Union J’s newest addition Casey Johnson says his Last Goodbye as he’s sacked after just 12 months
UNION J’s boyband member swap hasn’t worked as planned.
I can reveal new signing CASEY JOHNSON, formerly of STEREO KICKS, has been axed after just 12 months.
The X Factor group have just been taken over by new management who believed the singer didn’t fit the image. They want JJ HAMBLETT, JAYMI HENSLEY and JOSH CUTHBERT to press ahead as a trio.
It’s such a shame for Casey as I thought he was the perfect replacement for GEORGE SHELLEY, who quit Union J in March last year.
A source said: “Management just didn’t think Casey was right for the band. The realised this over the past few months. It was felt he could never really replace George and the band would be better off as a trio.”
I told how Casey joined Union J last May and his presence gave them a huge lift following George’s surprise departure.
He quit after a successful stint on I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015 where he finished third.
A source close to Union J said: "The band are looking forward to releasing some new material and there's lots of exciting projects lined up.
But the revamped look will remind fans of the original line-up when JJ, Jaymi and Josh auditioned as Triple J in 2012’s X Factor.
George was put in the band after making an impression in the solo section on then judges GARY BARLOW, NICOLE SCHERZINGER, TULISA and LOUIS WALSH and they were rebranded as Union J.
Since leaving George’s career has stalled after he was axed from Capital FM.
I’ve been told Casey will be now be going down the TV route, rather than pursuing music, which I believe is a sensible move.
I just hope his next job is a totally fresh gig — not filling in for anyone else.
MOST READ IN BIZARRE
READ ON FOR THE REST OF DAN WOOTTON'S BIZARRE COLUMN
THE TED TALK
IT’S no wonder DAISY LOWE was grinning from ear to ear on Wednesday.
The Strictly star landed herself a ticket to the London social event of the year, celebrating the launch of The Ned, a £200million hotel and private members’ club.
The venue is so spectacular that London’s usual celebrity haunts could suffer a serious drought of star power for the foreseeable.
I was there among the 2,000 guests, including EDDIE REDMAYNE and wife Hannah Bagshawe, CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN, NICK GRIMSHAW, FERGIE and PRINCESSES EUGENIE and BEATRICE.
They were entertained at the former Midland Bank headquarters by performances from GARETH MALONE, TINIE TEMPAH, PALOMA FAITH and GARY BARLOW. The ambitious new venture has nine restaurants, a rooftop pool and a boxing ring.
I can think of a few warring celebs who could put the latter to good use.
BIZ BIT
FALL OUT BOY surprised their fans yesterday by announcing a new album called M . A . . N . . . I . . . . A. They also dropped a new tune – Young And Menace – and a video. The album comes out on September 15.
KYLIE INSPIRED
SIENNA MILLER takes inspiration from KYLIE MINOGUE in her latest role.
She looks just like the Aussie during her Neighbours heyday – thanks to that big wavy hair.
Sienna stars with Breaking Bad’s AARON PAUL in movie The Burning Woman, about a woman raising her grandson after her daughter goes missing.
Kylie would be proud.
NO STITCH - UP FOR THRONES’ ED
ED SHEERAN won’t need to get into character too much when he makes his acting debut on Game Of Thrones this year.
He’s not just got a cameo in the blockbuster HBO series – he’s singing too.
Teasing his scene with Arya Stark, played by MAISIE WILLIAMS with Ed, he said: “I sing a song.
“And then she goes, ‘Oh that’s a nice song.’ And I go, ‘It’s a new one’.
“There are some other lines.”
Ed also went to extreme lengths to look the part on his Thrones debut – ripping out the stitches put in his cheek after that sword incident with JAMES BLUNT and PRINCESS BEATRICE.
He explained: “It had the stitches in and before the Game Of Thrones shoot I took them out with a pen knife, which I don’t think was a good idea.
“You know those mini scissors in a pen knife? Yeah, not a good idea.”
I’d be inclined to agree.
BIZ BIT
VAMPS frontman BRAD SIMPSON says the band, who release song Middle Of The Night today, are out to help JESY NELSON find love when they support LITTLE MIX next month. He added: “We’d do a good job wingmen-ing.”
ZAYN’S PARTY SNUB
IT’S unlikely ZAYN MALIK will get an invite to PARTYNEXTDOOR’s next bash.
The moody singer has made yet another enemy. This time it’s the Canadian rap star, aka JAHRON ANTHONY BRATH-WAITE, who deleted him from social media and removed their remixes from Spotify and YouTube yesterday.
The pair were good pals while promoting their collaboration Still Got Time, but the feud has seen Party delete all previous posts about the song.
A source close to Zayn insisted the relationship was “fine”. But fans have been speculating Party was unhappy the single only reached No24 in the UK. Zayn previously branded NAUGHTY BOY a “fat joke” in 2015 and had run-ins with other celebs.
Biz meter: weekend
FILM:
GUARDIANS Of The Galaxy Vol 2 hits UK cinemas today, three years after Marvel introduced its dysfunctional heroes to the big screen. CHRIS PRATT’s Star-Lord reunites with ZOE SALDANA’s Gamora and BRADLEY COOPER’s Rocket Racoon. New additions include KURT RUSSELL in the role of Ego.
CELEBRATION:
AS part of its 70th birthday celebrations, Bafta will be opening its London HQ to film buffs this weekend. The highlight is the Special Effects Classics Overnighter, where visitors can watch ET, Tron and other ground-breaking flicks into the small hours. There’s also an exhibition of unseen photos from the archives.
BALL:
KIM KARD-ASHIAN will show off her controversial weight loss at Monday’s Met Gala in New York after bragging how her “flu diet” helped her lose 6lb in time for the glitzy ball. KATY PERRY and PHARRELL WILLIAMS will join Vogue editor ANNA WINTOUR as hosts at the biggest night in fashion.
FESTIVALS:
RAG ’N’ BONE MAN, SLAVES and the brilliant singer-songwriter GABRIELLE APLIN will join a whole host of fresh talent for a bumper night of gigs as part of the Live At Leeds festival. The all-dayer kicks off tomorrow at noon across more than 20 venues. There will be some sore heads on Sunday.
