I thought One Direction were quite poor on Sunday both vocally and performance wise. To hear them being introduced as the biggest band on the planet was quite cringeworthy.

Does anyone remember Union J performing 'You Got it All' last year? I thought they were superb vocally and they're all good looking lads who are very marketable. Really surprised that they haven't been given the backing to go to the next level as One Direction seems to more of a brand than actual talent.

Union J was never gonna go anywhere as they were never a proper band but just a cheap clone project by Louis to snatch up some of the money that drops off the overflowing OD bowl.

If I recall correctly, Union J were a band but had George added to them in the same way Liam was thrown into OneD?

I also doubt that Union J were Louis' creation given that he was just a puppet. I'm sure it was down to the show's bosses.

Yes I agree they weren't at their best vocally and am sure UJ would be the same if they had been touring for 5 years solid! I am glad they are having a rest their vocals need it

Well Louis was their mentor but either way neither him or the powers that be were ever interested in them as a music act in their own right.
I think that was blatantly obvious from the get go.

I actually liked the Union J guys but I don't think they ever had much of a chance.

It's worth noting that they were at least invited back to perform as guests the following year which is better than being completely discarded like most other former contestants.

I think it could be down to bad timing - One D are still in their prime and selling well. Had they been winding down then Union J could have stepped in and filled the gap but it was probably a few years too soon.

I think all member's of union j are very attractive unlike 1d so you could say they've been unlucky, however taking away you got it all which is a good song, I think their other singles have been awful

Was liam not an original member of 1D?

So is it all basically too late for Union J now? I thought they were still together and I'm sure saw one of them on the celebrity pointless quiz show a few weeks ago, so had thought that they were still "in there"....

Maybe they could step in when !D have their break....?

I'm sure most of them auditioned as solos and were thrown together, I recall Harry's audition as a solo.

All of them auditioned as soloists and were eliminated at the boot camp stage. But Simon thought that they got rid of too many people with potential, so formed a girl band and a boy band out of them. The boy band was One Direction and the girl band didn't get through judges house.

The girl band they put together was Belle Amie, and they did get through to the live shows. Think they went around week 3.

You right, I forgot all about Belle Amie.

Union J can sing much, much better than One Direction and they come across much nicer too. Unfortunately they came around when 1D were at their peak. When 1D came along there was a gap in the market for them so fans jumped on them and Simon saw pound signs ringing and pumped millions into them. When Union J came along 1D were at their peak...Union J didn't get decent song writers. If Union J had come along in 2010 instead of 1D, then Union J would be the biggest boy band in the world right now and not the other way around. They're still signed by the way...they're due to release their third album next year.

I agree,way more likeable than 1d,they look angry at having to even get on stage.

The problem with Union J during their time on X Factor was that they didn't have their own identity. Each member seemed to be styled based on one member of One Direction.

One of the lads in Union J even had the dreadful hairstyle that Harry from 1D was sporting at the same time. There was just nothing unique or original, and that's why they struggled to become an alternative like The Wanted were. Union J were One Direction - just a watered down version.

Even on the show, I never could tell the difference between Union J and District3...