The X Factor may have turned him into a pop star, but that doesn’t mean 15-year-old Charlie Jones' schooldays are behind him yet.

The teenage sensation entered last year’s contest as a solo artist but found himself in the live finals as part of the eight-piece boyband Stereo Kicks, who finished fifth.

Since then the boys have toured arenas with their fellow X Factor finalists before immediately embarking on their own headline tour.

Now they’re on the cusp of hitting the charts with their debut single, Love Me So.

Charlie, from Welling, told News Shopper: “I absolutely can’t wait. It seems like ages since it was out for pre-order. We’re really excited for it to be released. We can’t wait for the reaction.”

He added: “In 11 years of X Factor, we have done the most in this amount of time by far.

News Shopper:

“Everyone has said since we were put together that they haven’t seen this reaction since One Direction, which is obviously a massive, massive compliment.”

All that success has not meant Charlie can abandon his studies, however, and he currently balances the demands of pop stardom with studying for GCSEs at Wilmington Grammar.

He said: “It’s a bit of a struggle but my school is incredible at managing it. I do have a lot of time off.

“When I’m needed and we’re doing gigs or when we’re touring and things like that I have to miss school.

“If we’re not doing anything then I’ll go to school Monday to Friday but I’ll miss days here and there or maybe a week if we’re busy.

“My school is very, very good and I’ve been able to keep up with my education as well as doing my music.”


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When he first auditioned for the X Factor, Charlie thought being in a group ‘wasn’t really my cup of tea’ but has taken well to it and says now if they’re missing a member it doesn’t feel right.

He said: “We only have our sound, our full talent and full potential when we’re an eight piece.”

For fans, more members clearly means more to love and Stereo Kicks get their fair share of followers.

Charlie said: “Everywhere we go there has been fans outside. We have been places when we’ve had no clue where we’re going and there are still fans. It doesn’t make sense, it’s like they’re psychic.

“At one of the gigs we did before the X Factor tour we were in our little bus and we just left the gig and were on the way back to the hotel and literally 100 girls chased our bus and started banging on the windows of the bus in the busiest road you can imagine. It was absolutely mental.”

At 15, Charlie is the baby of the group, which isn’t always easy.

He said: “I have missed out on a lot, which is very hard. I still miss out on things now but not as much.

“I’m used to it now – I know what I can do and what I can’t do. When I’m with the boys, they are very supportive and they know that it can upset me if I can’t do things. They kind of support me through it I guess. It’s no big issue any more.”

While the last year has been busy and full of opportunities for the boys, you get the sense the next one could be even more so, and Charlie is just enjoying being part of it.

He said: “Ever since I can remember I’ve wanted what I’ve got at the moment. I’m incredibly lucky to be in the situation I am at the moment.

“It is a lot of hard work. It is not 100 per cent fun and games, it’s work at the end of the day.

“It is amazing to do and it is the best job – if you can class it as a job – that anyone could do. It is so much fun and we’re genuinely best mates.”

Stereo Kicks’ debut single Love Me So is out June 21.

Meet Stereo Kicks when they make public appearances at BHS stores in Milton Keynes from 4.30pm to 6.30pm on June 25, Lakeside from 1pm to 3pm on June 27 and Oxford Street from 1pm to 3pm on June 28.