Joe: Joe: "I'm straight"

[Arneldo]

Ehhh, darn. Still - I'm hoping Lloyd comes screaming out of the closet.

BEAMING X Factor champ Joe McElderry gave a thumbs-up yesterday before opening his heart to The Sun about his love life.
The Geordie, 18, showed his joy outside a London TV studio - then put an end to speculation over his sexuality.

He told The Sun he had not yet had sex, saying: "I'm straight. I haven't slept with anyone, but I'm concentrating on my music."

Joe, who won the final with six million votes, also said he did not fancy show mentor Cheryl Cole. He added: "She's a friend."

And jubilant Joe told how he met glamour girl Jordan after his win - but insisted there was "no spark" between them.

The busty model, real name Katie Price, spoke with golden-voiced Joe moments after his triumph on the ITV talent show.

But he said he had no plans to follow in the footsteps of ex-Pop Idol star Gareth Gates and be deflowered by the 31-year-old maneater.

He said: "I met Jordan backstage and she introduced herself to me. I'm flattered that people are saying she might be interested - but there is no spark.

"It would be a bit wrong, don't you think? She's quite a few years older than me."

Mum-of-three Jordan, divorced from Peter Andre, chatted with Joe after watching Sunday night's gripping final with her cage fighter fella Alex Reid.

Delighted Joe was crowned the winner after bagging six million votes to see off fellow finalist Olly Murs. And last night he opened his heart to The Sun as he embarked on his "lifelong dream" of topping the charts.

Speaking just 12 hours after clinching victory in front of an astonishing 19.1million viewers, Joe admitted: "I'm still in shock. Being on a show with that many viewers is pretty fantastic.

"Just a few months ago I was a lad from South Shields who only my friends and family knew. Now I get recognised everywhere I go. It's amazing - but it still hasn't sunk in."

Shy Joe insisted he has no plans to take advantage of his new-found fame by bedding as many women as he can.

In fact he confessed he is yet to have sex - despite several girlfriends.

He added: "People say I'm squeaky clean but I don't see things like that. I'm a normal person living the dream. What you see is what you get.

"I'm straight. I've had girlfriends, but I don't have one right now. I haven't slept with anyone, but I'm a young lad and I'm concentrating on my music.

"I know I'll probably get offers but - for me - it's all about the singing for now.

"Being recognised means you have to be really careful. I say, 'Enjoy it, but don't go over the top'. At the minute, the last thing on my mind is a girlfriend.

"I need to concentrate on things and maybe think about that when the album's out and I've got a bit of chill time."

Joe dismissed rumours he had shared a fling with finalist Rachel Adedeji, saying: "She's a mate - she makes me laugh. There was nothing going on."

And he insisted he wasn't going to blow his new-found wealth on booze and drugs. The teenager won a £1million recording deal and will make a further £150,000 from the X Factor tour.

But he said: "I've never ever done drugs. I have drunk, but I'm not a drinker.

"If I go out I don't necessarily drink - but every couple of weeks I'll have a few to chill out.

"If people try and tempt me into getting drunk I'll get a Diet Coke and pretend it's got vodka in it. I'm quite a well-behaved person anyway. I respect my mam."

During his triumphant X Factor stint, Joe formed a firm friendship with Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole, his mentor on the show.

But he insisted he did not fancy the married 26-year-old, who hails from Newcastle, ten miles from his home.

He said: "Cheryl is a stunning-looking woman but, as I got closer to her, she became a friend.

"Once I got to know her she wasn't like the image you see on telly. She's very down-to-earth and we share a lot in common."

Joe also told of his excitement at the news he may record a DUET with Cheryl for his album next year. He said: "That would be amazing. She's an inspiration."

Only child Joe was left with mum Eileen, 47, after dad Jim walked out when he was a baby.

But Joe continued to see his father every week - and said: "I had a really easy-going childhood.

"I wasn't bullied and saw my dad all the time. He and my mam even came to the show each week.

"I had a really normal life and then something came along and changed that. My mam has always supported me and told me to go for X Factor this year."

Joe has been compared with fictional ballet dancer Billy Elliot, also from the North East.

He said: "I'm not quite as good a dancer as Billy Elliot but, like him, I'm from a normal place.

"I love where I come from and I will always go back there.

"But I think it was the kind of thing where I had to come away to do this as the X Factor doesn't happen in South Shields.

"My family will always be around and the North East will always be home." Debut single The Climb is available to download now and in shops tomorrow.

[LeatherTrumpet]

there was always a 96% chance that he was heterosexual

[MarkWaldorf]

It's annoying because they stuck this on the front page too. He's 18 years old, he shouldn't feel like he has to tell people what he is.

[Fom]

Well if he says so... I am not convinced haha.

[Shaun]

pmsl yeah OK.

[lily.]

Originally Posted by MarkWaldorf

It's annoying because they stuck this on the front page too. He's 18 years old, he shouldn't feel like he has to tell people what he is.

The tabloids are always desperate to get dirt on people. They are never content until they do.

Joe seems like a regular lad from a regular place, and doesn't have a scandalous back-story to tell. The sooner the media realise that, the better.

As to whether he's gay or straight: the jury is still out on that one. It's down to him if and when he wants to come out.. (if he actually is gay).

I hope he has decent people around him to keep the vultures at bay.

[Princess]

Originally Posted by Fom

Well if he says so... I am not convinced haha.

Me neither

[Twilight]

LOL it was so obvious that Joe wasn't gay. And btw Lloyd has a Girlfriend:P

[Phlip]

Oh wow who really cares? His favourite colour is green let's write an essay on that.

[Beastie]

He is a normal boy who never milked a sob story during X Factor and won fair and square because he was judged primarily on his voice! To top it off he is a lovely lad too. Also I am happy he is not going in the Gareth Gates direction, lol. Well he wouldn't in the first place.. Gareth LOST Pop Idol. Anywho good luck Joe

[LeatherTrumpet]

Originally Posted by MarkWaldorf

It's annoying because they stuck this on the front page too. He's 18 years old, he shouldn't feel like he has to tell people what he is.

on the front page of what?

The Sun?

lol

[Tom]

18, doesn't fancy Cheryl Cole, hasn't slept with anyone and as camp as a row of pink tents attached to a campervan?

[Enid]

Me and the fella watched his The Climb performance for the first time, and you know what the first thing he said was? "He's gay..."

[WOMBAI]

I don't think he is gay - see no reason to think that at all! Not that it matters!

Just because he isn't a macho moron - just a nice, normal young guy with a lot more sense than many on here! He will have the last laugh - because he is the good-looking one with a fantastic voice who will have a successful singing career!

[Nathan]

Who's he kidding?

[Stephanie]

he is so not straight lmao.

[\PJ/]

Originally Posted by tom

18, doesn't fancy cheryl cole, hasn't slept with anyone and as camp as a row of pink tents attached to a campervan?

lol!

[Callum]

I think he's gay, so do loads of people I know.

[Raph]

aww Joe and Rachel <3

[Phlip]

Originally Posted by Tom

18, doesn't fancy Cheryl Cole, hasn't slept with anyone and as camp as a row of pink tents attached to a campervan?

He doesn't fancy her because he sees her as a friend. It IS possible for a boy and girl to be straight and friends. So what if he hasn't slept with anyone? Maybe he has low confidence or, erm... sense.

[MarkWaldorf]

wow, it's reasons such as posts in this thread why some people are too scared to come out and are slapped with stereotypes.

[MichaelSpears]

i'm sorry to say that is bull****, i know joe's cousin & she told me that joe is out as bisexual to all of his family and friends. he's probably getting the will young treatment, where his management try to keep it a secret for as long as possible because they know that he has a large young female following.

and pweese lloyd!

[Tom]

Originally Posted by Phlip

He doesn't fancy her because he sees her as a friend. It IS possible for a boy and girl to be straight and friends. So what if he hasn't slept with anyone? Maybe he has low confidence or, erm... sense.

Who doesn't fancy Cheryl Cole? Well which straight men anyway? Loads of supposed straight women do ...

[CaraRawr]

Awww, bless him<3

[Spike]

I don't think he is straight, he has only said he is to protect his image imo