Red Carpet Biz @RedCarpetBiz

Congratulations to @nickymcdonald1 who has been voted Male Solo Rising Star of the Year 2014 in association with @staying_cool #RedCarpetBiz

Whoop whoop!

Aw, that's made my day!

Good for him!

Yaaay! Chuffed for him

Just popping on to say well done to Nicky for his win

I supported Luke of course, but kept forgetting to vote, till someone posted the link again

Awww that's so nice Patti-Ann.

I voted for Luke once by mistake - didn't regret it he's a nice kid too

Thanks for that Patti Ann. I forgot to vote too, until you reminded me

G'won Nicky lad.

How fantastic that is. Nicky is just going to go from strength to strength...and we're all going to be there every step of the way.

It's weird because I've never taken to any X Factor contestant in the way I have with Nicky. There's just something about Nicky that makes me admire him. It's a combination of his vocal tone when he sings, his endless charity work and wanting to help others - particularly young kids who are suffering with life threatening illnesses, and his cheeky funny personality.

Thanks Patti-Ann. I notice some on the Luke thread aren't being quite as charitable as yourself so it's extra-lovely you popped in to say that.

This is a nice pic from the Garage gig the other day.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BmUZMrMIYAAGFGP.jpgrig

Sony has been doing well in the Red Carpet polls and got all three awards:

Nicky: male solo rising star
Camryn (touring with One Direction): female solo rising star
Alex & Sierra (winners X-Factor USA 2013): best band rising star

They may have a stepwise strategy for Nicky.

Well I suppose the Red Carpet award was only really ever between Nicky and Luke, and Luke's also signed to Sony so I doubt they would be too bothered which of them won. But a stepwise strategy, if indeed a strategy is in place, would probably be the best route to go for a formative talent like Nicky.

Me neither. I've always watched but never particularly cared who won and then immediately forgotten about them. I'm still embarrassed to admit I'm a fan of an X Factor contestant now. I wanted to go to the tour but was too mortified to ask any of my friends. He's just my guilty pleasure

My name is Singlefish and I'm a Nicky fan

I should have elaborated on my comment. I meant Nicky is the only contestant from the Boys category who has really impressed me. There have been quite a few horrendous "boys" who have made the live shows over the years and Nicky is so far ahead of everyone else imo - including Joe McElderry who, despite saying at the time how fantastic a singer he was, I never regarded as a popstar and thought his vocal style was a bit too theatrical for my liking.

Yeah, I guess Nicky is my guilty pleasure too. I've not exactly gone to work and say "yeah, I bought an album yesterday. It's was that young lad off X Factor" or boasting "yeah, I was chatting to Nicky's mum on Facebook".

I still hope that someone out there will stumble across my mix Forever On The Dancefloor and consider some type of release of the song. I can dream....

All of the above, me too

Son 3 is coming to the races with me to see Nicky, but only because I blackmailed him (it's my b'day next month, 'come with me as my present'. The shame) :blush

None of the other contestants have struck a single chord with me - wish them good luck and immediately forget about them. This wee man is something different, just something in his voice....... and the blue eyes

Joe is pretty faultless as a singer. I liked Olly that series but by the final it was pretty difficult not to come to the conclusion that it was Joe who deserved to win. But he was never really going to be a POP star. It's nice to see that he's found a path that's providing him with success though, away from the rather narrow parameters of what XF is supposed to produce.

I usually have a favourite most series. Misha B, Matt and Alexandra spring to mind. Last year was lacking though as although I liked both Ella and Jahmene early on, they both struggled quite badly with pitching on the live shows and Ella in particular started to bore me to the point of irritation.

Nicky has quite conclusively become my favourite all-time XF contestant.

I've only ever followed two acts from X-Factor, Jedward and Nicky. I like acts every year but only those two acts have grabbed me. I only go for the special ones .

Jedward? Special?!!!

Oh poor ChristmasCake

Yeah honestly, they're such great guys!

Uh oh. Don't get Cake started on Jedward again unless you have something to cower behind..

Haha I'm not that bad!

I miss Nicky on the posters for Summer events, e.g.:

Fusion Festival Birmingham, 30 August
https://twitter.com/LukeFriendMusic/...27265026469889
... Luke Friend, Elyar Fox, ...

Scarborough Open Air Theatre, 23 August
https://twitter.com/UnionJworld/stat...878658/photo/1
... Luke Friend, Rough Copy...

I imagine this is a knock on from not having had experienced pro-active management behind him. Luke's got a big company behind him. RC have had management since before the XF.

...but then again that Scarborough Open Air Theatre, 23 August line up is like a who's who in the world of flash in the pan music acts.

I mean, who even IS Ollie Marland?!!! Think it's safe to say Olly Murs shouldn't be too worried.

The other things regarding these festivals is whether Nicky is available on those dates, as there's a chance he might already have other plans for those dates.

So I'm not too bothered if Nicky isn't part of the Fusion Festival line up, or Radio 1's Big Weekend line up - even if it's practically the most perfect gig he could do this summer considering it's in Glasgow.

Just as long as Nicky does get booked to play a number of festivals/gigs. If we get to the first week of August and Nicky fans are still waiting for an announcement over any summer gigs and festivals, then would be the time to start worrying.