The official line-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2024 has started coming through, which if you ask us, is a bit depressing. While we love us some Strictly here at heat Towers, we associate the annual line-up announcement with the end of summer, which in early August, when we've had about three and a half minutes of sunshine this year is, yeah, depressing.
Saying that, the line-up thus far couldn't be further from the word depressing; as the BBC have so far confirmed the likes of Love Island 2022 finalist Tasha Ghouri ('but she can dance' rhetoric is not welcome here, btw), TOWIE bad boy Pete Wicks, and popular JLS member, JB Gill.
Woah, remember JLS? We obviously do, because we're paid to use 65% of our brain storage for nostalgic hun and pop bands trivia, but just in case you don't work for heatworld and need a refresh, here's everything you could possibly need to not come last in a JLS pub quiz.
Who are JLS?
From coming runners-up to Alexandra Burke on The X Factor series in 2008, getting many number one singles then splitting up in 2013 (let's marvel at the fact that that was over a decade ago), JLS were quite the band.
Even though we were upset when they took a break, we're not going to lie they still make our hearts Beat Again (get it?) all these years later.
They're mainly known for their hits but remember when they released their ICONIC coloured hoodies that everyone wanted to get their hands on? Or their branded condoms? Yep. What a time.
The boys embarked on a successful reunion tour in October and November 2021, then in February 2023, the group confirmed another tour - the Everybody Say JLS: The Hits Tour in Autumn 2023. The 2023 tour began in October in Dublin and finished in November at Sheffield.
As amazing as that was, we haven't thought much about them since (although apparently they're back on tour AGAIN - keep reading) – apart from Marvin Humes, as he records his KISS and KISSTORY radio shows literally down the hall from heat Towers every week. We're bezzies.
But JB Gill's exciting Strictly news has got us thinking about JLS and what the heck the four members are up to in 2024...
CHECK OUT: JLS' transformation - then and now
JLS: where are they now?
1 of 9Oritsé Williams then
Oritsé Williams was known for being the founding member of JLS, initially calling the group UFO aka Unique Famous Outrageous. This changed to JLS aka Jack the Lad Swing as another group was already called UFO.
2 of 9Oritsé Williams now
Six months after JLS splitting up, Oritsé took part in Stepping Out with then-girlfriend AJ Azari. They went on to win the show in September 2013, beating Brian McFadden and his then-wife Vogue in the final. He then took on a solo career and released his debut album Waterline in 2015. TRIGGER WARNING: SA In September 2018, Oritsé was charged with the rape of a fan in Wolverhampton, something Oritsé denied. In 2019, a jury deliberated for around two hours before unanimously acquitting Williams of all charges.
3 of 9JB Gill then
JB Gill was definitely the heartthrob of the group, everyone fancied him tbh. Oh, who are we kidding? We fancied them all.
4 of 9JB Gill now
Since the group split up in 2013, JB released a debut solo single for which he teamed up with DJ Charlie Hedges. He also took part in a fair few TV shows such as Celebrity MasterChef in 2014, series two of The Jump in 2015, Who's Doing the Dishes? in 2016, and Dance Dance Dance in 2017 - coming third place with his wife. JB is also an established presenter, having presented on CBeebies, Countryfile and Songs of Praise over the last decade. In 2014, he married backing dancer Chloe Tangney and they now have two children together.
In August 2024 the BBC confirmed that he would be taking place in Strictly Come Dancing.
5 of 9Aston Merrygold then
Aston was known for being the baby of the group - he is the youngest member and joined the group when he was only 20 years old.
6 of 9Aston Merrygold now
Aston started a solo career in 2015. Two years later he took part in series 15 of Strictly in 2017. Aston went out of the competition in week seven, coming tenth place with his partner Janette Manrara. However, he appeared on the Strictly Christmas Special and reunited with his partner, winning the show in 2018. Aston has become part of a CBBC series Almost Never which aired in 2019. He then went on to do a tour of Rip It Up in 2019 - starring Jay McGuiness, Louis Smith and Harry Judd. From 2020 to 2021 Aston competed in the ITV series The Masked Singer, disguised as Robin. He finished in third place. Most recently, he became a judge on the Irish talent show The Big Deal alongside Boy George, Lyra, Deirdre O'Kane and fellow X factor royalty Jedward. He is married to Sarah Richards and they have three children together.
7 of 9Marvin Humes then
Marvin was the oldest member of the group, and the first member Oritsé found to join JLS.
8 of 9Marvin Humes now
Marvin has now gone on to become a DJ, TV presenter and a radio host. He has presented several shows - one of them being The Voice UK which he was on from 2014 to 2016, before the show moved to ITV. In 2019, Marvin got his own show on BBC One with his wife Rochelle Humes, The Hit List. In November 2023, he took part in I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! These days, he is a busy radio host (he hosts shows on KISS AND KISSTORY) and DJ. Oh, and he's Mr Rochelle Humes – we mentioned that, right?
9 of 9JLS performing in Manchester last year
JLS performing together last year
Are JLS performing in 2024?
Apparently, yes. The boys are currently a few weeks into their Summer Hits Tour which concludes in Manchester in September 2024.
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Ben Pulsford is a digital writer for Bauer Media, writing for both Closer online and heatworld. When he's not getting paid to gossip about Big Brother, Love Island and The Real Housewives of Cheshire, he's storming the London LGBTQ+ scene as drag queen, Beary Poppins. Both Ben and Beary are awaiting an invite to join The Real Housewives of Cheshire for series 18. The budget's not there, but the drama is 💅