Producers quickly got in touch with Blair Dreelan to see if Triple J would be able to return to The X Factor – but they had another suggestion as well. Louis had felt that the band would benefit from adding another member to the line-up, and they already had someone in mind. Blair explained to Sugarscape.com that The X Factor suggested putting a fourth member into his group. Initially unsure of this idea, Blair was amazed when producers told him who they were thinking of to take this fourth spot. It was the same George Shelley that he knew and was now managing – what were the chances in a competition where 180,000 people had auditioned? It seemed like fate to Blair and so he accepted their suggestion.
The X Factor and Blair prepped the Triple J boys for what was about to happen – they were going to become a four-piece! The boys were chuffed – after all, they’d met George at Bootcamp and already hit it off with him. Jaymi had even shown Blair a picture of George, telling him how he thought he looked amazing. He’d then used his computer skills to scan in George to a line-up of Triple J, unwittingly predicting what would really happen to the band in real life when they became Union J. Triple J’s manager sensed that their personalities would mesh well, but with only a few days before they were due to go to Judges’ Houses, time was of the essence. The boys spent the next four days getting to know each other and practising their singing for the competition. It was a whirlwind time: just a few days before, they had thought their X Factor dreams were finished, and now they were about to return for a second chance at a place in the live shows with an extra member, in a doubly shocking twist.
It was a thrilling time for the newly formed band, who hit it off as a foursome straight away. ‘When they suggested it, it made sense,’ the boys told We Love Pop magazine. ‘When George came along, it wasn’t a big deal, as we were literally all so new to each other anyway.’ It was a second chance at The X Factor that none of them had been expecting after their bruising Bootcamp experience, and they were ready to take it on. After telling their families this exciting news, the boys began packing for the mystery destination. But one more thing needed to be sorted out before they could leave: a new name. Obviously, they couldn’t be ‘Triple J’ any more. Instead, the boys put their heads together and came up with an idea – they would take the name ‘Union Jack’ and shorten it to ‘Union J’, representing all their names. Although George’s name began with a G, it had a similar sound. As Jaymi pointed out later, even when they tried to change it to the Spanish spelling of George – Jorge – it wouldn’t work, because that was pronounced ‘Hor-hay’! And so Union J were born and they immediately released their first statement to the media. ‘We couldn’t believe it when we got the call about going to Judges’ Houses, and of course we jumped at the chance,’ they said. ‘It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We’re so happy to be a four-piece, too. The group feels so right together – it feels like we’ve been together for years!’
It was time for the groups to discover who was to mentor them and where they were going. Firstly, waiting at the airport, they discovered their destination – Las Vegas! The boys and the six other groups boarded their plane and spent the long journey across the Atlantic full of nerves and expectation. However, they also used the time to their advantage, practising harmonies and singing – after all, they’d only had a few days together so far, and this was an incredible opportunity to potentially make their dreams come true. Arriving in the dazzling American city, they all headed to Caesars Palace hotel and casino to find out who was going to mentor them. Pulling up in a white stretch limo, it was Louis Walsh! The longest-serving X Factor judge, Louis was also a seasoned manager of boybands, having driven both Boyzone and Westlife to huge success. He explained to the waiting wannabes that although there were seven of them in front of him, there was only room on the show for three acts – less than 50 per cent. The bands making it through would be the ones who impressed Louis by committing themselves fully to the competition the next day. Accompanying him was Sharon Osbourne, the former X Factor judge and a renowned music manager in her own right. Her advice was also deadly serious – the groups there had the chance for the biggest break of their life. In the setting of Las Vegas, where superstars from around the world performed, they had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As if the groups needed reminding. Meanwhile, the other acts gathered in different corners of the globe to sing for their lives. Gary Barlow was at the grand Boughton House in Northamptonshire with the Over-28s, where Cheryl Cole came to offer advice. Nicole Scherzinger took her Boys to Dubai, with Ne-Yo as her second-in-command. Lastly, Tulisa took her Girls all the way to St Lucia, where Tinie Tempah helped her choose.
But for Union J over in Nevada, there wasn’t any time to relax in the opulent surroundings of their hotel or to enjoy the thrills of the Las Vegas Strip – soon they would perform for the first time ever as a group, and this performance was to seal their fate for good. Now the pressure was on more than ever. George could barely comprehend that in just ten minutes, they would be performing in front of the judges. As the boys sat in the hotel, Jaymi mused on the turnaround in their fortunes – just a few days ago they hadn’t even been together as a four-piece and now they had the chance to make it happen. It was clear they were still overwhelmed by what had happened to them. Fortunately the boys had bonded very quickly and, despite going through a ‘rollercoaster’ four days, they already knew that they had a brilliant rapport. They were so tightly connected, they felt like brothers. Although Triple J had been a great group, Jaymi knew that as a four-piece they could take on the world.
Finally, the boys strolled down the steps onto the hotel rooftop. It was night-time and the shimmering lights of Las Vegas below proved a dramatic backdrop to Union J’s first ever performance. Louis and Sharon sat forward on a luxurious white sofa, keen to listen as the boys, dressed for the warm weather in T-shirts and long shorts, steeled themselves. Louis quizzed the boys on what this chance would mean to them – if they made it through. Josh earnestly declared that it would be the best thing ever – returning home after their last disappointment had been crushing. Now they had a second chance at their dream. George shook his head, trying to take in this surreal situation. It was time for Union J to perform as Louis asked them to start.
This was their moment. George began gently strumming his guitar and Josh started singing the first few bars of Carly Rae Jepsen’s ‘Call Me Maybe’, an up-tempo dance track that had been everywhere in 2012. The boys slowed it right down and turned it into a sweet, romantic song, complete with stunning harmonies. Louis and Sharon leaned forward on their sofa, ears pricked up once they realised they were hearing something special. As the boys got into the song, their confidence grew and they started to smile and enjoy themselves. This positivity proved infectious and the savvy, seen-it-all-before Sharon began to smile as well. She and Louis looked at each other and nodded – this was going well. Louis thanked the group as the boys finished, sounding surprised at how faultlessly this brand-new boyband had performed together. Dermot O’Leary, who was waiting for Union J to the side, wanted to know how it had been for them. George was stunned and could barely get the words out, but explained briefly that it had been very affecting. Meanwhile, Louis and Sharon were discussing the boys, but it wasn’t a 100 per cent glowing reception. Sharon noted that a couple of the boys – she didn’t say who – had developed amateur tics with their delivery and performance. But Louis insisted that they had the potential to be much, much better if they worked hard. The boys returned later to sing their second song – ‘Forever Young’ by Mr Hudson – and delivered another impressive rendition, with perfect harmonies and Jaymi showcasing his powerful voice. Afterwards, talking to Caroline Flack on The Xtra Factor, it was evident that Union J were loving singing as a four. JJ enthusiastically agreed that, aside from their nerves, it had been a brilliant experience.
But it wouldn’t be long before they learned their fate. The next morning, the four boys were up on the hotel rooftop again, waiting to hear Louis’s verdict. The hot sun beat down on them, intensifying the tension that they undoubtedly felt. For them, it was a strange feeling of déjà vu, as they prayed that this time they would hear good news. An emotional Jaymi couldn’t bear the thought