G4 star signs major record deal

G4 star Jonathan Ansell - who found fame on The X Factor - has signed a £1 million solo deal.

The blonde singer is the first member of the classical group to go it alone since they split in the summer.

He has landed a five-album deal with Universal Music, who believe he can be the classical world's answer to Justin Timberlake.

After being discovered on The X Factor, G4 went on to sell two million albums worldwide.

Jonathan said: "I'm incredibly excited to be signing to Universal, and thrilled to be pursuing a solo career.

"It's been an amazing journey to this point and I think, at the start of this new chapter in my career, anything is possible.

"Three years ago I was at music college and I went on the X Factor with some mates for a bit of fun, and now I've got my own deal."

The 25-year-old is managed by Jonathan Shalit, the man who discovered Charlotte Church and who currently looks after Jamelia and Myleene Klass.

He shot to fame with friends Matthew Stiff, Mike Christie and Ben Thapa on the X Factor in 2004.

They were runners-up but soon eclipsed the career of series winner Steve Brookstein.

But the band decided to go their separate ways after their summer tour when relations between them soured.

Jonathan admitted: "We would be rowing backstage then have to put on fake smiles for the fans."