Celebrity X Factor ‘to feature boy band made up of rugby players’

A trio of rugby players are reported to have signed up for the Celebrity X Factor.

Instead of its usual series, this year The X Factor is set to air a special season with some familiar faces as contestants.

Sports stars Thom Evans, Ben Foden and Levi Davis are said to have formed a group to compete on the new ITV series.

The Daily Mirror newspaper report that although best known for their rugby, the trio aren’t complete strangers to the music scene.

Thom used to be in a boy band which supported Westlife and McFly, Ben tried out for Pop Idol when he was 18 and Levi has performed in a band called Majesti.

Alongside the boyband made up of rugby stars, a group of Love Islanders have also apparently signed up.

Reports claim that former Islanders Zara McDermott, Eyal Booker, Wes Nelson and Samira Mighty are set to team up to sing in the competition.

Meanwhile other rumoured celebs for the Celebrity X Factor include former Strictly Come Dancing pro Brendan Cole.

Brendan was a professional dancer on BBC One’s Strictly from the first series up until last year.

Now Brendan is said to be in talks for a very different TV project.

A source told The Sun newspaper: “It’s also not lost on him that appearing on a rival channel in a big prime time slot is a bit of a two fingers up at his old bosses at the BBC.”

More rumoured celebrity X Factor contestants include The Chase star Jenny ‘The Vixen’ Ryan, Corrie star Lucy Fallon, chat show icon Ricki Lake, Love Actually star Olivia Olson, reality sensation Gemma Collins, TV presenter Caroline Flack, TV personality Megan McKenna and actor John Barrowman.

Also linked to the show have been footballer turned actor Vinnie Jones, EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa and even BGT judge Amanda Holden.

The X Factor airs on ITV.

Official details about this year’s series have still to be confirmed.