ORIGINAL celebrity X Factor stars – where are they now?

Gillian McKeith was actually a vibe 😂

The X Factor 2006

by Amy Bailey |
Updated on

The X Factor has always been a Saturday night staple, but can you cast your mind back to the forgotten gem that was the original celebrity special?

While having celebrities on the show this year is ITV bosses most genius idea yet some of you will remember that Battle of the Stars edition that seemed to have got lost in the whirlwind that was noughties television.

That's right, back in 2006 Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh judged a bunch of television stars, with EastEnders star Lucy Benjamin as the crowned winner and taking home the winnings for her chosen charity.

But where are these wannabe pop-stars now?

The X Factor: Battle of the Stars - where are they now?

Gallery

The X Factor: Battle of the Stars - then and now

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CREDIT: ITV / Getty

Lucy Benjamin

Lucy beat Matt Stevens to win the series, and has remained on our TV screens ever since. As well as jumping in and out of EastEnders storylines, she has been on Mr&Mrs, I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, and even starred in the West End show Hairspray.

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CREDIT: ITV / Getty

Matt Stevens

After the competition, Matt continued to play rugby until January 2009 when he tested positive for cocaine and faced a two year ban. Once this had been lifted he returned back to South Africa to join the Sharks.

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CREDIT: ITV / Getty

Chris Moyles

Chris Moyles has always been a familiar voice on the radio, becoming BBC Radio 1's longest serving breakfast presenter in 2009. However, in 2012, he announced that he would be leaving his iconic breakfast show. Yet, he soon returned to the airwaves in 2015, this time returning with a brand new show on the newly re-branded Radio X.

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CREDIT: ITV / Getty

The Chefs

After coming fifth, the chefs did not carry on making music. Jean-Christophe Novelli appeared on many television shows such as Family Fortunes, Countryfile and The Apprentice, as well as launching his recipe book Simply Novelli in 2013.Aldo Zilli has worked with various companies such as Thompson Airways and Kraft Foods to prepare recipes, as well as becoming a brand ambassador for CocoPacific in 2016.Paul Rakin has been a regular chef on BBC cookery programme Ready Steady Cook and has recently bought a restaurant on the Isle-Of-Skye.Ross Burden sadly passed away in 2014 due to an infection relating to treatment for leukemia.

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CREDIT: ITV / Getty

Nikki Sanderson

While she didn't carry on with her music career, Nikki stayed on our TV screens starring in Heartbeat, Hollyoaks, and won the Best Actress award at the British Soap Awards in 2014.

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CREDIT: ITV / Getty

James and Rebecca

The Battle of The Stars wasn't enough competition for Rebecca Loos as she went on to take part in the Spanish show Survivor and Sky TV's _Cirque de Celebrite._James Hewitt's career seemed to quieten down after the competition, with his only TV appearance being Top Gear in the same year. James unfortunately suffered from a heart attack and stroke in 2017. He is said to have recovered well.

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CREDIT: ITV / Getty

Michelle Marsh

Placing seventh in The Battle of the Stars didn't put Michelle off, as she released the tune that was 'I Don't Do' only a few months after the competition. She played minor roles in a few television series for the next couple of years, until 2010 when she announced she was planning on focusing on her children and developing her singing career.

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CREDIT: ITV / Getty

Gillian McKeith

After Battle of the Stars, Gillian was given many opportunities within reality television. While she may have starred in programmes such as Supersize vs Superskinny and Celebrity Big Brother, can anything really top her performance in I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!?

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CREDIT: ITV / Getty

Debbie and Paul

Coming last in The Battle of the Stars did not discourage Debbie from competitions, as she went on to take part in Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Masterchef. She's also hosted her own radio show, The Debbie McGee show, since 2008.Paul Daniels unfortunately passed away in 2016 due to a brain tumour.

Watch: 'The girlfriend position is filled!': The X Factor alumni Liam Payne reads your stan tweets as he 'Answers the Internet'

But what about this year?

The line-up for Celebrity X Factor 2019 has been announced and it is, frankly, bonkers.

This year, talent show boss Simon Cowell has enlisted a group of celebrities - who according to the trailer are not known for their singing talent (even though said line-up, quite literally, includes Artie from Glee) - to compete for a record contract.

Hang on - does formerly-of-TOWIE now a bone-fide country singer Megan McKenna really need a contract from Cowell? She released a country album called Story Of Me in 2018. And let's not forget that absolute classic High Heeled Shoes.

Imagine the melt-down if she's booted out first....

We could be glued to our TVs for Saturday nights to come.

The X Factor: Celebrity will air on ITV in October.

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