The X Factor's Janet Devlin didn't forget the words to 'MMMBop' she was going to be SICK 🤢
The singer reveals what really happened
Last updated 26th Aug 2020
Fleur East appeared on The X Factor twice, once as part of a group and then solo, so it only seems right that she is joined by an X Factor quarter-finalist for her brand new podcast, The Reality of Reality TV with Fleur East.
Dropping every Tuesday, Fleur takes a look behind-the-scenes of some of the biggest reality TV shows around and this week it's Janet Devlin who was an X Factor quarter-finalist in 2011, in the year that Little Mix became the first group to win the show.
Janet rose to fame on The X Factor in 2011 and since then she's continued to release music. Janet joined Fleur to talk about her experiences of The X Factor, her mental health issues and her relationship with her mentor Kelly Rowland, Gary Barlow and Dermot O’Leary.
During the interview, Janet revealed what actually happened during that performance of 'MMMBop', when many viewers thought she had just forgotten the words.
Explaining to Fleur she said, "My 'MMMBop' fail on national TV, definitely Top 10 mess ups on TV ever! And I honestly am trying my best to repress that memory. Every time I hear 'MMMBop' a part of my soul dies and basically I'm like 'oh god'.
"I don't think I've ever actually spoken about it."
She went on to describe how most people think she forgot her lyrics, but what actually happened was that in the weeks running up to it, she hadn't been eating the same amount of food because she was too stressed.
"I remember not haven't eaten properly for ages and then I had these Japanese noodles they used to make in the studio, and eating the whole tub. And I hadn't been able to eat the whole tub ever, and I absolutely shouldn't have, because then I went into this complete state of 'I'm going to be sick'."
Despite feeling ill she still went ahead with her performance of the 90s song, and just as she was about to start the second verse she was felt bile in her mouth! 🤢
"Do I swallow that, or be the girl who throws up on national television?" 😱
In each episode Fleur speaks to someone who has appeared on TV shows such as, Big Brother, Strictly Come Dancing, Celebs Go Dating, and of course The X Factor and I'm a Celeb, which Fleur herself also starred in herself.
Read more about The Reality of Reality TV episodes below:
Episode 1: RuPauls' Drag Race UK winner - The Vivienne
In Episode 1 is all about RuPaul's Drag Race UK, the gruelling work involved in the show, why drag is not just fab make-up and a gorgeous body, and what REALLY happened in that 'red wig and silver dress' moment. 👀
Next episode lands Tuesday 14th July, make sure you subscribe so you don't miss out.
Episode 2: The X Factor's Janet Devlin
"Do I swallow that, or be the girl who throws up on national television?" Quite the conundrum for Janet Devlin, singer-songwriter, and finalist on The X Factor, who joins Fleur East on The Reality of Reality TV.
Episode 3: Alison Hammond
Alison Hammond has been on a lot of Reality TV shows, but there are some she wouldn't go on, Fleur East caught up with her to find out what she wouldn't go on.
Episode 4: Love Island's Amber Gill
Since leaving the famous Love Island villa, Amber has remained in the public eye, so we were over the moon to have her join The Reality of Reality TV with Fleur East, when she revealed how she really felt after THAT Casa Amor moment.
Episode 5: Vas J Morgan
Vas J Morgan is known for appearing on The Only Way In Essex (TOWIE) between 2014 – 2019 as well as Celebs Go Dating, so we couldn't wait to hear his realities of Reality TV.
Episode 6: JB Gill
JLS singer JB Gill admitted that they saw The X Factor almost as a last resort. The band had been working together for 18 months before they went on the programme, but as JB explained they'd tried every avenue before.
Episode 7: Harry Redknapp
Coming from a background of football, Harry Redknapp seemed an unlikely contestant on I'm A Celebrity when he took part two years ago, but he describes his experience on the show as life-changing, saying he, "Learnt to laugh again."
Episode 8: Vicky Pattison
Former Geordie Shore star and I'm a Celebrity winner, Vicky Pattison joined Fleur East to talk about her experiences of Reality TV and how two of the biggest shows she's been on differed in their support and preparation.
Episode 9: Jordan and Perri from Diversity
Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely are part of the very successful Britain's Got Talent winning group Diversity, and have opened up to Fleur East on her podcast The Reality of Reality TV with Fleur East about the hate they received and how they dealt with the haters.
Episode 10: Kerry Katona
Kerry Katona needs no introduction and in her own words, 'you hear before you see her!'. Through highs and lows, husbands and children, she's been gracing our reality TV screens for almost twenty years. So in the final episode of this series of The Reality of Reality TV with Fleur East, she speaks openly and honestly to one of our absolute Queens of Reality TV.
During Episode 1, The Vivienne also explained why you shouldn't blame edits for how you’re depicted on TV.
The Vivienne also revealed what actually happened during that ‘red wig and silver dress moment’, and how Donald Trump and Cher are related.
The Reality of Reality TV is available every Tuesday through Apple podcasts, Spotify, the Forth 1 website and all mainstream podcast providers.