[Red Moon]

JLS ARE 'WINNERS ALREADY' SAYS PROUD MUM SIOBHAN

SIOBHAN Merrygold has said that X Factor finalists JLS are "winners already" after they made it through to the final of the competition.

Siobhan, who is originally from Dunmurry, is preparing to watch son Aston take part in tomorrow's final and she admitted that it hadn't hit home the competition was coming to an end.

"It hasn't sunk in yet," said Siobhan. "It has been going for so many months and from week to week I've been mentally strong, there's been the same behaviour; butterflies, tears, but the last couple of weeks Aston has been quite emotional and it is hard to sit there and watch that.

"They couldn't have gone any further, they have made it through the journey. They are winners already having made it through; nobody is a loser in the final."

Siobhan continued: "I thought they were amazing last week, the live performances were unbelievable.

"I probably had a normal conversation with them for the first time this week and they haven't changed at all. I wanted to check in when they got the results and anybody would think 'that's fantastic', but they were just numb, I don't think it had sunk in. They are just grateful for the opportunity, they are not bigheaded at all, they have taken everything every day and I don't think they will digest it all until after."

Speaking about Aston's homecoming to his former school on Monday Siobhan commented, "It was fantastic. There were 600 people and it was controlled. It was strange seeing these teenage girls I've known since they were toddlers going crazy and it was wonderful for the teachers who have supported him and who have always been behind him getting to see him. All of his family were there, myself and his dad, his brother and sister, his grandparents and aunts and uncles; it was like a private showing, only we invited a few hundred people to watch."

There was hysteria, however, when JLS performed in Croydon earlier this week. "It's still unreal to see my son making the main headlines of the national news," said Siobhan. "Aston was absolutely terrified. He rang me from the car and I thought there had been an accident, he was in utter shock. The positive is that that is their fan base; they recognise that they wouldn't be there without the fans."

Following the final of the X Factor JLS will be joining fellow contestants on a nationwide live tour, which will arrive in Belfast on March 18.

"The extended family will be going to Belfast to see them on the live tour," stated Siobhan. "If we want to see them, we want to see them in Belfast.

"There is a new and interesting journey ahead," she added.

Source: Lisburn Today