Jedward facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jedward
John and Edward in Australia in 2013
Background information
Also known as	John & Edward
Born	(1991-10-16) 16 October 1991 (age 33) Dublin, Ireland
Genres	Pop
Years active	2009–present
Labels	Sony Universal PlanetJedward
Members	John Grimes Edward Grimes

John and Edward Grimes (born 16 October 1991) are Irish singers and TV stars. They are known as Jedward. These identical twins first became famous as John & Edward on The X Factor in 2009. They quickly became very popular. Their mentor on the show was Louis Walsh.

Jedward has released four studio albums. These include Planet Jedward (2010), Victory (2011), Young Love (2012), and Voice of a Rebel (2019). Their first two albums sold very well in Ireland. They have also released many popular songs. Some of their well-known singles are "Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby)", "Bad Behaviour", and "Lipstick". They sang "Lipstick" when they represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. They also represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 with their song "Waterline".

Jedward has also appeared on many TV shows. They starred in their own documentary series Jedward: Let Loose (2010). They also hosted children's shows like OMG! Jedward's Dream Factory (2011–2013) and Jedward's Big Adventure (2012–2014). They were also contestants on Celebrity Big Brother 8 (2011) and Celebrity Big Brother 19 (2017). In their second time on Celebrity Big Brother, they finished as runners-up.

About John and Edward

John Paul Henry Daniel Richard Grimes and Edward Peter Anthony Kevin Patrick Grimes are identical twin brothers. They were born in Dublin, Ireland.

School Days

The twins first went to Scoil Bhríde National School in Rathangan. After that, they attended King's Hospital School for four years. Later, they moved to the Dublin Institute of Education.

During their school years, John and Edward took part in many school talent shows. They were inspired by famous artists like Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, and the Backstreet Boys. They also enjoyed sports. They were members of the Lucan Harriers Athletic Club and Dundrum South Dublin athletics club. They competed in several Irish athletic events.

Before becoming famous, they worked briefly as game testers for Xbox 360. They also support two football teams: Newcastle United and Celtic.

Jedward's Music Career

Starting with The X Factor (2009–2012)

Jedward performing live on the X Factor Tour in 2010

In 2008, John and Edward formed a music duo. The next year, they auditioned for the sixth series of The X Factor in Glasgow. They called themselves John & Edward. Even though judge Simon Cowell said they were "not very good," they made it to the live shows. Their mentor, Louis Walsh, chose them for his team.

John & Edward became known for their energetic performances. One famous performance was their version of Britney Spears' "Oops!... I Did It Again". After The X Factor, Louis Walsh continued to manage them.

From February to April 2010, they performed on The X Factor Live tour. They were very popular, and the tour was extended because of high demand. Their first song, "Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby)", was a mix of two songs. Vanilla Ice even sang on it! In March 2010, Jedward signed a new music deal with Universal Music Ireland.

In April 2010, Jedward started their first solo tour called the Planet Jedward Tour. It had 27 shows in Ireland and later expanded to the UK. The Irish Independent newspaper said that "Jedwardmania" was as big as "Beatlemania." Their second song, "All the Small Things", came out in July 2010. Their first album, Planet Jedward, was released the same week. It went straight to number one in Ireland. In August 2010, Jedward had their own TV show called Jedward: Let Loose.

Victory Album and Eurovision (2011–2012)

Jedward performing live on the X Factor Tour in 2010

On February 12, 2011, Jedward released their third song, "Lipstick". This song was their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. It reached number one in Ireland. Jedward did well at Eurovision, finishing in eighth place. After the contest, "Lipstick" became popular in many European countries. It was even used in a Hyundai advertisement in Asia.

Soon after Eurovision, Jedward performed for 60,000 people in Dublin. This was before a speech by visiting U.S. President Barack Obama. In April 2011, Jedward started their second tour, the Bad Behaviour Tour, in Ireland.

Their next song, "Bad Behaviour", was released in July and also reached number one in Ireland. Two weeks later, their second album, Victory, came out. This album had all new songs. In July, Jedward started their third tour, The Carnival Tour. They played shows across Ireland and Northern Ireland. In September, they toured Europe for the first time, visiting Sweden and Germany.

Three days after their tour ended, Jedward joined the TV show Celebrity Big Brother 8. They made it to the final and finished in third place. The song "Wow Oh Wow" was released in August 2011. Its music video featured their Celebrity Big Brother housemate Tara Reid. In December, Jedward starred in a Christmas play called Jedward and the Beanstalk.

Young Love and More Tours (2012–2013)

Jedward performing at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011

Jedward won the Irish selection for the Eurovision Song Contest again in 2012. This time, they sang "Waterline". In May, they performed "Waterline" at the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Azerbaijan. They finished in 19th place in the final. "Waterline" was also the main song from their third album, Young Love, released in June. Other songs from the album, "Young Love" and "Luminous", were also released as singles.

Jedward also released a charity song for the UEFA Euro 2012 football tournament. It was called "Put the Green Cape On" and was a new version of "Lipstick". They went on the European part of their Victory Tour in January. They played in Austria, Germany, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia. This was followed by the Young Love Tour in Ireland in August. They also visited Singapore, where their new album was very popular.

In June, they carried the 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay in Dublin. The twins also starred in their own TV series called Jedward's Weird Wild World. In this show, they humorously presented popular internet videos. Over Christmas and New Year, their shows OMG! Jedward's Dream Factory and Jedward's Big Adventure were broadcast. Jedward also starred in their third Christmas play, Jedward & the Magic Lamp.

In January 2013, the twins visited Toronto, Canada, to promote their music. They appeared on TV shows and filmed a music video for their song "Happens in the Dark". Later that month, it was announced that their contract with Universal Music Ireland would not be renewed.

The music video for "Happens in the Dark" was shown in March. In April, the twins filmed a video for "What's Your Number?" in New York City. They also visited Australia to promote their music. In June, Jedward performed with the band Aslan at a concert for their lead singer, Christy Dignam. In July, the twins performed live shows in Cork and Limerick. They also toured Australia in November. While there, they released the music video for "Can't Forget You".

Recent Projects (2014–Present)

In January 2014, the third series of their CBBC TV show Jedward's Big Adventure was shown. It was so popular that the number of episodes was doubled. They also gave weekly style comments for a music competition in Sweden. In April 2014, Jedward released their new song "Free Spirit" in Australia. They also announced that their fourth album would be released later that year. This album would have songs written and produced by Jedward themselves. Their next song, "Ferocious", was released in November 2014. In November 2014, it was announced that John and Edward would join a new circus TV show called Get Your Act Together in 2015.

Between 2014 and 2018, they released several new songs they wrote themselves. They also directed the music videos for these songs. In February 2017, the twins confirmed they were working on their fourth album. They signed with Universal Music Singapore in April 2019. Their fourth album, Voice of a Rebel, was released on June 20, 2019, in Asia, and then worldwide on June 27.

Helping Others

Jedward were among the top charity helpers in Ireland in 2011. They are ambassadors for the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC). They have supported ISPCC campaigns. The money from their Euro 2012 charity song "Put the Green Cape On" also went to the ISPCC. From 2010 to 2013, Jedward performed every year at the ChildLine Concert. This concert helps the ISPCC's ChildLine service.

In Ireland, Jedward has also worked with the ISPCA and promoted the Concern Worldwide Fast fundraiser. In the UK, Jedward has been involved with Comic Relief, Sport Relief, and Children in Need. They also visit children in hospitals to cheer them up.

Other Activities

Advertisements

In 2009, Jedward were part of a Tourism Ireland radio advertisement. In 2010, Jedward promoted the Irish fast food chain Abrakebabra. They have also appeared in advertisements for East Midlands Trains, Rowntree's Randoms, Disney Universe, and Travel Supermarket. The Travel Supermarket ad was later banned because it was misleading. In 2011, they promoted the mobile network 3 Ireland. They even had their own Jedward-branded mobile phone.

Stage Shows

Between 2010 and 2013, Jedward performed in a Christmas play every year. These plays were at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin and also starred Linda Martin. John and Edward played themselves, and the shows featured Jedward's songs. Their first show was Cinderella in 2010, where they played the fairy godbrothers. In 2011, they returned with a sold-out show called Jedward and the Beanstalk. In 2012, they performed in Jedward and the Magic Lamp. Their fourth and last play was Jedward in Beauty and the Beast in 2013.

Jedward's Influence

While on The X Factor, Jedward had many famous fans, including Pixie Lott and Robbie Williams. The Irish leader, Taoiseach Brian Cowen, also supported them. Even former UK Prime Minister David Cameron said he enjoyed watching The X Factor and that Jedward was his favorite act. He even bought a T-shirt with their faces on it!

Music Albums

• Planet Jedward (2010)
• Victory (2011)
• Young Love (2012)
• Voice of a Rebel (2019)

TV Shows and Movies

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Jedward para niños