The 20-year-old singer, from Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, said she did not think she would have coped as well as she did without the support of her fellow band members.

She was found guilty at Kingston Crown Court last month of assault, occasioning actual bodily harm, on nightclub attendant Sophie Amogbokpa.

Tweedy was cleared of another charge of racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Ms Amogbokpa.

She was sentenced to 120 hours community service and ordered to pay £500 compensation to 39-year-old Ms Amogbokpa, and £3,000 prosecution costs.

Speaking about the case, Tweedy told GMTV: "Without the support of the girls I do not think that I would have got through it as well as I did, to be honest."

Fellow band member Nadine Coyle said the charges and subsequent trial had been really hard for Tweedy.

She said: "She has coped with it really well under the circumstances because we have been working so hard.

"But she got emotional a lot of the time but we all just tried to be there for her and help her through just as best as we could."

The 20-year-old said she was stunned and disappointed after a jury at Kingston Crown Court found her guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

But the singer said she was pleased that she had been cleared of another charge of racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

It had been alleged in court that Tweedy had screamed a stream of racist abuse at Sophie Amogbokpa.

Judge Richard Haworth sentenced Tweedy to 120 hours community service and ordered her to pay £500 compensation to Ms Amogbokpa and £3,000 prosecution costs.

The judge said it was an unpleasant piece of drunken violence and said Tweedy, of Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, had shown no remorse whatsoever.

After the sentencing, the singer stood outside court with her mother and tour manager while her solicitor Paul Harris read out a statement on her behalf.

In it she said she was "thankful that the jury had accepted that this incident has nothing to do with race." She added: "I am not a racist and anyone who knows me knows I would not say anything racist."

Tweedy punched part-time law student Ms Amogbokpa, 39, in a row over a handful of lollipops in the lavatory of The Drink Nightclub in Guildford, Surrey on January 11.

Girls Aloud's record label says she will continue to be a member of the chart-topping group. A spokeswoman for Polydor said: "We are pleased Cheryl has been found not guilty of the main charge against her. In light of this decision, Cheryl's position in Girls Aloud is unaffected."

She has been sentenced to 120 hours of community service, and ordered to pay her victim £500 compensation and £3,000 prosecution costs.

Tweedy, 20, was cleared of a charge of carrying out a racist attack on Sophie Amogbokpa.

The jury of seven men and five women were unable to reach a unanimous verdict on a second charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. But they returned a guilty verdict after being given a majority instruction by trial Judge Richard Haworth.

Tweedy let out a gasp and covered her face with her hands when the jury foreman announced the verdict, reached by a majority of 11 to one.

Judge Haworth criticised her for showing no remorse for the attack. He said: "This was an unpleasant piece of drunken violence which caused Sophie Amogbokpa pain and suffering.

"Her eye was painful for three or four weeks, there was bruising for three months and for a while she had blurred vision. You showed no remorse whatsoever."

The judge added: "I take into account your age and good character and do not think you will reoffend." Asked if she understood the judge's comments, Tweedy replied: "Yes I do."

The singer, of Heaton in Newcastle, claimed she was acting in self defence when she punched Miss Amogbokpa at The Drink nightclub in Guildford, Surrey.

Tweedy attacked Miss Amogbokpa in the toilets of the nightclub after a row over lollipops. Surrey police welcomed the guilty verdict, saying the verdict sends out a message that such offences will not be tolerated.

Cheryl Tweedy had experienced a few weeks of "meteoric success" and was "full of her own self-importance" on the night she allegedly punched Sophie Amogbokpa, the court heard.

The "intoxicated" 20-year-old pop star punched the toilet attendant and hurled a "torrent" of insults at her, including racist remarks, because she asked for payment for a handful of lollipops, Kingston Crown Court was told.

In her closing speech to the jury, prosecuting counsel Patricia Lees said famous people sometimes behaved in a way which was "wholly inappropriate to their status". But nobody is above the law, said Miss Lees.

Tweedy had lied about events at The Drink nightclub in Guildford, Surrey, because there was "a lot of things riding on it for her", she claimed.

"Even important or famous people can behave very badly indeed and they have been known to do things which are wholly inappropriate to their status, particularly if they are seen as upstanding members of the community, politicians or role models, and sometimes it is a question of having too much too young.

"You just have to think about allegations of inebriated rock stars behaving as though nobody else is important and they can do what they like. These people are not above the law, nobody is."

Tweedy, of Heaton, denies racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm and a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Nicola Roberts, 18, said Sophie Amogbokpa threw the first punch in the row and then hit Tweedy again before the singer hit her back.

She told the court Mrs Amogbokpa first punched Tweedy as she rummaged around in her handbag to get some change to pay for a handful of lollipops she had taken from a display in the ladies toilet.

Miss Roberts told Kingston Crown Court she ran out of the toilet to get a security guard and as she came back in she saw the toilet attendant hit Tweedy again in the face with a clenched fist, adding: "She (Tweedy) just retaliated in self defence as anybody would if they had been punched in the face."

Under cross-examination the singer denied having made up the story about the two punches to help her friend and insisted she would never lie for anybody.

Prosecuting Patricia Lees suggested to Miss Roberts that she had invented the story as a lifeline for Tweedy because she knew her friend was in real trouble.

But Miss Lees suggested she had got the story wrong because she hadn't talked to her friend before giving a police statement. "You (Miss Roberts) threw her (Tweedy) a lifeline and she grabbed it, but you did not have the chance to talk again that is why you've got it wrong, that is why you said she was punched twice," said Miss Lees.

"No," replied Miss Roberts. Miss Lees suggested: "Having made that story up you were put in a very difficult position because you were just trying to help your friend.

"I'm not going to lie for anybody," replied Miss Roberts. "At the end of the day it's my life, my career, I'm not going to lie for anybody."

"Not even for your close friend who was in real trouble that night?" asked Miss Lees. "She was not in real trouble," replied Miss Roberts.

The 20-year-old Girls Aloud singer screamed abuse and punched Sophie Amogbokpa in the face after saying she did not have to pay for the sweets, a witness to the row told the court.

Bryony Gibbs said she had seen Tweedy and her fellow band member Nicola Roberts in the upstairs toilets of The Drink nightclub in Guildford, Surrey, where Mrs Amogbokpa worked, in the early hours of January 11 this year.

She said she thought Tweedy was drunk. The singer had fallen over as she texted on her mobile while dancing on the dance floor.

Miss Gibbs told Kingston Crown Court that the row between Tweedy and the toilet attendant began at just after 1am, after the singer used make-up and took some lollies from the display in the ladies' lavatory without paying.

She said: "The toilet attendant was saying to Cheryl 'I want payment for the lollipops' and Cheryl was saying 'I do not have to pay for the lollies'. She (Tweedy) said 'You f****** bitch, I don't have to pay for these lollies'."

Miss Gibbs continued: "She (Tweedy) seemed hysterical, she was just hysterical - shouting a lot and she was still drunk. She (the toilet attendant) kept on repeating 'I want payment for those lollies'.' When the toilet attendant leaned forward to take away the lollies from Cheryl, Cheryl punched her."

Miss Gibbs said Tweedy's friend, who was also in the toilets at the time, then tried to calm Tweedy down.

Miss Gibbs told the court that Tweedy asked her friend, Miss Roberts, to go and get security during the row.

Tweedy, of Heaton, Newcastle, denies racially aggravated assault occasioning actual body harm and the alternative charge of assault occasioning actually bodily harm.

Kingston Crown Court heard the Popstars singer and group member Nicola Roberts had been drinking wine and champagne in the VIP area of the nightclub.

Patricia Lees, prosecuting, said that the pair went down on to the dance floor and then into the ladies lavatory where Sophie Amogbokpa, the toilet attendant, was sitting on a stool. Despite there being a number of cubicles free, Tweedy and Miss Roberts went into the same cubicle, the court was told.

When Tweedy emerged she was seen to stagger and seemed to be unsteady on her feet, Miss Lees said. Sne said that while Tweedy appeared to be intoxicated, but Nicola Roberts appeared to be much less so and seemed calm and more polite.

The court heard Phillip White, the club's weekend manager who looked after any celebrities, had been waiting outside the toilet for the stars. As the "verbal exchange" between Tweedy and Miss Amogbokpa began, Miss Roberts came out of the toilet and Mr White went in to see what was happening.

Miss Lees said: "What happened was that he (Mr White) saw the defendant punching the lavatory attendant with a clenched fist." She added Tweedy called Miss Amogbokpa a "f****** black bitch" during the course of the attack and was still shouting abuse at her, even while she was being restrained.

Miss Amogbokpa, a part-time law student, told the court Mr White tried to restrain Tweedy. She said: "She (Tweedy) got close to me and punched me in the left eye. I saw her coming but I did not expect that she was going to hit me." She added: "I was in severe pain after she hit me."

Eventually Miss Amogbokpa had to be led away to another room by a member of security staff, the court heard. She told the court the pain in her eye did not subside for three to four weeks and that she had bruising on her face for three months afterwards.

She said that even though she had been punched in the left eye, the pain and bruising had affected her other eye as well. She told the court that she took a daily dose of steroids as a result of a kidney transplant but she denied that this caused her to bruise easily.

Miss Lees said that it appeared that Miss Amogbokpa had "simply stared" at Tweedy during the attack. Tweedy was arrested and taken to a nearby police station, where she claimed she had been hit first and denied using any racist language, the court was told.

Tweedy, 20, is accused of attacking 39-year-old toilet attendant and part-time law student Sophie Amogbokpa at the Drink nightclub in Guildford, Surrey, on January 11.

Tweedy went to the nightclub on a night out with fellow band member Nicola Roberts and became embroiled in the row, Kingston Crown Court has heard.

Patricia Lees, prosecuting, said: "Whilst she (Tweedy) was there, the prosecution say that, no doubt disinhibited by alcohol, she punched a female lavatory attendant over a handful of lollipops and swore at her, calling her a black bitch."

Miss Lees told the jury that Tweedy, of Heaton, Newcastle, was a singer with Girls Aloud, a group created from a television show Pop Stars: The Rivals.

But Miss Lees told the jury "this should not affect you one way or the other" in determining what the proper verdicts are in the case.

She said: "Having said that, the prosecution allege that part of the reason this offence occurred is no doubt because the defendant had allowed her recent success to go to her head that night, causing her to behave this way to a woman working as a lavatory attendant."

Tweedy denies racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The track, also released on July 7, was recorded in Norway and co-written by Javine with producers Stargate.

Javine, who was rejected by viewers from the final line-up of Popstars: The Rivals' winners Girls Aloud in December, is currently recording her debut album.

She is thought to have signed a £1 million three album deal with Innocent Records after a bidding war among labels including Polydor who signed Girls Aloud and Sony.

The Sun says singer Daniel Pearce, 24, is quitting after their second single limped into the charts at No10.

Ballad Shakespeare's (Way With) Words sold only about 10,000 copies and looks set to lose money for record label Jive.

The Sun quoted a friend of Daniel's who said: "The placing of the single was the last straw.

"He knows they are never going to have a fair crack of the whip so sees no point in continuing as a band. There's no way back for them now."

The future of bandmates Keith Semple, 21, Anton Gordon, 19, Matt Johnson, 17, and Jamie Shaw, also 17, is unclear.

One True Voice were formed on last year's ITV1 show Popstars: The Rivals with Girls Aloud.

However, band member Matt Johnson said it was a "complete pile of rubbish" to suggest that the band were splitting up after only six months.

"Basically, it is just all rumours, rumours, rumours. We are not splitting, it is a complete pile of rubbish," he told GMTV.

The Popstars band release their second single Shakespeare's (Way With) Words on Monday.

But singer Jamie Shaw has branded the track "cheesy" and said the only reason he would buy it is because he's on it.

Promoters of the event, which will feature different artists at each show, have announced the singers will be appearing at Wembley Arena on Friday, May 30.

They join Mis-Teeq, Dannii Minogue, Blazin' Squad, Craig David and Big Brovaz who have already been confirmed for the London show.

The 10-date tour kicks off at the Blackpool Opera House on May 2.

Box Live is also promising fans a variety of interactive events "to allow the audience to get closer to the stars."

One Blazin' Squad fan will have a song dedicated to them at the Wembley gig. They will be given texting details from the stage on the night.

She will perform her new single Real Things, along with a cover of Michael Jackson's Rock With You.

The Popstars reject has signed a three-album record deal with Innocent Records worth £1 million.

The night is hosted by two rising urban stars Darae & Lucy along with a live house band, to be broadcast on MTV Base.

Javine's departure from Popstars: The Rivals made headline news when she didn't make it into Girls Aloud.

At the time Javine said: "I'll rise above it all to have a great solo career. I have always given everything 250 per cent and I won't stop now. Mark my words".

New band Phixx consists of Peter, Andrew, Chris, Nick and Mikey - who is now dating Sarah from Girls Aloud.

They are managed by Nathan Moore - the former singer with 80s band Brother Beyond and 90s act World's Apart.

He also steered the original Popstars losers Liberty X to bigger success than Hear'say.

The band have been working with several songwriters, including Lee from Blue.

Chris told Radio 1: "He's the most talented guy any of us have ever worked with. He's a brilliant songwriter, producer, singer.

"People will print things but the fact that people like Lee with the talent they've got behind them believe in us is a massive compliment."

Mikey failed to make it in boyband One True Voice but has since teamed up with runners-up Nikk, Peter, Chris and Andrew to form new band Phixx.

He first started seeing Sarah while they were appearing in the hit ITV1 show.

The 19-year-old singer went before magistrates in Guildford, Surrey, accused of an attack on toilet attendant Sophie Amogbokpa in The Drink nightclub in the town on January 11.

The charge of racially aggravated actual bodily harm has been withdrawn and replaced with a new charge of racially aggravated common assault.

Tweedy, from Newcastle upon Tyne, issued a statement denying the accusations after the incident but could face up to two years in prison if found guilty.

The case was adjourned by magistrates for her to appear again on April 4 and she was remanded on conditional bail.

The band was formed from the ITV programme Pop Stars: The Rivals and enjoyed initial success with a number one single, Sound of the Underground.

But troubled times have followed with the death of tour manager John McMahon in a Christmas Day car crash and more recently the cancellation of a tour due to poor ticket sales.

Tweedy was arrested in connection with an alleged attack on toilet attendant Sophie Amogbokpa, during an incident in The Drink nightclub in Guildford, Surrey, in January.

Tweedy was charged with racially aggravated actual bodily harm and released on bail to appear before South West Surrey Magistrates' Court in Guildford on March 25.

In a statement issued last night, the 19-year-old singer said: "I am totally devastated by the charge that has been brought against me.

"I have always maintained that I am entirely innocent of the accusations that have been made and I am determined to fight to prove my innocence."

The band were not allowed to attend Thursday's Brit awards because of recent negative press.

And manager Louis Walsh says he doesn't want the girls to be seen out partying until they have had at least two more number one hits.

The awards - a spoof alternative to the Brits - were dominated by former Popstar and Pop Idol acts.

One True Voice topped the poll for worst group. It follows the cancellation of their joint concert tour with Girls Aloud because of poor ticket sales.

Gareth Gates was named worst British male at the awards ceremony, organised by TV channel Music Choice. His chart-topper Unchained Melody was named the year's worst single.

Victoria Beckham also pulled off a double by being named worst female and taking the worst album prize for her self-titled debut.

Cheeky Girls - another act which came to fame through Popstars: The Rivals - picked up two awards, worst international group and single for The Cheeky Song.

Teenage rappers Blazin' Squad landed the title for least convincing urban act.

The award winners were chosen by 100 figures from the music industry and media.

The awards were named in honour of Naomi Campbell, who failed to set the charts alight with her pop career in 1994 when her single Love And Tears made number 40.

Music Choice Head of music & marketing Simon Bell said: "It's about time that music awards stopped taking themselves so seriously, so Music Choice founded the Naomi Awards in a bid to lighten things up."

The tour, headlined by winners Girls Aloud and One True Voice, will now visit venues in Bournemouth, Brighton, Cardiff and Nottingham.

Some of the original tour dates have been moved to allow for the additional shows.

The bands will be joined on the tour by fellow contestants, the Cheeky Girls.

There will also be special performances from show favourites Aimee, Emma, Chloe, Linzi, Peter, Andrew, Chris, Nikk and Mickey

The full list of dates are:

March 1 - Birmingham NEC;
March 3 - London Arena;
March 4 - Bournemouth International Centre;
March 5 - Brighton Centre;
March 6 - Cardiff Int. Arena;
March 7 - Sheffield Arena;
March 8 - Glasgow SECC;
March 11 - Nottingham Arena;
March 12 - Wembley Arena;
March 14 - Newcastle Arena;
March 15 - Manchester Arena;

The concert was originally due to take place on February 28, but has now been rescheduled.

The tour includes dates at London Arena, Sheffield Arena, Glasgow SECC, Wembley Arena, Newcastle Arena and Manchester Evening News Arena.

The bands will be joined on the tour by fellow contestants, the Cheeky Girls.

There will also be special performances from show favourites Aimee, Emma, Chloe, Linzi, Peter, Andrew, Chris, Nikk and Mickey.

She is thought to have signed a three-album contract with Innocent Records.

Viewers were shocked when the 20-year-old singer was voted off the final of the ITV1 show last month, missed her chance of joining Girls Aloud.

Despite her disappointment at the time, Javine said: "I'll rise above it all to have a great solo career.

"I have always given everything 250% and I won't stop now. Mark my words."

Cheryl Tweedy is accused of punching law student Sophie Amogbokpa, 39, who was working as a toilet attendant at The Drink in Guildford.

Tweedy, one of the winners of the ITV show Popstars: The Rivals, was held by police for 10 hours.

According to the Sunday Mirror, Ms Amogbokpa was taken to the Royal Surrey Hospital for treatment to an eye injury.

A Surrey Police spokeswoman said: "A 19-year-old woman was arrested in connection with an allegation of assault in the early hours of Saturday morning.

"She has now been released on police bail pending further inquiries."

The all-girl band, formed by the ITV1 show Popstars: The Rivals, are celebrating their third week at the top after landing the Christmas number one spot just a month after forming.

There have been accusations they did not sing on their track, Sound Of The Underground.

The boy band One True Voice with Sacred Trust continued their fall sinking to number five, while The Cheeky Girls' Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum) single, has clung to the number two spot for the second week.

John McMahon died after the vehicle he was driving crashed near Stafford on Christmas Day.

Mr McMahon, who lived in Staffordshire, was one of the team which helped propel the quintet to the top of the charts earlier this week with their debut single, beating rivals One True Voice.

The two groups were put together for the ITV1 show, Popstars: The Rivals.

In a statement, the band's record label Polydor said: "On behalf of the girls and Polydor, we are truly shocked and upset by the tragic loss of someone we all adored and loved. Our thoughts are with John's family."

A Staffordshire police spokesman said there were no other vehicles involved in the incident, which happened on the A5013 near junction 14 of the M6.

He was unable to give details of how the crash happened.

Geldof says he was approached by representitives from both shows about the possibility of them teaming up to record a cover version of the Band Aid song.

But he says he denied the request because it only came two weeks ago and he didn't think they would have time to do the song justice.

The pictures, from the new Freeserve AnyTime advertisements, show the Cheeky Girls using their bodies as painting tools.

Dressed in tight orange vests and blue hotpants, 19-year-olds Monica and Gabriella Irimia happily splash paint on each other.

The Transylvanian twins are currently storming the charts with The Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum).

The advertisements, made "to celebrate complete freedom", start on Boxing Day and will be followed by a poster campaign in 2003.

Monica and Gabriella said: "We had so much fun with Freeserve and used our best assets to create a piece of modern art.

"We hope everyone enjoys likes the pictures as much as we enjoyed making them."

The all-girl quintet were in a bitter battle for the top slot with One True Voice, similarly manufactured for Popstars: The Rivals.

Sound Of The Underground/Stay Another Day became the 50th Christmas number one, while One True Voice's Sacred Trust is a place below them.

Girls Aloud have sold 213,000 copies of their single at a time of year when singles sales are traditionally at their highest as people buy stocking fillers. One True Voice sold 147,000 copies.

The girls are delighted with their first number one, with Nicola Roberts, saying: "We can't stop screaming. This is the perfect Christmas present after everything we've been through to make it into the band."

Nadine Coyle added: "This is amazing. It has given us so much confidence, as the public have put us at the top by supporting the girls."

The Cheeky Girls are at number three making it a Popstars: The Rivals top three for Christmas.

Fans are being urged to buy The Cheeky Song in order to stop the two Popstars bands reaching the top spot on Sunday.

According to midweek chart sales, The Cheeky Girls are a few thousand copies behind One True Voice, who are losing out to Girls Aloud.

The pair are locked in a battle over the two bands from Popstars.

Waterman said if One True Voice failed to reach the Christmas number one, he would commit suicide.

It looks as though the band will be beaten to the top spot by Walsh's Girls Aloud.

The singer met them in a London hotel this week, when he discovered Gabriela and Monica were staying on the same floor.

But he said that being Romanian, they didn't understand a word he was saying.

He told Radio 1: "I said 'I'm a massive fan, I think it's the best song ever written', and they were like 'ah, thank you, thank you, thank you'. They didn't look too great out of their hot pants, not that they had nothing on - they had something on top where their hot pants would normally be.

"I think that's their selling point obviously - after that, I don't know where they're going to go. Thankfully I've not got a gimmick like that that I need to sustain my career."

"I hope they don't hear this because I think they're great."

Keith fell for Hayley during filming of Popstars: The Rivals Extra, which she presented.

But he says he didn't know who she was at first because he didn't watch Pop Idol, where Hayley made it into the final ten.

The pair are now planning to spend Christmas together.

Cherly, Nicola, Kimberley, Nadine and Sarah were also angry after the boys publicly tore up their promotion posters in London.

The Popstars bands have resorted to a war of words as competition for the Christmas number one hots up.

The girls song, Sound Of The Underground, is currently outselling the boys' Sacred Trust.

But Louis Walsh, who is managing the girls, has dismissed his claims calling him "a liar".

Girls Aloud are ahead in the race for the Christmas top spot, outselling One True Voice, the Popstars boy band Waterman is guiding.

Waterman says the girls' track, Sound Of The Underground, is sung by session singers.

He said: "Their record's a smashing pop record, there's no question, but they're not on it."

He added: "I've had that record since September. The version I got in September is no different, It's just got four other girls' voices on.

"Just listen to it, listen to the choruses, they're session singers."

Walsh, also manager of Boyzone and Westlife, said: "He is a liar - he said the girls didn't sing on their record. He's just running scared.

"I want everyone to know that Pete Waterman is a liar. The girls do sing on their record.

He added: "You're an old man at the end of your career. Go out on top, go out and go out peacefully and don't try and make these five girls into something they're not. You know they're going to get the Christmas number one."

A spokesman for the bookmakers says it's the earliest they've ever opened a book on the festive number one.

The girls are 6/1 to win the Christmas chart battle in 2003.

One True Voice and Fame Academy's David Sneddon are joint second at odds of 7/1.

Hills have also announced they've stopped taking bets on this year's number one: "We have already built up a hefty liability if Girls Aloud are the winners and we don't want to be picked off by people who know more than we do about sales of the records" said William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe.

Their debut hit, Sound Of The Underground, is being tipped to become the year's best-selling mobile phone ringtone, according to one of the industry's leading suppliers.

Girls Aloud are currently the bookmakers' favourite to top the singles chart this weekend ahead of male rivals, One True Voice.

Supplier Getmedia predicts that sales of the girls' song will even outstrip those of traditional singles in the run-up to Christmas.

But while there maybe a tight race in the charts, there is already an out-and-out winner in the Christmas ring-tone hit parade.

Although there is no official chart, Getmedia director Simon Howship says both the Popstars singles have sold "phenomenally well" this week.

He commented: "But one is streets ahead. If the sales of ring-tones are anything to go by then we would definitely say that the Christmas number one will be Girls Aloud."

It's being tipped to be the firm's best-seller of the year, ahead of Scooter's Logical Song, a reworking of Supertramp's 1979 hit.

A spokesman said: "The Logical Song just went crazy earlier in the year, but Girls Aloud are certainly catching up. It will be a battle between those two."

Bookmakers William Hill have Girls Aloud as the clear favourite for the Christmas number one at 10-1 on, with One True Voice at 5-1 and Sir Elton John and Blue at 16-1.

The two Popstars bands are locked in a battle for the Christmas number one on Sunday.

At the moment, the girls song, Sound Of The Underground, is ahead of the boys' Sacred Trust.

"The girls are trying everything they can to get to number one but they haven't got the talent," says Keith.

"The fight is far from over. Even if they have got a slight lead, they've still got a big fight on their hands."

"The girls can't sing live. They can't harmonise," claims Daniel. "When they tried to record their single for SM:TV, they were so bad they ended up miming."

Girls Aloud are roughly 8,000 copies ahead of their male rivals after the band had their first day on sale.

And it looks like Popstars: The Rivals acts will fill the top three at the weekend with boy band One True Voice look set to take number two and the Cheeky Girls at number three.

Transylvanian twins Monica and Gabriela were laughed off the ITV1 show, but bounced back with a record deal for their Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum) single.

They are marginally ahead of Sir Elton John and Blue - which is actually this week's number one.

Midweek sales figures suggest Girls Aloud have sold in excess of 30,000 copies of their release Sound Of The Underground.

HMV chart expert Gennaro Castaldo said: "First day sales around the country show Girls Aloud have delivered the first blow in the race for the Christmas No.1.

Girls Aloud and One True Voice, whose release is called Sacred Trust, were formed after months of auditions and TV voting.

The boys had long been predicted to take the festive chart-topper. But when both bands' singles were finally aired many changed their minds and Girls Aloud pushed ahead as the bookies favourites for the first time this week.

Bookies are now predicting the all-female act Girls Aloud are favourites for the coveted slot.

William Hill puts Girls Aloud at 5-6 to top the charts at the end of the week, while the boy band from ITV1's Popstars: The Rivals are now at 2-1.

The girls launched their campaign by manning the tills at a record store in Manchester's Trafford Centre.

Around 1,000 people turned up to see the quintet with half of them buying a copy of their single.

A spokesman for HMV says there has been huge interest in both acts at its stores around the UK.

"If anything the girls had started off at a slight disadvantage because everyone expected the boys to win, but that doesn't seem to have been reflected in the sales, and they may well be getting a head of steam," he said.

One True Voice were seen as the theoretical winners with the single Sacred Trust because of the number of young girls that make up the record buying public, who tend to favour boy bands.

But Girls Aloud have defied expectations by coming up with a credible song Sound Of The Underground.

Both acts have lined up a string of personal appearances over the coming days.

The event is limited to the first 200 members of the public who purchase a copy of the single from the store.

The Popstars: The Rivals band will also be signing copies of their debut single at the London store.

Several lucky participants will then be invited to an intimate live performance by the band.

Fans are asked to queue at Door 5, Hans Crescent, with doors opening at 8.30pm.

The girls were originally third favourite to be number one for the festive season.

William Hill originally quoted them at odds of 13/2, but the bookies have now cut the odds to 9/4.

The Popstars boys' One True Voice remain favourites to top the Christmas chart with their odds staying at 4/6.

Hills says several punters have placed hundred pound bets on the girls to beat their male counterparts to the top spot.

Pop commentators including Chris Moyles have criticised the boys' single, some stating that it sounds dated and lacks the originality of their rivals' track.

Monica and Gabriella Irimia, described by Pete Waterman as "the worst act ever" stormed in at number two in the UK chart.

Robbie, 28, who co-wrote the track Feel with Guy Chambers, had to settle for fourth place with the debut release from his fifth album, Escapology.

Feel is Robbie's first release since Somethin' Stupid at Christmas 2001 on which he dueted with actress Nicole Kidman.

The Cheeky Girls' track, The Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum), was penned for the girls by their mother Margaret and produced by small dance label Multiply.

It was held off the number one slot by Eminem's Lose Yourself. Daniel Bedingfield also beat the former Take That star, his release, If You're Not The One, claiming third place.

However, Robbie's fifth album, Escapology, has been announced as the fastest selling album of 2002.

Staying at the top spot in the UK today for a third consecutive week Escapology has achieved quadruple platinum sales.

Meanwhile, One True Voice, the band formed from the winning boys on Popstars: The Rivals are favourites to take Christmas number one.

William Hill are giving odds of 4/7 on the "male harmony group" and 9/2 to Girls Aloud - made up of the five winning females.

The singer has re-recorded vocals to Stay Another Day to hit shops on December 16.

He says he can't wait to go head-to-head with Girls Aloud, who are also set for a chart battle with the Popstars boy band One True Voice.

The Popstars boy's band are being quoted at odds of 4/6 to be top of the chart with their debut single, a cover of the Bee Gee's Sacred Trust.

Second favourite is Scorpio Rising by Death In Vegas featuring Liam Gallagher.

The Popstars girl band, Girls Aloud, are third favourites at 13/2.

"The race to be Christmas Number One is usually looking wide open at the beginning of December," said William Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

"But this year it looks all over bar the singing, with almost every chart expert tipping One True Voice as a certainty. I cannot remember there ever being an odds-on favourite at this stage of proceedings before.''

Walsh admitted he was "totally shocked" that favourite Javine Hylton lost out on a place in the girl band.

The surprise result has led to claims that the phone poll was rigged, with dozens of viewers complaining they were unable to register their vote for the 20-year-old Londoner.

But Walsh, who will manage the group called Girls Aloud, said: "There was nothing rigged, definitely nothing rigged as far as I know.

"They've checked everything out and I don't think there's anything sinister at all. I don't think anything went wrong."

Attempting to explain the result, he said: "I think kids are watching so many of these shows now that they don't vote for the person they like most, they vote for the person that they think, 'Oh, I feel sorry for her. So I'm going to vote for Cheryl, I'm going to vote for Sarah, I'm going to vote for Kimberley."

Walsh said he would not take on Javine as a solo artist because she was too similar to Samantha Mumba, whose career he also manages.

But he said: "I talked to Javine yesterday, she's quite happy and she's going to have a big solo career. I know a lot of record companies are already interested in her."

Javine lost the final place to Sarah Harding, 21, from Greater Manchester, during Saturday night's show.

London radio station Capital FM said more than 50 listeners had called in claiming they had been unable to vote for Javine.

Their debut single, Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum), goes on sale today.

Monica and Gabriela Irimia signed a record deal after finding fame during the audition stages of Popstars: The Rivals.

"We hope to release our next single in February and then the album should come out around Easter," Monica told Ananova.

"The next single will be called My Espanol Dream. Mum has written all the songs for us. She has been writing songs for us since we were small. We love her songs".

Gabriela says the pair are delighted their dream has finally come true: "We went for the Popstars auditions like everyone else, we never thought we would end up like this.

The girls say they have been watching Popstars when they can, but they're not convinced the public have picked the right singers for the two bands: "We watched the boys' final. I don't know how good they are because we've not seen every show. They seem nice boys.

"The girls we did SM:TV with, they were nice, but nothing special" says Gabriela.

Javine says she's "not going to complain" about not getting enough votes to be part of Girls Aloud.

She says it means she can now be herself and "do what I want."

Javine tells The Mirror she has already had a number of offers to go solo.

"I think people are expecting me to be really, really down, but I'm not," she says.

"I'm going to work hard and I can do whatever I want to musically and look the way I want to look".

They had been contacted after complaints from fans claiming they could not vote for their favourite hopeful.

Early favourite Javine Hylton was voted out of the band Girls Aloud on Saturday losing out to Sarah Harding for the last place in the group.

But a Granada spokeswoman said the company was satisfied with the outcome and confident with the procedures they had put in place.

She added Sarah had received over 50,000 more votes than Javine.

A Spokeswoman for Red Fig, who dealt with the telephone voting system for the show, said: "The confirmation messages were correct for each number at all times when they were dialled.

"Throughout the show last night Sarah was ahead of Javine and the text message result mirrored the phone call votes."

Amanda Richardson from the company which provides the text message voting service for the show, said they were "confident" the result of last night's vote was correct.

She said: "A thorough investigation has been conducted and no problems have been found in the way the votes were counted. There were some problems with the confirmations sent out to customers but these had no effect on the results of the vote."

She confirmed that text voting made up 20% of the final votes cast.

It was initiated after a radio station was deluged with calls to its morning show from fans claiming they could not vote for their favourite hopeful.

Fans of the ITV1 series say they were unable to register their vote for Javine Hylton, who became the only contestant not to make the girls' band in last night's final.

Javine, a 20-year-old from west London, lost the final place in the girl group to Sarah Harding, a 21-year-old from Greater Manchester, after voting lines were kept open until the final moments.

The claims gathered momentum as more listeners to London radio station Capital FM phoned the station with similar stories.

Justin King, news editor at Capital Radio, said: "Presenter Chris Brooks was talking about Popstars when he started receiving calls from listeners saying they had dialled the number to vote for Javine but heard a recorded message saying thank you for voting for Sarah.

"Some people said they had tried again and again - stoking up votes for Sarah.

"More and more people then called in to the show reporting the same problem. We have now received about twenty calls."

A listener said: "It said 'thank you for calling you have voted for Sarah' so I tried again and the same thing happened."

A spokesperson from Popstars: The Rivals said: "We take this matter seriously and we are investigating the claims at the moment."

Sarah joined 17-year-old Nicola Roberts from Runcorn; Cheryl Tweedy, 19, from Newcastle; Kimberly Walsh, 20, from Bradford; and 17-year-old Nadine Coyle from Derry in the new band called Girls Aloud.

The public voted to keep Cheryl, Nicola, Nadine, Kimberley and Sarah in Girls Aloud.

Javine was voted off on the live programme.

Geri said she was suprised to see the two who she thought were the strongest performers on the night left as the pair with the fewest votes.

The band will release Sound Of The Underground as their debut single in a bid to get to the top of the UK charts in time to be Christams number one.

The boys' group, called One True Voice, was decided on last week's show.

Their single, a cover of the Bee Gees' Sacred Trust, will go head-to-head with the girls in the Christmas charts.

Their debut single Sound Of The Underground is described as "feisty and sexy" and very different to anything they've performed on the show so far.

On Saturday, the final line-up for the band will be decided live on ITV1 with one of the remaining six hopefuls voted off the show.

The boys' group, called One True Voice, was decided on last week's show.

Their single, a cover of the Bee Gees' Sacred Trust, will go head-to-head with the girls in the Christmas charts.

It takes in dates at Birmingham NEC, London Arena, Wembley, Glasgow SECC Newcastle Arena, Manchester Arena and Sheffield Arena.

Tickets, priced £25, go on sale on Monday December 2.

This Saturday sees the final girl band chosen on the ITV show.

Popstars: The Rivals dates are:

February 28 - Birmingham NEC.
March 3 - London Arena.
March 7 - Glasgow SECC.
March 12 - Wembley Arena.
March 17 - Sheffield Arena.
March 19 - Newcastle Telewest Arena.
March 21 - Manchester Evening News Arena.

They took a break from rehearsals for this Saturday's final show to meet patients at London's Middlesex Hospital.

Geri brought pet dog Harry along for the occasion and spent two hours chatting to the youngsters, many of whom have been undergoing months of gruelling cancer treatment.

Some of them seemed more excited about meeting Harry than they did about being introduced to the former Spice Girl.

As Popstars judge Geri chatted to five-year-old Samuel Sherkartchi, from Edgware in north London, he interrupted her to ask: "Where did you get your puppy from?"

She also met wheelchair-bound Robbie Kemp, 12, from Islington, north London, telling him: "I know a Robbie and he's got big blue eyes just like you."

The visit was organised by Cancer Research UK to launch its Children's Cancer Awareness Month, which runs through December.

Both bands will appear at the club at London's Astoria two days before their debut singles are released.

One True Voice, the boys' band, are expected to perform their single, a cover of the Bee Gee's Sacred Heart.

The as yet unnamed girls' band will sing their first single, the double A-sided Stay Another Day and Sound.

They will appear on December 14.

The band, which have been named One True Voice, will be managed by Waterman.

He says he is "ecstatic" with his band, adding that in 40 years in the music business he has not worked with any stars better than the boys.

The band will go head-to head with the show's rival girl band in the race for Christmas number one.

They will release their own version of the Bee Gee's Sacred Trust.

Waterman said: "If this goes in at number two I will commit suicide. I have got to beat Louis Walsh."

He says the double-A side single will not be a cover but the band's own interpretation of the song, which he described as "amazing" when he first heard it.

The other song will be called Long After You're Gone, written by Waterman and band member Daniel Pearce.

Daniel said: "This is the beginning of something great for us all.

"We are really excited and hoping to have lots of number one hits, best selling albums and platinum discs all the way."

Chris Park and Jamie Shaw were left chasing the last place in the five-strong band as voting lines remained open to the end of the live ITV1 show.

But the Newcastle customer services worker failed to secure sufficient viewer support with his rendition of A Little Help From My Friends.

Producers feared the pressure of getting so close to making it only to be rejected at the very end and on live TV might be too much pressure for the failed finalist.

But Chris remained up-beat as he sang his farewell song and said: "I just want to thank everybody for giving me this opportunity."

Keith Semple was first to be told he had made it through to the band. "I can't believe I'm in this", he told Davina McCall.

Matt Johnson was second to be told he had made it through. He promptly burst into tears. Next up was Daniel Pearce who was given a standing ovation by the audience.

Anton Gordon was the fourth boy to be told he had made it through, like Matt he burst into tears. "It's the best feeling ever" he said.

One True Voice will release a single rumoured to be a copy of a Bee Gees hit to compete with the, as yet, undecided girl-band for the Christmas number one slot.

Over two million votes were cast by the public in phone vote.

She spent two days away from the house that the girls share after a doctor signed her off sick with stress.

Nadine spent her time staying at the home of her boyfriend, Charlton Athletic's Neil McCafferty.

Last week she admitted to bursting into tears minutes before taking to the stage in the ITV1 show.

He describes her as a lovely person and says he has a very good relationship with her.

He told Sneak magazine: "She's honest, thoughtful and very kind. Looks-wise, she's absolutely perfect."

But his appreciation of Cheryl hasn't stopped him claiming that the boys' band will easily beat the girls to the Christmas number one.

He commented: "Everyone's saying the girls can't beat our single - and we're much more talented than them."

As already revealed it features a cover of East 17's Stay Another Day coupled with a brand new track called Sounds Of The Underground.

The 17-year-old was kicked out of the contest, leaving just six girls left to battle it out to be in the final five in the girl group who will take on the boys in the festive charts.

In what was described as the closest public vote so far, Aimee, from Southport, Merseyside, performed the Motown classic You Keep Me Hanging On.

Popstars judge Louis Walsh, who told Aimee she looked like a "baby popstar" after her performance, was clearly shocked when presenter Davina McCall announced the result of the vote.

He later confessed that he thought Aimee had been a dead cert for the final band.

In a very emotional show, in which many of the nervous contestants broke down in tears, judge Pete Waterman pleaded with the girls to relax and enjoy themselves.

"It's about entertainment, it's not a matter of life and death," he said.

Next week another one of the boys will be kicked off the show, leaving the final five who will make up the winning boy group.

Last Saturday saw the lads playing as a live band with an electric cover of Prince's hit 1999.

And their next show, on November 23, will see them performing a live acoustic set, complete with backing tracks and acappellas.

Pete said: "We want to do an acoustic set. Because we're all exhausted I said to the lads let's do three with backing tracks and three acappella with either a guitar or piano alone.

"People like to see this kind of performance and the boys are capable of pulling it off.

"The opening song is quite unusual and very different from what we've done so far but that's all I'm saying."

This week's show, on ITV on Saturday at 7pm, sees a performance from the remaining seven girls.

The judges have become reknowned for their rivalry on the ITV talent show.

Pete says he doesn't understand why Louis is always poking fun at him in front of the show's viewers.

The 21-year-old model from Cheshire sang Lionel Richie's song Hello.

Mathew Johnson was also left on stage with Davina ahead of the final decision.

Pete Waterman said it was a big shock to see the pair left as the two with the fewest votes from the public.

He will be giving his opinion on the remaining contestants on the ITV show, and offering words of advice.

Fans can also ask the singer questions in Popstars extra show on ITV2.

Louis says the Geordie singer is too cocky, "totally out of his depth" and has no star quality.

Chris will be put to the public vote on the ITV show this Saturday along with the remaining six male finalists.

Walsh says Chris was too cocky the first time the boys performed live and too nervous during their second show.

He tells Sneak magazine he hopes Chris doesn't make it through to the final five.

"Chris is totally out of his depth and has no star quality, so he would be no good in the final band," said Walsh.

"We want a first division boy band and Chris is only fit for the second division!"

Chris tells the official Popstars website that he's worried Walsh's remarks might turn the show's audience against him.

"But I think I've always been one of the underdogs so I just get on with it and try my best," he added.

Jagger says he thinks the shows are "quite fun".

Last week Robbie Williams attacked the shows saying they were "cruel" and "messed with people's lives".

Northamptonshire 19-year-old Emma Beard's rendition of Be My Baby failed to win over the public.

Meanwhile, Chloe Staines, 18, from Essex, sang Rescue Me. Her performance also failed to impress viewers of the programme.

After learning her fate, an emotional Emma reprised Be My Baby again through the tears, whilst Chloe was philosophical about her defeat, and vowed not to return to waitressing before again singing her song for the night, Rescue Me.

The remaining girls wiped away the tears on the sofa, before consoling Emma and Chloe on-stage.

Louis made his comment after Williams said shows like Fame Academy and Popstars: The Rivals were "cruel television f***ing with people's lives for entertainment".

Louis Walsh had claimed Waterman knew days earlier that Peter was going to make the announcement and had engineered the "shock" confession.

But Waterman denies he knew anything about it and says Walsh wants to discredit the boy band.

Viewers saw Peter make a tearful confession that he was too old to be in the boy band, live on ITV1.

Producers of the show say they were not aware of the news until the cameras began rolling.

But Louis claims the 25-year-old hopeful told Pete Waterman the news himself days earlier and had engineered the "shock" confession.

The singer describes the shows as "cruelty dressed up as entertainment".

He added that it's cruel to make the Popstars' loser perform one last time, when they know they've been knocked out.

Speaking at his exclusive London gig, he said: "I've nothing against anyone following their dreams - but not if they're crap.

"There's a lot of talent but it's such cruel television - f***ing with people's lives for entertainment. But it's great TV."

Williams' performance has been recorded for a BBC special to be shown next month.

He says it was "brilliant" to be performing again for the first time in 12 months, which he added felt like an "eternity".

And he reassured fans he has no plans to quit the UK for tax purposes.

"I would never ever do a tax year out - it's only money and I love Britain," said the Stoke-born star, who has spent much of the year living in Los Angeles working on his forthcoming album.

He also told of his pride that relatives of Rat Pack-era legends had been impressed with his stab at the big band sound with his Swing When You're Winning album.

Peter stunned producers on Saturday night when he admitted he was two months too old to take part in the show.

He told them he had doctored a Student Union card to say he was only 23 when he was really 25.

It's thought a number of record companies are interested in signing Peter despite his deception.

He says he doesn't want to profit from his deception and has vowed not to sign a recording deal for at least a year.

Peter left the show's presenter Davina McCall stunned during the live results show when he said he was two months over the age limit.

Under programme rules, contestants could not be older than 24 at the beginning of July.

Two out of the nine male hopefuls were up for eviction and Nick Mager from Halifax was the other wannabe picked to leave.

A Granada spokesman said: "We admire Peter for his honesty. He couldn't bear to see any two of his bandmates be evicted and decided to do the decent thing and confess to his real age."

He added that the show's judges, including Pete Waterman and Geri Halliwell, were devastated at the news the 25-year-old Dubliner is too old for the show.

She has recently split up with her boyfriend of five years and reckons men are just a distraction.

The hopeful has been described by judge Geri Halliwell as "the new Whitney Houston."

Javine says: "I'm glad I'm single. Men like to be in control. Dealing with someone else's ego would just be too much."

She adds that she is determined to pick her own songs to sing on the live shows, saying she knows what sounds best for her voice.

The band will release Stay Another Day as their debut single.

It will be a double A-side with a specially written song for the group.

She has been dating Stockport County player Martin Pemberton for over two years.

But the singing hopeful says judge Louis Walsh doesn't want any of the finalists dating footballers or popstars.

Linzi Brown, 19, who was the first girl voted off the programme said: "We knew what was going on from the beginning."

In fact, she said, the publicity from the competition would be a massive boost to her continuing dream of making it in the music business.

The student, from Manchester, added: "I don't feel exploited in any sense. People in a band don't get so much exposure."

She was disagreeing with claims by 19-year-old Nicola Ward, who stormed off the programme last week saying contract demands by producers were outrageous.

Linzi added: "I feel great. I am feeling very positive. I have had a fantastic experience. Obviously I am going to keep trying.

"Obviously I was disappointed but I didn't think I would get as far as this. I was just happy to meet all the people that I met."

Louis Walsh, one of the show's judges, said he was sure she would go on to be successful.

He said: "I'm disappointed we lost Linzi. I didn't think we were going to. She reminds me of Dani Behr.

"She is great. We think she has got what it takes. She would be amazing in a group like the Spice Girls. I think she will be in a successful band."

The pair met during audition for the ITV talent contest and have been in contact ever since.

And Judge Louis Walsh has given the relationship his blessing.

He said: "Jacob is a great lad who works hard, he called me up the other day because he wants to be in a boy band."

Cheryl is in the final nine girls in the competition, while Jacob made it to the London callbacks before being rejected.

She had become firm friends with Linzi since the 10 girls moved into the Popstars house together two weeks ago.

Upon learning she was to be the first female evictee, Linzi mentioned Nadine and how much she was going to miss her.

She also paid tribute to Kimberley, who she made feel at home when she was first moved into the Popstars girl's house.

The Manchester girl sang the Lisa Stansfield hit Been Around the World but the judges said she should have chosen something simpler.

Geri also said she looked uncomfortable in heels before the blonde revealed they were actually two sizes too big for her.

Linzi said later: "I think I could have done better."

None of the female competitors knew who had lost the phone vote and many were in tears after the verdict.

Both the boys and girls face being eliminated one by one until just five of each remain to form the final two bands.

They live in two luxury mansions under the watchful eye of TV cameras.

After each solo performance, the judges, Louis Walsh, Pete Waterman and Geri Halliwell, gave their own verdicts on how well the contestants had done - then the public decided.

The boys will sing live next week.

The boys saw their first eviction when Andrew left last week.

Chloe is the favourite to leave in an ITV poll of viewers.

Nadine is seen as the least likely to go.

The contestant, who replaced Hazel in the house a fortnight ago, has a slight sore throat.

But she says she should be able to give a full performance on the ITV show this Saturday at 8.25pm.

This week sees the 10 girls singing live before being put to the public vote.

Fellow contestant Nadine said she had mixed emotions about Saturday.

"I'm really looking forward to it but also dreading it at the same time. The boys did brilliantly but it was all so emotional," she said.

Nicola Roberts thought she was on the ITV show to talk about her experience of rejection, after making it to the final 15.

But she burst into tears when she heard the news that she was to join the nine female finalists in the house tonight.

Judge Louis Walsh said it was great to have Nicola back.

"She's very shy and very introverted but she's an amazing singer," he said.

Nicola Ward quit the show at the weekend, claiming TV bosses were trying to make her "sign her life away."

Dane Bowers and Hayley Evetts will reveal the female contestant on ITV1 at 5.05pm.

She has been chosen from one of the hopefuls who didn't make it to the final 20 on the TV talent show.

Nicola quit the show at the weekend, claiming TV bosses were trying to make her "sign her life away."

She is now planning to embark upon a solo career.

Ward has decided to quit the show, saying she was unhappy with living conditions at the house the girls share and the money she would receive if she made it into the final band.

Waterman says he was surprised she made it to the final 10.

The 24-year-old from Hampshire received fewest votes in the viewers' phone poll making him the first to lose out in the battle to be in the boy band.

He said: "Everybody was fantastic last night. Watching them all I don't think anyone could have told who was going to go.

"I won't give up on my singing career. I am going to wait and see what happens this week but I will probably go away and get some sun."

He added that the boys had not as yet discussed plans to form a rival band once the five winners had been decided: "Everybody is shocked that someone has gone, but we haven't talked about forming our own band as yet."

He said: "Last night was the hardest part because it was on live TV and everybody is watching for your reaction. I just hope I get a second chance and won't have so many nerves."

Waterman said he would not rule out bringing back an ousted contestant as a "wild card" in the final episode of the series if he believed the candidate had not recognised his full potential.

Two hopefuls would then be voted off instead of one. He added: "I still haven't said whether we are going to have three, four or five in the boy band and I have leeway because if one is voted off I can still pull him back."

He described his time in the luxury mansion: "The first two weeks of being there everybody forgot what they were there for. It was just like living with a group of good friends, but in the last few weeks everybody was starting to get tense."

In the show, the final 10 boys all sang solo to try to win the viewers' support.

Andrew's version of It's Hard To Say I Am Sorry failed to impress enough of the audience to secure his survival for another show.

It comes just one week before the ten girls make their first live performances to the nation.

The 24-year-old lost out to Chris Park by 5,341 votes in the public phone poll.

Geri Halliwell tried to soften the blow by telling him: "There are no losers here. I think it all just comes down to taste."

In the show the final 10 boys all sang solo in a bid to win the viewers' support.

But Andrew's version of It's Hard To Say I'm Sorry failed to impress enough of the audience to secure his survival for another show.

The programme, presented by Davina McCall, opened with all 10 boys performing their version of the Beach Boys' I Get Around.

After each solo performance, judges Louis Walsh, Pete Waterman and Geri Halliwell gave their own verdicts on how well the contestants had done.

Next week it is the final 10 girls' turn to face their first live solo performances.

Both the boys and the girls face being eliminated one by one until just five of each remain to form the final two bands.

All 10 male contestants will sing live during tonight's show.

The public will then vote for their favourite and the one with the least votes will be axed.

According to Eurobet, Semple, 20, is 11/4 favourite to be voted off.

In joint second place is Jamie Shaw, 17, from Barry, Wales and Michael Green, 21, a model from Cheshire who both have odds of 7/2.

The bookmakers believe Daniel Pearce, 23, from Ashford, is the least likely to go with odds of 20/1.

The girls face the same situation the following week.

Eurobet says Chloe Staines, 18, a student from Chelmsford and Nicola Ward, 19, from Surrey, are joint favourites to be voted off at 5/2.

The contestant, who is currently single, says the press reports are completely unfair and exaggerated.

He is set to face the public vote this Saturday along with the other nine male finalists.

"I'm absolutely gutted and I hope that people won't be taken in by it," he says.

"I just want to have a fair crack at this and hope that people will judge me on my singing and not what they've read in the papers.

"So far the reaction I've received has been phenomenal and I'd like to say thanks to everyone who's been supporting me so far. It's been amazing and I hope it will continue. Fingers crossed for Saturday night."

The 23-year-old performing arts student was pinned to the ground by his motorbike when a car hit him in a crash.

He suffered a smashed left knee and leg, and doctors warned he would walk with a bad limp.

But five years on, his singing and dancing has won him a place in the final ten lads vying to form a boy band in the ITV1 show.

Andrew Coleman, from Liverpool, sparked rows between talent judges Pete Waterman and Louis Walsh over whether his disability should rule him out of the ITV1 show.

He was eventually axed from the show but producer Robin Millar stepped in to help him fulfil his dreams as they appeared together on Radio 4's In Touch show.

Millar, who is also blind but has worked with Everything But The Girl and Sade, said he had been overwhelmed after hearing Coleman's voice on Popstars: The Rivals.

"When I heard Andrew I got goosepimples - and other people phoned me and told me they had had tears in their eyes," he said.

Coleman, 17, who has glaucoma which seriously impairs his vision, performed Queen's Crazy Little Thing Called Love on In Touch.

Afterwards, Millar said: "I'm going to ask Andrew if he wants to do some work with me in the studio to develop three master quality tracks and with a bit of luck and with a bit of help from my friends, have the record out for Christmas."

Coleman - who made the last 34 on Popstars - said: "That's great."

The singer, who gave birth to a baby boy last week, was eliminated from the competition for being ten days over the age limit.

But she says the judges' decision means she is destined to become a solo artist.

She is now planning to take the rest of the year off before starting work in January.

"Obviously at first I was devastated by the fact I wasn't going to be in the final ten," she told Heat magazine.

"But the more I thought about it, the more I realised it was a positive thing actually. As far as I'm concerned this has happened for a reason.

"Polydor Records are interested in me; they have been from the start of the auditions.

"The actual offer hasn't come in yet, but I'm sure it will. At this stage I'm getting offers from everywhere too but the baby is the priority at the moment."

All 10 will sing live during the Saturday night show.

The public will then vote for their favourite and the one with the least votes will be axed.

The girls face the same situation the week after.

The identities of 20 hopefuls chosen to go through to the final stage of ITV1's Popstars: The Rivals have been revealed to the nation.

Ten boys and 10 girls - picked from thousands of wannabes - will now battle it out for a place in a boy-band and a girl-band, to be created at the end of the series.

Judges Geri Halliwell, Louis Walsh and Pete Waterman visited all the lucky finalists at their homes to break the news.

The 20 finalists are set to live in two luxury mansions under the watchful eye of TV cameras.

Starting next week, their fate will be in the hands of the viewers who will choose the final line-up of the bands.

First up are the 10 boys who will perform live on Saturday October 12. A second show later in the evening will reveal which one is to be booted off.

The girls perform the following week and will alternate with the boys until viewers have decided the bands' final line-ups.

The two bands will simultaneously release singles and will battle it out for the chance to reach the top spot in the charts.

Meet the BOYS ...

The 20 finalists are:

Daniel Pearce, 23, a musician from Ashford, Kent
Jamie Shaw, 17, from Barry, Wales
Andrew Kinlochan, 23, a singer from Hampshire
Anton Gordon, 19, a singer from north London
Matthew Johnson, 16, a singer from Chester
Keith Semple, 20, a musician from Northern Ireland
Nikk Mager, 18, a cabaret singer from Halifax
Michael Green, 21, a model from Cheshire
Chris Park, 20, who works in customer service, from Newcastle upon Tyne
Peter Smith, 23, a student from Dublin
Chloe Staines, 18, a student from Chelmsford
Nicola Ward, 19, from Surrey
Cheryl Tweedy, 19, from Newcastle upon Tyne
Emma Beard, 18, a student from Northampton
Sarah Harding, 20, a waitress from Stockport
Lynsey Brown, 19, a student from Manchester
Aimee Kearsley, 16, a student from Southport
Nadine Coyle, 17, from Dublin
Javine Hylton, 20, a singer from London
Kimberley Walsh, 20, from Bradford

Hazel gave birth to a baby boy weighing 8lbs 4ozs, at a hospital in her hometown of Dublin.

The 25-year-old Irish woman became an overnight star after auditioning for TV's Popstars: The Rivals while eight months pregnant.

Hazel said: "I'm absolutely exhausted, it was quite a long labour, but I'm absolutely delighted. I've got a beautiful, healthy baby boy. It's all been worth it."

Her long term partner and father of her son, Bryan, was at the bedside at the National Maternity Hospital.

Hazel won an army of admirers, including judges Geri Halliwell and Louis Walsh, when she sang Joan Armatrading's Love and Affection at the Glasgow Auditions in August.

Despite objections from the other judge Pete Waterman, she was chosen to go through to the next round of auditions and made it through to the final 10, five of which will form two rival boy and girl bands.

But Hazel was later booted off the show - for being 10 days too old. All the contestants had to be 24 or under on July 1.

Hazel later said it was a relief to be out of the girl group and would continue to pursue her dreams of stardom - despite becoming a new mum.

"After I have given birth and rested for a few months I'm going to start a solo career," she said after being rejected from the show.

Hazel was told earlier this week she was being dropped from the final ten girls because she was out of the age range of the group.

Viewers will see Walsh and fellow judge Geri Halliwell tell her the news in a special show on Sunday night.

But Walsh has criticised the show's producers over the decision saying it was "a way to get rid of her".

Pregnant Hazel was ousted from the show for being 10 days too old.

Judges Geri Halliwell and Louis Walsh fly to Dublin to tell Hazel she has been axed, in an ITV special this Sunday at 7pm.

The documentary will also feature her replacement, which producers are keeping under wraps.

Contestants have to be aged between 16 and 24 on July 1, but Hazel turned 25 on June 20.

The 30 contestants on Popstars: The Rivals will be whittled down to 20 on this Saturday's show.

After ten votes and evictions, the final line-ups will each release a single in a fight to get a Christmas No1.

Ten girls and ten boys will enter the two rented homes to compete for a place in the five-piece bands. Each £2million Surrey mansion has a Jacuzzi and pool where the wannabes can relax, or, more likely, pose.

Hazel, who is due to give birth any day, is 10 days too old for the show.

Viewers will see her make it into the final ten girls in this Saturday's show. But an extra show will be screened on Sunday with judges Geri Halliwell and Louis Walsh flying to Dublin to tell Hazel she has been axed.

Sarah's picture appeared in the High Street Honeys contest to find Britain's sexiest girl next door.

The contestant was eliminated from the Irish version of Popstars for lying about her age.

She made it to the final stages of the Irish show but was thrown out for being two years short of the age limit of 18.

But when she arrived at the Popstars: The Rivals auditions, Louis told his fellow judges: "This is my girl, Nadine was in my band in Ireland.

"I won't let her escape. She's got star quality."

Gareth says he expects the hype around the two groups to guarantee one of them the Christmas number one.

He says he watched the first edition of the show and thinks there is a lot of talent in the UK.

Waterman says he only speaks to Walsh because he is a good manager.

The pair were seen arguing in Saturday's edition of Popstars: The Rivals and Walsh has accused Waterman of trying to take over the auditions for the shows.

The first show featured a huge row between judges Geri Halliwell and Pete Waterman.

Unofficial figures showed it had an audience of 7.4 million viewers.

Pop Idol attracted up to 12 million viewers.

Ladbrokes has the unnamed act as evens to be the big festive hit, while Coral puts the band at 5-4.

Viewers will be able to see the search for the band, and an all-girl group, when the show launches on Saturday on ITV1.

The girl group is second favourite to take the coveted Christmas spot, while Gareth Gates is ranked third.

"We haven't seen them, we certainly haven't heard them, but having had our fingers seriously burnt by both Will and Gareth topping the charts, we've got no choice but to make the boys red hot favourites to blitz their rivals in the race for Christmas number one," said Ladbrokes spokesman Sean Boyce.

His firm puts the girl group's chances at 4-1 while Coral has them at 5-2.

Chart expert Gennaro Castaldo of retailer HMV said: "It won't just be down to the hype and the novelty factor - what's just as crucial is the timing.

"Bringing out a release as close to the Christmas chart week as possible will ensure that it is not hijacked at the eleventh hour by another band who have a similarly huge fanbase.

"This could be one of the most exciting Christmas chart battles in a long time."

The boys have long been thought to have a stronger chance than the girls as they are more likely to win the hearts of the predominantly female audience of young record buyers.

The pair will front digital channel ITV2's programme Popstars: The Rivals Extra when the series begins on Saturday.

Evetts made it to the last five on Pop Idol and has since helped out on ITV1's This Morning.

She said: "Having been involved in Popstars and Pop Idol, I think I have a unique insight into this fantastic event and can help ease some of the singers' tensions."

"Being behind the scenes this time round, I hope to give the performers some sound advice, or a shoulder to cry on," she added.

As the series progresses viewers will see interviews with the lucky final few as they live together, as well as video diaries in which they talk about their hopes and fears.

Davina McCall will present coverage on the ITV1 version of the show.

The pair say the band are finished and the judges on the first series of the show picked the wrong people.

Walsh, who managed Boyzone and Westlife, said he would not have chosen any of Hear'Say to be in a band.

Hazel Kaneswaran from Dublin impressed judges at a Glasgow audition even though she is more than seven months pregnant.

It means she is likely to give birth around the time the ITV1 show is on air.

Emma Beard, 18, and Anton Gordon, 19, were picked to go through to the next round of the series after the first open audition for the series.

But selection panelist Pete Waterman admitted that from the people he had seen "there were no Gareth Gates who walked through the door".

Emma, who sang the Atomic Kitten hit Whole Again for judges Waterman, Louis Walsh and Geri Halliwell, said she would celebrate tonight by going out with her friends in Northampton, where she lives.

"I really don't know why I've been chosen," she added, "I went in there and thought 'let's just go for it'."

She said Halliwell had asked her if she thought she was strong enough and she replied: "I am here so I am strong enough and brave enough."

Anton, from Neasden, north-west London, became the second successful contestant after singing R Kelly's I Believe I Can I Fly.

"The judges said I had a very controlled voice and handled a difficult song well, and that I had a lot of confidence," he said.

"Geri liked it the most. She was smiling and asking the most questions," he added.

Pete Waterman revealed some familiar faces had cropped up at the audition: "I have seen about 20 people from Pop Idol and two whose names I remembered. They were all better than they were before but there is no-one that did what Darius did and re-invented himself."

A group of hopefuls greeted her as she arrived at the auditions at Wembley Conference Centre.

They had failed even to make it through a screening audition to be seen by the show's judges.

McCall told them: "It might be because of your look but unfortunately it is the business we are in.

"I would love to judge you, but I know nothing - but I can give you a big hug if that makes you feel better."

Danielle Fairchild, 17, from Pitsea, said: "No Wonder Liberty X lost out last time. Hear'say have got no talent."

A spokesman for Popstars said: "These open auditions were held as a result of many hundreds of calls we received after launching the show.

"Unfortunately the deadline for registering had closed so we decided to open some open auditions to give people a second chance to enter.

"There will be people from the room that will get through and the best of luck to them."

Austin Hardiman, 23, from Shepherds Bush, one of those who did get through, said: "I'm pretty stoked. It's very cut-throat in there."

The hopefuls will be aiming impress judges Geri Halliwell, Pete Waterman and Louis Walsh in a bid to become the next chart sensation.

Auditions for Popstars: The Rivals were initially supposed to be by invitation only but since the show's high-profile launch last week it has been inundated with calls from people who missed the final deadline.

As a result the producers decided to hold two open auditions - with the first at Wembley Conference Centre today, open to anyone aged between 16 and 24.

The second will be next Friday at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester.

Doors will open at 8.30am with people being seen on a first come, first served basis.

Popstars: The Rivals follows in the footsteps of the first series which created Hear'Say and Liberty X and will be presented by Big Brother host Davina McCall.

This time, the ITV show will produce a girl band a boy band who will battle it out for the number one spot.

The judges will pick a final shortlist of 10 boys and 10 girls who will live in two Big Brother-style houses under the watchful eye of the TV cameras. Viewers will take part in phone votes to evict one boy and one girl each week.

Walsh will then manage the girl-band and Waterman will mastermind the boy-band as they go head-to-head in the race for the Christmas No 1.

One hopeful claims Geri insulted her by saying she was "larger than life."

But the Westlife manager says the only person who has been making any snide remarks is him.

She has already upset one size 16 hopeful who claims she called her 'larger than life' in a sarcastic way.

Carol Lynch from Basildon in Essex has made comments about Geri's figure in return, saying she has the figure of an 8-year-old.

Geri had promised to be "honest but with compassion" when dealing with the pop wannabes.

She joined Pete Waterman and Westlife manager Louis Walsh on the first day of auditions for the series. Four hundred hopefuls queued for hours for the chance to strut their stuff in front of the judges.

Ms Lynch claims Geri Halliwell made a jibe about her weight.

The shop assistant from Basildon, Essex said: "When I finished singing, Pete or Louis said I was a larger-than-life character."

She went on: "Then Geri said: 'yeah, very larger than life' in a sarky way.

"I was all smiles and just walked out, but I couldn't believe it."

But Carol added: "She looks like a child. She's got the figure of an eight-year-old. I'm not eating food and throwing it up in a toilet for anyone."

Another open audition for the TV talent show will be held at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester on Friday August 16.

Today 400 hopefuls turned up to invitation-only auditions in front of judges Geri Halliwell, Pete Waterman and Westlife manager Louis Walsh.

They were selected to attend the Wembley venue after sending in audition tapes.

Halliwell had earlier promised to handle the wannabes with tact and compassion.

But one, Carol Lynch, 19, claimed the former Spice Girl made a cruel jibe about her weight during her audition.

The size-16 shop assistant from Basildon, Essex said: "When I finished singing, Pete or Louis said I was a larger-than-life character.

"Then Geri said: 'yeah, very larger than life' in a sarky way."

Referring to Halliwell's much-publicised eating disorders, Carol said: "She looks like a child: She's got the figure of an eight-year-old. I'm not eating food and throwing it up in a toilet for anyone."

Popstars: The Rivals will create one boy band and one girl band who will battle it out for the Christmas number one.

Hundreds of hopefuls are expected to perform in front of Geri Halliwell, Pete Waterman and Louis Walsh.

The auditions starting today are strictly by invitation only.

Thousands turned up at mass auditions for the first series and many had to be turned away because there was not enough time to see them all.

This time wannabes have already sent in recordings of themselves singing and around 350 have been invited.

Other auditions will be held later this month in Manchester and Glasgow.

The new series is called Popstars: The Rivals and will create not one but two groups - a girl band and a boy band - who will go head to head for the Christmas number one spot.

Ten boys and 10 girls, shortlisted by the judges, will live in two Big Brother-style houses under the watchful eye of the TV cameras.

As in the Channel 4 reality show, viewers will then take part in a phone vote to evict one boy and one girl.

Myleene Klass says Halliwell shouldn't be allowed to put together a new band because she instigated the Spice Girls split.

Hear'Say were speaking on online celebrity chat show AOL Live this morning.

Myleene said "I'd find it quite ironic auditioning for Geri Halliwell. She instigated the split with the Spice Girls. I don't know that she's the right person."

Hear'Say colleague Noel Sullivan said: "I don't see how you can be a judge about putting a band together when you're the person who walked out of it."

Danny Foster agreed with his two bandmates.

He said: "It sums up how it's going. Before, the judges were record company executive and management companies."

Myleene added: "Now it's the blind leading the blind."

And Noel finished by saying: "...and they might not necessarily be so talented themselves."

Davina McCall will front Popstars: The Rivals, which will see a girl band and a boy band battling it out for a number one chart hit.

Louis, best known for managing bands like Boyzone and Westlife, will join Pete and Geri judging thousands of hopefuls at auditions in London, Manchester and Glasgow, while Davina brings viewers behind-the-scenes action.

They will then pick a shortlist of ten girls and ten boys who will live together Big Brother-style in two neighbouring houses.

Viewers will then vote to evict a girl and a boy each week until they settle on the final band line-up.

The show is scheduled to be broadcast on ITV1 this autumn.

The former Spice Girl is thought to have been offered £550,000 to join Pete Waterman on Popstars: The Rivals.

The pair will each choose the members of their bands and launch them on the path to fame, according to reports.

Auditions for the new series of the ITV show begin in August, with broadcast scheduled for this autumn.

A spokeswoman for Geri confirmed to the Daily Mail she had been offered the job but said: "Nothing has been signed yet."

An official statement is expected from programme makers LWT in the next two weeks.

Auditions for Popstars: The Rivals will take place across the UK in August, with the show being broadcast in the autumn.

Names in contention to be on the judging panel include Pete Waterman, Chris Evans, Ulrika Jonsson, Davina McCall and Sara Cox .

The presenter has been out of the limelight for a year after marrying Billie Piper.

The ITV talent show will return in the autumn.

Cat Deeley and Sara Cox are also said to be in the running to present the second series of the show.

The series is expected to search for two bands, one all female and one all male, depending on how talented the people who audition are.

The series will run for 17 weeks over the summer and the public will help decide who gets into the bands.

They will also help chose the bands' names, reports the Daily Express.

The initial rounds of auditions for the show are expected to begin in the next few months.

He is too busy running the company that produced Pop Idol to reprise his role on the show.

Lythgoe left LWT to join 19 TV last spring.

He has recently overseen the production of Pop Idol, which went on to become even more successful than Popstars.

He is currently talking to the show's producers about the possibility.

Popstars 2 is expected to begin production in March, with the auditions likely to follow in May.

Lythgoe says he will be available if his work on Pop Idol doesn't get in the way.