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The seven strong band have been formed by Cowell as part of his new Netflix series The Next Act

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Simon Cowell’s new boyband have been unveiled and are now talking for the first time about how hard they have been trying to make it in the music business. Called December 10, the band are a seven-piece boyband who have signed to EMI/Universal.

Ending the series The Next Act where they were chosen, Cowell told the singers: “When this show airs your whole life changes. I am really, really proud of you individually. I am seeing you about to do what you always dreamt of doing. Probably the most important advice is, whoever becomes your very very first fan is the most important person in the world.”

The lads consist of Cruz (19), Danny (17), Hendrick (19), John (17), Josh (17), Nicolas (16) and Sean (19). They are from Chorley, Rochester, Dublin, London, Lisbon and Walsall, and between them Irish, Brazilian, Indian, Nigerian and Jamaican heritage. According to reports on Sunday they will release their first new music on YouTube today. But ahead of that they spoke to the Mirror and answered questions about their story so far…

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CRUZ, (19, Uxbridge, West London)

What is your story in terms of where you grew up and when you started singing? I grew up in in Uxbridge, West London, and I started singing from the age of eight – my parents always used to play 2000s RnB in the house, and I just started dancing and singing along to it. And then when I was in year six, my school did Charlie & The Chocolate Factory musical and I got the part of Willy Wonka, and I remember everyone really loving my solo. I then went for an audition for Motown the Musical and I got the part of mini-Michael Jackson.

How long have you been trying to make it as a singer? 11 plus years. It’s been really long. It’s been hard. There was one point in my life where I was going to give up. I was 17, and I was like, nothing’s working… I was kind of just focusing on football at that time, and it’s not really until this whole band audition thing came up that I got back into it.

Why did you audition for the show? I wanted to try something else, try something different from the solo stuff.

How surprised are you to make it to the band? When I got that first call from Simon, after that first audition, I was so shocked and just so happy. This whole journey, even going to Miami, it’s just been mad, because I felt like I’ve had so much rejection in my life, and then this happened, the biggest thing I’ve done, and I just feel so fulfilled and happy.

What is Simon Cowell really like? What advice has he given you, what has he said is going to happen next? He’s like the most humble person you’ll ever meet. He says to just keep working hard and there’s going to be lots of challenges ahead, but you’ll face them together. And we’re lucky, because there’s seven of us, and we can support each other through anything.

What are your hopes for the band and the future? I’d love to go on a stadium tour and perform at Wembley Stadium. I’d also love to perform at The Brits.

NICOLAS (17, born/ grew up in Slough, West London, now lives in Lisbon)

What is your story in terms of where you grew up and when you started singing? I grew up in Slough until I was 10. I really got into music when I was about five or six, just watching videos of Queen, Bruno Mars and a bunch of artists that my parents would play to me. I started singing when I was about eight years old when I took a year of singing lessons.

How long have you been trying to make it as a singer? Probably since the age of six, since when I first fell in love with music, I knew that that was what I was wanting to do with my life, and I was ready to dedicate myself to it.

Why did you audition for the show? I auditioned for the show because I wanted to prove to the world that I can do it, whether I made it or not. I just wanted to give it my all and be proud and know that I’d literally given it my 100%.

How surprised are you to make it to the band? I’m very, very, very surprised! I’m extremely happy and very proud that my hard work paid off. And I’m really looking forward to the amazing future we’re going to have.

What is Simon Cowell really like? What advice has he given you, what has he said is going to happen next? Simon Cowell is very down to earth. Watching him on television, what you see is a persona. When you truly get to know him, he’s a really, really friendly guy, and I’m very glad to have met him and to have worked with him. In terms of advice, he’s just said, be yourself and always try to stay true to yourself when you’re on camera and when you’re doing performances, as that’s the most important thing you can do as an artist, And in terms of what we’re going to do in the future, Simon said it’s best to just take it one day at a time and enjoy it in the present.

What are your hopes for the band and the future? My hopes for the band in the future is to have a strong connection and a loyal fan base and to be able tour wherever we want to go in the world, and yeah, just to have fun with my brothers and keep touring.

DANNY (17, Chorley, Lancashire, near Manchester)

What is your story in terms of where you grew up and when you started singing? I grew up in Chorley without a musical background. I’m the first one in my family to pursue a career in music. I picked it up because when I got expelled from school, I didn’t think I had anything going for me, and I needed to find something that I loved, and that’s music.

How long have you been trying to make it as a singer? I’ve been trying to make it as a singer ever since I started singing, so maybe, like, since I was at least 10 years old, and it’s just been my dream forever, and now it’s potentially coming true.

Why did you audition for the show? I auditioned for the show because of my auntie – she really believes in me and kept on at me to. How surprised are you to make it to the band? I am pretty shocked. I got in the band out of over 1000 people that auditioned. The fact that I’m one of the seven that got to the final, final band. It’s crazy.

What is Simon Cowell really like? What advice has he given you, what has he said is going to happen next? Simon Cowell is the complete opposite of how I think people who only know him from the TV think he is. He’s very kind and generous. He shows you a lot of respect no matter who you are. Simon’s made it pretty clear that the journey we have ahead is going to be challenging and tough at times, but we will still have the best time of our lives.

What are your hopes for the band and the future? Of course we’ve got big dreams, but right now it’s about putting the work in, focusing on the music and building something we’re proud of.

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JOSH (17, Chorley, Lancashire, near Manchester)

What is your story in terms of where you grew up and when you started singing? So I grew up in Chorley. And I grew up watching my mum sing, because she’s a singer. My mum used to play tunes in the car, dead loud. I used to love it, and I think that’s where my love of music came from.

How long have you been trying to make it as a singer? I’ve been gigging since I was like, since I was 15 to be honest. I did a few gigs, and then ever since then, I’ve just kept moving forward from there.

Why did you audition for the show? I got the email, I got the Instagram message, and then I just thought, right, this is actually happening.

What is Simon Cowell really like? He’s nice, he’s not, like “nasty”, like people say he is on TV.

What advice has he given you, what has he said is going to happen next? Always stay humble. And the fans are what make you. He says it’s going to be hard – it’s going to be like a hard path to go down in it, but that he believes in us.

What are your hopes for the band and the future? To play at Wembley

SEAN (19, Dublin, Ireland)

What is your story in terms of where you grew up and when you started singing? I grew up in Dublin, Ireland, and I started singing kind of around the house. I was big into some pop acts, like Justin Bieber. And then I kept singing, and my mom and dad like, we’ve got to do something with this fella, because he just doesn’t shut up! So they sent me to a choir in the city center in Dublin, and that’s kind of where I started.

How long have you been trying to make it as a singer? Well, probably since I was a kid, since I was about four. I just think that my dream has always been to perform music.

Why did you audition for the show? To make my mum proud! My mum heard about the auditions and she was like Simon Cowell is holding auditions, and I’ve signed you up! And I was curious about it all, really. Especially as I hadn’t really heard about any new boy bands coming out Ireland or the UK for a long time.

How surprised are you to make it to the band? I was surprised. On the last day, I was definitely cacking it. I was like, Oh, I don’t know if I’m gonna make it!

What is Simon Cowell really like? What advice has he given you, what has he said is going to happen next?

Simon is lovely. Simon has given us lots of advice. I think one piece of advice he’s taught us that has stuck with me is when you walk into a room, just always shake everyone’s hand, and make eye contact – eye contact is very important. I think he has aspirations for us to be massive, and so you kind of just have to trust him that way, as he’s obviously worked with a lot of bands globally, so he can visualise it, even if we can’t yet.

What are your hopes for the band and the future? I hope that the band has loads of fun and we all become best mates, and we all are best men at each other’s weddings.

JOHN (17, Rochester, Kent)

What is your story in terms of where you grew up and when you started singing? I grew up in Kent, and that’s sort of where I’ve been my whole life. I’ve never, like, moved houses, never been anywhere else, so that’s definitely my home. But in terms of, like, the music, it sort of started off with my dad always playing music around the house when I was younger. That got me interested, and then I remember hearing songs on the radio and, like, harmonizing and singing along. So, my mum noticed that I liked music and was into it. And we had a family friend whose daughter was in choir, so my mum was like, John, you should apply for this, because you like to sing. And then I did a little audition, and I got into the choir, and then from there, I’ve just been doing it ever since.

How long have you been trying to make it as a singer? I really can’t remember a time when I wasn’t singing or trying to make it as a singer. I’ve also been writing and producing for a long time too.

Why did you audition for the show? Oh, I think like, this show was just the biggest opportunity. I feel like Simon Cowell has such a great ear for music, and, yeah, I think that was what enticed me. I also thought, like, being in a band just sounded so interesting and so fun.

How surprised are you to make it to the band?

I think when I heard I’d made it, I was excited more than anything. Probably because I’ve just learnt not to set expectations for myself. I used to do a lot of acting and drama, so I’d get, like, rejected all the time. And so, I’m used to telling myself, don’t let it phase you, just keep on trying, whatever happens will happen.

What is Simon Cowell really like? He’s definitely not what he seems like, if you watch his old content. He is honest, which is very true, but he’s a down to earth person, very genuine, and I think maybe a bit softer than he came across on the TV years ago. He’s a very genuine character, and we all love him.

What advice has he given you, what has he said is going to happen next? He told us that that this should be fun, and if we’re not having fun, then this shouldn’t be what we’re going into. And I think that’s really valuable advice, because it’s not going to be an easy thing, obviously, going into this industry. But we all have each other, and so as long as we’re still enjoying it, together, then that’s the most important thing.

What are your hopes for the band and the future? I hope that we release great music, and can continue to release great music, and, hopefully, sell out shows. That would be the dream, because we’ve all worked so hard for this.

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HENDRICK (19, Walsall, Birmingham)

What is your story in terms of where you grew up and when you started singing? I grew up in the town of Walsall, just north of Birmingham. My first Love was rugby, but then I kept getting injured round about in my early teenage years, and that’s when I started playing music. And then I just knew I wanted to do music. My mum was a professional singer growing up, so she really inspired me to sing. And she used to harmonise when me, when I was humming as a kid, when I was very young, and she said she knew that I was going to be some kind of singer one day.

How long have you been trying to make it as a singer? So I’ve been trying since when I joined a music school in year 10. That’s when I got really determined to actually make it as a singer. And that’s when I learned the guitar and bass and piano and all these different instruments to make me into an all-round musician.

Why did you audition for the show? I got a message on Tiktok. And I was working at Nandos, I’d just finished college. So I was like, why not? Like, let me go and get it. I’ve got nothing to lose.

How surprised are you to make it to the band? This is going to sound weird, but at the start, I had like, a good feeling from my audition. I was like, this feels right. But still, two weeks later, when I got a phone call from Simon, I was just like, what? What’s going on? And then when I found out I was in the band, I was like, that’s insane!

What is Simon Cowell really like? He’s down to earth – just a really good bloke. He’s sound.

What advice has he given you, what has he said is going to happen next? One main bit of his advice was you’ve basically asked to be in the public eye, and you’ve been asked to be very public in your life. So don’t complain when people come up to you asking for photos or anything like that, and be nice, treat everyone the same.

What are your hopes for the band and the future? I want us to have fun. That’s what I want. I want us to write mad records, record mad records, and get as much music out there as possible to inspire people.

Our Yorkshire Farm star Amanda Owen has shared a candid update on life after separating from husband Clive

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Amanda Owen, star of the hit Channel 5 series Our Yorkshire Farm, has opened up about the changes in her personal life since separating from her husband, Clive Owen.

The couple, who were married for 22 years, announced their separation in June 2022. Despite their split, Amanda says she and Clive have found a way to maintain peace and focus on co-parenting their nine children.

Speaking to The Sun’s Fabulous magazine, Amanda said: “Clive and I are separated, but not divorced. He’s now my next-door neighbour and co-parenting is working. Being separated has taken away the friction between us and given us more space, physically and mentally. There’s a sense of peace that we both needed, and I honestly think it’s affected the children positively.”

Amanda, who has built a career documenting life on her family’s sprawling Yorkshire farm, acknowledged the traditional notion that a “perfect environment” for children requires two parents under one roof — but challenged it, arguing that wellbeing is far more complex.

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“There will be plenty of people who say: ‘The perfect environment for a child is a two-parent family.’ That’s great, but there’s no hard and fast rule, and things change,” she said. “What sort of parent would I be if I were a martyr and said to the kids: ‘We stayed together for you guys?’ Is 20 years of bickering, barking and disagreeing with each other really the best scenario? I don’t think so.”

Amanda, widely known as the Yorkshire Shepherdess, has also reflected on the example her approach sets for her children. She stressed that parenting is not about maintaining appearances, but about showing courage and resilience.

“It’s not about passing on a legacy by separating your children, either. Instead, it’s about showing them that you’re brave enough to stick your head above the parapet and take whatever comes with that,” she explained.

Since the separation, Amanda has continued to juggle her public life with running the farm and raising her family. Her nine children — Raven, Miles, Edith, Violet, Sidney, Annas, Clemmie, Nancy and Reuben — remain at the heart of her daily routine, with Clive living nearby to support a steady co-parenting arrangement.

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Amanda and Clive’s marriage, once a cornerstone of the family’s public image, now exists in a new form — one defined by mutual respect, cooperation and a shared commitment to their children’s happiness.

Their family life was made famous through Our Yorkshire Farm, which documented the realities of farming life in the Yorkshire Dales and the unique upbringing of their children.

Rob Reiner’s family have issued a heartbreaking statement confirming the passing of Michele and Rob Reiner after emergency services rushed to their address on Sunday eveening

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When Harry Met Sally… director Rob Reiner has died at the age of 78, after being found dead alongside his wife Michele Singer Reiner at their Los Angeles residence, his family have confirmed.

LAFD paramedics were called to the home on Chadbourne Avenue in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood at around 3:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, December 15. Minutes later LAPD officers were dispatched to the scene.

Los Angeles Police Department detectives reportedly told ABC7 the deaths were being investigated as homicides, and a large number of officers were at the home on Sunday evening.

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Rob’s family have now broken their silence and issued a statement confirming their deaths. “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time,” his family said in a statement to Variety.

Rob was 78, and his wife Michele was 68.

Reiner became a household name as Michael Meathead Stivic, the outspoken son-in-law on Norman Lear’s All in the Family. The series ran for nine seasons beginning in 1971. His character often clashed with Archie Bunker, played by Carroll O’Connor.

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After his run on All in the Family, Reiner shifted to becoming a full-time director. His first major success was This is Spinal Tap, a 1984 mockumentary that mocked rock bands. Reiner’s directorial career continued through the 1980s and 1990s.

The Los Angeles Times has reported that “there was no signs of forced entry into the home.” Speaking to media near the Reiner residence, LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton confirmed that no one has been detained in connection with the deaths as of yet, and also revealed that no one is being interviewed.

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“Before we do anything, we have to get a search warrant,” he said, before adding, “We’re waiting for the legal process to move forward. We’re calling it a death investigation at this point.”

Mr Hamilton noted that the bodies were still inside the property, as police were waiting on a warrant to reenter the home and begin their investigation.

Hamilton added that the home was in the exact same state that he had been after police first arrived at the scene.

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In a statement, LA Mayor Karen Bass said she was ‘heartbroken’ by the Reiners’ deaths, calling them ‘a devastating loss for our city and our country.’

‘Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice,’ Bass said

The Mirror has contacted Rob Reiner’s representative and LAPD for comment.

Police officers and paramedics rushed to the scene of legendary filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner’s mansion in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood on Sunday evening

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Two people have reportedly been found dead in a mansion owned by legendary filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner.

LAFD paramedics were called to the home on Chadbourne Avenue in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood at around 3:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, December 15. Minutes later LAPD officers were dispatched to the scene.

Neighbors said Reiner and his wife live in the home, and property records indicate they own the home. Multiple law enforcement sources told NBCLA that the bodies of a 78-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman had allegedly been discovered inside the home.

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LAPD detectives reportedly told ABC7 the deaths were being investigated as a homicide as a large number of officers were at the home on Sunday evening. ‘Senior leadership’ of the LAPD is now said to be on the scene of the apparent murders.

Reiner became a household name as Michael Meathead Stivic, the outspoken son-in-law on Norman Lear’s All in the Family. The series ran for nine seasons beginning in 1971. His character often clashed with Archie Bunker, played by Carroll O’Connor.

After his run on All in the Family, Reiner shifted to becoming a full-time director. His first major success was This is Spinal Tap, a 1984 mockumentary that mocked rock bands. Reiner’s directorial career continued through the 1980s and 1990s.

According to ABC News, senior law enforcement sources said that the victims were stabbed to death, and the Los Angeles Times has reported that “there was no signs of forced entry into the home.”

Speaking to media near the Reiner residence, LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton confirmed that no one has been detained in connection with the deaths as of yet, and also revealed that no one is being interviewed.

“Before we do anything, we have to get a search warrant,” he said, before adding, “We’re waiting for the legal process to move forward. We’re calling it a death investigation at this point.”

When Hamilton was asked if they have a “timeline of the murder,” he replied, “We have not established that yet.”

National treasure Dame Judi Dench has admitted she is concerned that social media is taking over, and believes that theatres could pay the price

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Dame Judi Dench has admitted she fears for the future of theatre. In an interview to promote a new TV show with fellow theatre star Kenneth Branagh, Judi was asked if theatre had evolved since she first took to the stage in 1957.

She said: “All I can hope is that theatre has evolved. With the onset of social media and I believe a marked lack of interest in the Arts, I fear that the younger generations won’t have the benefit or interest in the theatre like we all had.”

Judi, 91,insisted the stage had been a huge help to her acting during an incredible career. She is known for starring in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth.

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She said: “In every single play or production I have ever done, I’ve learnt something new. That comes not just from the play or the director, but also from your fellow actors. Each production offers countless opportunities to keep learning and growing.

“I knew in Antony & Cleopatra that there was a line of Cleopatra that was intended to get a laugh – on the 100th performance I got the laugh.”

In Peter Hall’s 1987 National Theatre production of Antony and Cleopatra, Judi Dench took Shakespeare’s character and re-created it from her own personality and imagination. She was alongside Antony Hopkins as Antony. Critics have described it as one of Dench’s greatest performances.

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Michael Billington wrote in the Guardian: “Dench gave us a Cleopatra whose sexuality stemmed from her volatility, intelligence and wit: a woman of infinite variety who was enthralling company and an irresistible magnetic force, drawing Anthony Hopkins’s jaded warrior of an Antony back to Egypt.”

But it didn’t always go this week. Recalling her first ever stage performance playing Ophelia in 1957, Dench told Branagh: “I was in a kind of haze. We opened at the Liverpool Playhouse. It didn’t go well.

“They didn’t like somebody completely unknown playing the part. It was a bit dodgy.” Thankfully, she was encouraged and kept on in the theatre company and given smaller roles to build up her confidence again. She would go on to become one of the great British actors.

Dench has won an Oscar, two Golden Globes and six Baftas. As well as her stage performances, she is well known for portraying M in eight James Bond films.

Tea with Judi Dench sees her joined by Branagh for a one-off show on Sky Arts. They reflect on their remarkable careers and personal journeys in an intimate and insightful discussion. Dench said they share a similar sense of humour and she added: “What I admire most is his attitude to work, his commitment to what he does, and of course his sense of humour – those are the first things that stand out. Also, his respect for the theatre and the work he does.”

* Tea with Judi Dench airs 22 December on Sky Arts, Freeview, and streaming service NOW