X Factor winner Joe McElderry says he’ll be ‘eternally single’ as he opens up on doomed dating life
X FACTOR winner Joe McElderry says he’ll be ‘eternally single’ while opening up on his dating life.
The talented 34-year-old became a household name after he won the show in 2009, as a fresh-faced 18-year-old with Cheryl as his mentor.
But where his career has thrived, Joe’s not had the same success when it comes to dating.
Joe referred to himself as “eternally single” in a chat with The Sun, while adding: “I’ve been single for a very, very long time.
“And I mean I listen, I’m open to meeting somebody and I’d love to meet somebody, but I think dating is so hard now.
“Online dating is a minefield, and I don’t think people meet people unless it’s on dating apps now, which is crazy. It’s kind of sad in a way.”
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And if he is to meet someone, they’d have to get the green light from his grandma Hilda.
Joe continued: “She’s a very good judge of character. You’ll know if she doesn’t trust somebody or she doesn’t like somebody.
“In our industry, you can come across some dodgy people, but she can call it out in seconds of somebody walking in a room and I’m like, that’s a wise woman.”
Joe shares a very close bond with his grandma Hilda, with the pair set to do a live recording of their popular podcast That’s Ridiculous, on October 23rd.
The booked and busy star is also delighting audiences across the North East with his autumn tour, culminating in his one-night-only Festive Party at Newcastle’s O2 City Hall on 1st December.
Sharing more about tour life, the Climb singer told us: “It’s a very short tour in comparison to what I normally do, but I’ve been on the road with Joseph the musical since January.
“We finished that in August, and the original plan was to kind of just have October off, and chill out, and then I got halfway through the year and I was like, I feel like I’m gonna miss touring.
“So we managed to kind of shoehorn in about 10 shows, it’s been great. We’ve done three of them already and it’s been lovely and it’s my favourite thing to do, just to be in the room with people that support me and know my music.”
The star shared his pre-show ritual which he has stuck by for years – but admits it’s “not for everyone.”
Joe continued: “The weirdest thing I do is I gargle bicarbonate of soda.
Joe’s tour dates
Fans still have the chance to catch Joe live throughout October, with highlights including his special That’s Ridiculous live podcast with Grandma Hilda at The Customs House in South Shields.
- 23 October* – Customs House, South Shields
- 24 October – Customs House, South Shields
- 25 October – Customs House, South Shields
- 26 October – Playhouse, Whitley Bay
“Years ago, a wonderful supporter of mine sent a letter in and he was saying how it’s like an remedy, and so I read this letter and I thought that sounds a bit strange, but I’m going to give it a go and honestly, I mean I’m not a doctor, so if anybody reads this as advice, do it at your own risk, but it’s like a miracle cure for the voice, it’s like a natural antiseptic.
“You don’t swallow it or anything, it’s just a gargle on your voice. But I swear by it. I have it half an hour before the show. I sometimes have it in the interval of a show. And I even have it in a quick change if I’m struggling on a show day.”
The 34-year-old admits huge singers have taken his advice in the past after asking what could work to help their vocal chords.
“It does taste disgusting, but honestly not one person has ever come back and gone, #that didn’t work,’” Joe added.
Tickets for both the tour and the festive show at O2 City Hall are available via Joe’s official website and venue box offices – www.joemcelderryofficial.com.