But it is a learning experience. Obviously we're 17 and since then it is good to have, you know, people to think of certain things of you. And then always still, even today, people are still surprised that I can play guitar. We can write songs and that we're still growing. So from like the situation where people have notions of you, it's like, no, actually, I know my capabilities. I know what I can still bring. And I think necessarily on those shows, they're scooped up and they're like, We're going to bang out all these music videos.

You've got the whole team. You don't have to worry about your hair. You don't have to worry about anything. We got you. And we never got that kind of treatment. So we have to find it within ourselves to really maneuver the cards that we've been dealt. And the fact is like when we're in the bottom two at Ollie Murs, we had the higher vote that week. So the fact that if it went to deadlock, Ollie Mers wouldn't have got through that we wouldn't have had Olly Murs we have today.

And we just at a festival recently with Ollie. But we're so happy everything's worked out for him. But it's just crazy to think how things kind of worked out. Yeah. And like even when we were in the bottom two at Lucy or whatever, like she did your first. like she did Eurovision and we I think we did better placement but we still like Lucy as well we met her. She'd done Eurovision twice for Ireland

haven't you? Yeah that really took us on the map like in the fact that we got to Lithuania and there's so many countries we never thought we'd go to and even then they'd watch back our auditions and just like you said they were like what are they talking about they're singing the way I'd like them to be singing so we were singing the way like European boy bands were singing and taking over the world basically because when we did Eurovision twice we were had such a storm in Germany and all these European countries but a lot of the offices came from the UK like London so it took

a while for the business people to realize that we did have this sellable product of twins and that we're back then you really had to I don't know because obviously lady gagging this is pre-marketer this is pre-social media you're really trying to be a pop star yeah I don't think nowadays it's when the the spectacle's not as appreciated you know so I find like it's okay to be stripped back and fair enough play guitar and you know like well obviously we sing lipstick but can Chris martin sing lipstick I don't know if you'd have a hope but obviously we can sing Chris Martin co-play songs Are you listening, Chris? But I feel pop.

We love him. We love them. We love it. We love it. We're coming back there and go, she's got a lipstick. And really just hit it on the part. You're not.

Because some songs are made to step, to get you the steps. They're made to sing. Other songs, like pop songs that almost sound like they're not the best. They're not the most singable song, but it's very hard to hit those registers. I think Michael Jackson could have sang lipstick.

You're like, Just got it. You must be the sit. Oh! You get him. All the guys that you dated. Billy Jean. You know, he would have songs, like lipstick, that song we did for Eurovision.

It comes around every year. Great song, can I say. When Eurovision rocks up, it's always the UK versus Ireland. And we were in the, we were in the, with Blue the first year. And we did better than Blue, like a band that had been around the years. Crazy girl with a boy band. All eyes. Yes.

Yeah, they're still nice. But then the second year as well. My favorite, can I tell you my favorite blue lyric ever is when they put all their heart and soul. They're talking about the car. And then they go, tap down. And they're just literally. talking about taking the roof off the car. My mother's cry.

My mother's crying. My mom love Blue. We all love Blue growing up and the fact that we were in Eurovision with them was crazy. How brilliant. So it is lovely to meet like your childhood heroes. I know that you, you know, there's a... Did you feel... I think we represent a lot of stuff.

Like the Eurovision audience love us. I feel like all the outcast, everyone who's like trying to be different... I feel like they can see us. Us being us and the experience that we've been, it encourages other people to go out that day and try to be their best version of themselves. and whatever expression they see that being. Like even the current arts, like C-MAT was a massive fan of us.

Like she's always going on about. She used to come and meet us and now she's doing her thing. And they're like, like, Chie K. Barr used to be a massive fan of us. Yeah. And she used to have a password as like Gerber or sexy. So you're inspired. So you're inspired. So the thing is, we meet all these people that come and resonate

and say you guys inspired me when I was a kid. But then the thing is you don't realize it's happening until you actually live life and they come back and give you the love. And even Charlie XXX, you used to always messes. I know I've talked about this. But like, She used to be like telling us to tweet about her single because we had this massive Twitter reach

and we're like, girl, I don't think you need us, you're doing okay. But then the thing is like now they're more famous and more known. We even took Cara DeLavine to her Roberta Cavali show. I remember we're at their fashion show with her and she was getting a free ride with us to the next fashion show. Obviously she walked the DeSquired show but she wasn't invited to Roberta Gavalee show

and because we were friends, our friend Tara knew Roberta, we all got into the show. Tara Reid, we should say at one point. Yeah, crazy. You think these moments are in. And so much stuff happens that it sounds farfetching you even talk about, but you know what happens. Well, particularly with you, both of you, I mean, your lives are full of those moments, aren't they? Because we have lived a life. I know we aren't.

But we're not sitting there, sitting there going, oh, I'm great, here I am. We still are us within that scenario. Not just sitting there going, oh, this is my life now, this is me. We still able to leave it and go on back. Because I think sometimes you can be rich in life, but then other people, they've got more success, more chart success, but they don't have the lifestyle that we'd have, or have. happiness and health. They don't necessarily want to be around people that are chasing brands and big.

Obviously, it's nice to have nice things. If you, fair enough that's your thing, fine. But it's not the ultimate goal. Can I ask a question related to that? And feel free not to answer it. Have you made a reasonable amount of money? Would you consider yourself well off? I think we're doing okay for ourselves.

I think we've always... Obviously, you can only have so much money to where you're like, that's grand. I don't have to keep reaching, reach and reaching. And I just think, fair enough, you can make sure you could invent, like some random thing tomorrow and suddenly everyone needs a but obviously music gives our passion, but necessarily sometimes there's not a lot of money to have made.

I think if you're highs and lows and lows where you have like reserves and then you're over low moments, you're kind of getting, you're doing okay, but then you have something with your big payday. You know what's like the entertainment industry? You've got these big massive reality shows. You get your big Instagram deals or you get different campaigns of different people. That, like that it helps to like. Celebrity Big Brother, that was a nice pay day.

I know. That was a good payday, guys. It's meant a million pounds. A million pounds just sit in our ass for three weeks. Yeah. So do you split everything down the middle? Half a million. Whoever call up at the time.

I was like, I need them. The joint account. The thing is, like, we always pay our tax. We're never in bad situations. We're always, like, helping our family. We're always helping people out. Are you? What I'm saying is, me and John, we do us.

People have to stand their own feet then. You can't keep, you have to let people go out on their own and you can't kind of get in that age. Did you feel when you left, when X Factor finished, and obviously, you know, you did a documentary. We only get 20 pounds a week on X Factor. Do you get nothing on X Factor? I know what it was.

Is it really nothing? But the thing is, we didn't go on it for money. We didn't even know you that. We didn't even know you were getting. I think experiences are more. I'm just chasing experiences now. I don't, I don't even want to go on lavish holidays. But you know what?

Girls got to pay the rent. And so it's, I agree with you. But the one thing I do think, particularly as you were young, it's just, you know, it's important to me that young people aren't exploited. Yeah, because that's how it is. That's what I was saying earlier. Yeah. That when you, obviously, we were 17.

Yeah, it's your money, you aren't it. The thing is you can have it all depending on how much dodgy contracts you've saw and how explosions you can do. We did tour dates. We did tours that like someone declared bankruptcy and Lou is paid. All our dancers, everyone was paid but we didn't get paid because the people were like $2,000. Or like we've had like trade situations where people have...

That old trick, the declare bankruptcy trick. They tried to get into deals with those almost like con men just trying to make money off a situation where they saw an opportunity. Oh yeah and suddenly also you find, we all know how it works in these industries. you know, where it's like, oh, well, I'm with this, and then I've got to hire this person, and then I've got to hire this person, and this person, and then I'm paying six people salary. And we also as boy band document, it's crazy thing that, like,

a lot of these childhood heroes, like, you know, groups that were dominating the charts, hearing that they're getting paid, what, £120 a week in their heyday? Or like, NSYN and their heyday got 10,000 each, and they were already had multiple. And do you remember they were saying, was it Lou Palmer? Yes, he's been very disgrace now, hasn't it? I just know I'm always very thankful for anything that I get, because I'm always think back to these moments of having it all,

but then having nothing at the same time. They said that documentary, it was so shocking that one. They said, they're all sitting around, and the manager got the checkout and said, here you go, it's your big pay day. And at that point, they were fucking huge, weren't they? Yeah. And do you remember one of them, who was it, Lance?

Well, one of them said, I get this check and it's 10 grand. And he said, I know that sounds, you know, doesn't want to be ungrateful, but when you consider how much they were, well, it almost tell us all the time. That's how much you get for an Instagram post, like to promote a product. But I'm just saying,

It's the fact that me had John that celebrity and boy bands are held such standards that you have to be in limo, you have to get in private jets, that the reality doesn't, even S Club 7 and everyone's talked about it over the years, that the media and everything tried to overhype fame and celebrity, that like even someone in normal job we're making as much as some of their people they look up to, but it's different for us. But I feel me and John, we have done very well for the level of fame we have. Were you sensible? We are sensible because we don't really chase all that lavatory. lifestyle. I think it's not appealing to people to be like, oh look at me, I'm on a boat, look at me, I'm trying to flex. Because I don't see it as... Because we do have friends and people who have like crazy amounts of money, but I still know you can lose yourself. So as long as you're ramping you and you're anchor yourself and you go watch truth to me before all this happened. It's almost like this phoma that people think they feel they're missing out in it, but when you go to San Tripane,

you're on the yacht and you're still not finding this sense of happiness or this over experience. And when you actually experience it, you take it off and you go. well that's not for me. I've really been sold a dream that didn't exist. I really hope you love part one of this week's Walking the Dog. If you want to hear the second part of our chat, it'll be out on Thursday. So whatever you do, don't miss it. And remember to subscribe so you can join us on our walks every week.