‘I’m very, very single!’
Singer Joe McElderry talks lockdown dating, turning 30 and why he’ll always be thankful for The X Factor
It’s been over a decade since Joe McElderry first appeared on our screens as a fresh-faced teenager vying to beat Stacey Solomon and Olly Murs for the X Factor crown. And while the singer won the 2009 series and has released five top 20 albums, he’s also gone on to forge a successful career on stage with roles in celebrated musicals such as Joseph.
When the pandemic hit, theatres were closed and Joe headed back to Newcastle to be with his mum. This year, he’s been busying himself with new recordings, including latest feelgood single Baby Had Your Fun, and Zoom cocktail classes.
Here, Joe, 29, chats about his new music, lockdown dating and why he’s not worried about turning 30…
Hi Joe! How are you doing?
I’m OK! I’ve split my lockdown mantra into two parts. The first was to sit on the sofa and eat and drink as much as possible and treat it like a holiday. Then I got into running and did 10km every day. Then I got sick of the running and went back to eating and drinking again. Now, I’m on a 12-week fitness plan and I’ve lost a stone and a half. So I’ve flitted between the two!
Tell us about the new song…
It’s country meets pop with a bit of disco thrown in, too. It’s a break-up song.You’ve been treated badly by someone in your past and rather than sitting in your house feeling sorry for yourself, you pick up the phone and get your mates on a wild night out to get it out of your system.
Is that your top heartbreak tip – get out and have some fun?
I think that’s my motto in most scenarios. I’ve used it in my career over the years. I give myself a time frame to mourn whatever it is and then I’m like, that’s it now, it’s time to carry on.
Are you single at the moment?
I’m very, very single! I had a couple of lockdown Zoom dates.They were interesting! I quite enjoyed having a lockdown drink with someone on Zoom as I felt like I concentrated more. When you’re in a bar you start people watching, so I found on Zoom the conversation flowed a lot more easily. But I only did two lockdown Zoom dates, so maybe they didn’t work that well!
‘I had a couple of lockdown Zoom dates. They were interesting!’
It’s been over a decade since The X Factor. How do you feel about it now?
When I see footage of myself back then, it scares me how young I was! How did I cope with that at that age? But I did and it just happened. Now, I don’t think
I’d be able to cope with it all!
You’re turning 30 this year, how are you feeling about the milestone?
I obviously want to have a huge party, but we’ve got to wait and see what’s allowed by then. I was terrified of turning 30 about five years ago, I don’t know why. I think with 30 it feels like it attaches some adult responsibility. But I realised I should have gained that responsibility way before 30. Now, I’m actually quite excited by it. I’ve had a great career and I’ve achieved way beyond what I ever imagined I’d achieve. So I’m trying to flip that on its head and think from 30 onwards, let’s have fun…
Joe’s single, Baby Had Your Fun, is out now
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TV LIFE