Eoghan Quigg
{{short description|Northern Irish pop singer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Eoghan Quigg
| birth_name = Eoghan Karl Christopher Quigg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1992|7|12}}
| birth_place = Dungiven, Londonderry, Northern Ireland
| genre = Pop
| occupation = Singer
| years_active = 2008–present
| label = RCA (2008–2010)
Sony BMG (2008–2010)
| website = [https://twitter.com/EoghanQuigg92 Twitter Account]
}}
Eoghan Karl Christopher Quigg ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|oʊ|ɪ|n}}; born 12 July 1992) is a singer from Northern Ireland, who was the last contestant eliminated in the fifth series of the music talent contest The X Factor in 2008 finishing in third place.
As a result of his X Factor success, Quigg was due to be signed by Simon Cowell, X Factor creator/producer and owner and CEO of Syco Records, but was instead signed to RCA after Cowell pulled out. Quigg released an eponymous studio album in 2009, which was critically panned.{{cite news|author=McCreary, Matthew|date= 21 April 2009|url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/will-eoghan-quigg-survive-his-public-flogging-1671759.html|title= Will Eoghan Quigg survive his public flogging?|work= The Independent|access-date= 25 June 2017}} Quigg competed in the Irish national selection for the chance to represent Ireland in 2014 at the Eurovision Song Contest but finished second.
Early life
Eoghan Karl Christopher Quigg was born on 12 July 1992 and grew up in Dungiven, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Singing along to Disney cartoons since the age of two,{{cite web|url=http://xfactor.itv.com/stories/story-detail/item_100205.htm|title=The X Factor – Story Detail – Finalist: Eoghan Quigg|publisher=xfactor.itv.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218060624/http://xfactor.itv.com/stories/story-detail/item_100205.htm|archive-date=18 December 2008|date=5 October 2008|access-date=10 March 2009}} Quigg found his voice when he was in class and told to stand up and sing as a punishment. To the teacher's surprise he sang well, which led to his becoming a choir boy. From then on he sang lead roles in school musicals, such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/x-factor-boys-braced-for-bootcamp/28449290.html|title=X-Factor boys braced for bootcamp|last=Coleman|first=Maureen|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph.co.uk |date=26 September 2008|via=www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk}}
Career
=Singing career=
==2007–2008: ''The X Factor''==
In 2008, Quigg auditioned for the talent show The X Factor in front of judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole. Quigg got past the "judges' houses" stage of the competition, and made it to the live shows in Cowell's 14–24 boys group, along with Scott Bruton and Austin Drage. On the first live show, Quigg sang "Imagine" and was highly praised by the judges. On the second live show (Michael Jackson week) he sang "Ben" which was also praised. On Big Band week Quigg sang "L-O-V-E" and received a standing ovation from the judges and the crowd. After the eliminations of Bruton and Drage in weeks 3 and 4 respectively, Quigg became Cowell's last remaining act in the competition. He made it to the semi-finals and after performances of "Year 3000" and "Does Your Mother Know" was voted through to the final.
Quigg eventually became the last contestant eliminated, with Alexandra Burke the winner, and JLS runners-up.
=== Performances on ''The X Factor'' ===
| class="wikitable" |
| style="text-align:left"|Week
! style="text-align:left"|Song choice ! style="text-align:left"|Theme ! style="text-align:left"|Result |
|---|
| style="background:lightgreen"
| Week 1 |"Imagine" |Number One Songs in UK and US |1st |
| style="background:lightgreen"
| Week 2 |"Ben" |Songs by Michael Jackson or The Jackson 5 |1st |
| style="background:lightgreen"
| Week 3 |"L-O-V-E" |1st |
| style="background:lightgreen"
| Week 4 |1st |
| style="background:lightgreen"
| Week 5 |Songs by Mariah Carey |1st |
| Week 6
| "One More Try" |Best of British |2nd |
| style="background:lightgreen"
| Week 7 | "Never Forget" |Songs by Take That |1st |
| rowspan="2"|Quarter-final
|"Sometimes" |Songs by Britney Spears |rowspan="2"|3rd |
| "We're All in This Together"
|American Classics |
| rowspan="2"|Semi-final
|"Year 3000" |Mentor's Choice |rowspan="2"|3rd |
| "Does Your Mother Know"
|Contestant's Choice |
| style="background:pink"
|rowspan="3"|Final |"I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" |Christmas Song |rowspan="3"|Eliminated |
| style="background:pink"
|"Picture of You" (with Boyzone) |Celebrity Duet |
| style="background:pink"
|Contestant's Favourite |
==2008–09: Post ''X Factor''==
Quigg appeared at the Cheerios Childline Concert at the Dublin O2 in Dublin on 16 December 2008, among acts including Enrique Iglesias, Anastacia and Irish boy band Boyzone. In December he also appeared on The Late Late Show where it was announced that Boyzone had invited him on their UK and Ireland Better Tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a139230/boyzone-invite-x-factor-eoghan-on-tour.html |title=Boyzone invite 'X Factor' Eoghan on tour|last=Balls|first=David|work=Digital Spy|date=24 December 2008|access-date=10 March 2009}} On 15 January 2009 it was announced that Quigg had landed a record deal with Syco's parent company Sony BMG.{{cite web|url=http://www.derryjournal.com/county/Sony-record-deal-for-Quigg.4885363.jp |title=Major record deal for Eoghan |work=Derry Journal |access-date=10 March 2009}} He later signed to RCA Records.
==2009: Studio album==
{{Main|Eoghan Quigg (album)}}
Quigg released his only album, titled Eoghan Quigg, on 6 April 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/8903081/-/Product.html?searchstring=Eoghan+Quigg&searchsource=0#jp |title=(UK) : Eoghan Quigg – Eoghan Quigg : CD – Free Delivery |publisher=Play.com |access-date=10 March 2009}} "28,000 Friends", its sole single, peaked at no. 96 in the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/28+000+Friends |title=The Official Charts Company – 28 000 Friends by Eoghan Quigg Search |date=11 July 2013 |publisher=The Official Charts Company }} The album charted at number 14 and spent 3 weeks in the top 100.[http://acharts.us/album/42960 Eoghan Quigg Chart Statistics on aCharts.us] Retrieved on 6 July 2009 It debuted at Number 1 on the Irish Albums Chart, and left the charts eight weeks later. The album met with what Matthew McCreary in The Independent described as a critical "savaging". Many reviewers,{{cite journal|last=Walker|first=Gail|date=21 April 2009|title=Don't you worry Eoghan, it hasn't all gone pop just yet|journal=The Belfast Telegraph|publisher=Independent News & Media|quote=[Eoghan Quigg] is widely described as the worst album ever.}} including Peter Robinson of The Guardian,{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/apr/18/eoghan-quigg-x-factor-pop|title=Factored out|access-date=18 April 2009|work=The Guardian|location=London|first=Peter|last=Robinson|date=18 April 2009}} called it one of the worst records ever made. Criticism was directed at its lack of original material, low production values and poor singing performance from Quigg.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a151813/eoghan-quigg-eoghan-quigg.html |title=Eoghan Quigg: 'Eoghan Quigg'|date=5 April 2009|work=Digital Spy|access-date=10 December 2011}}[http://www.allmusic.com/album/eoghan-quigg-mw0000833157 Eoghan Quigg]. AllMusic. Retrieved 31 July 2016. Following disappointing album sales, he was dropped by RCA Records.{{cite web|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/eoghan-quiggs-early-fame-led-bosses-to-make-a-quick-kill-28535692.html|title=Eoghan Quigg's early fame 'led bosses to make a quick kill'|last=Coleman|first=Maureen|date=13 May 2010|website=The Belfast Telegraph|publisher=Independent News & Media|access-date=31 July 2016}}
==2014: Eurovision Song Contest==
In February 2014, Quigg was announced by RTÉ as one of the five acts that would compete to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, with the song "The Movie Song". He finished second in the contest.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/linda-martin-and-aslan-star-have-standup-row-during-eurovision-singoff-30051683.html|title=Linda Martin and Aslan star have stand-up row during Eurovision sing-off|date=1 March 2014|work=Irish Independent|access-date=3 March 2014}}
=Television=
Quigg played a minor role in the BBC sitcom Dani's House, playing himself.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00p94z7 |title=CBBC Programmes – Dani's House, Series Two, Hit the Jackpot |publisher=BBC |access-date=10 December 2011}} He appeared as a guest on 22 December 2009 edition of Alan Carr: Chatty Man{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3166484/|title=Eoghan Quigg|website=IMDb}} and featured as a guest on Harry Hill's TV Burp on 19 February 2011.
=Radio=
In April 2017, Quigg began presenting on Q Radio Mid Ulster.{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/former-x-factor-star-eoghan-quigg-lands-new-radio-gig/35639753.html|title=Former X Factor star Eoghan Quigg lands new radio gig|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph.co.uk |via=www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk}} The following year, he interviewed his fellow 2008 X Factor finalist, Alexandra Burke.{{Cite web|url=https://www.qradio.com/midulster/info/listen-eoghan-quigg-interviews-former-x-factor-winner-alexandra-burke/|title=LISTEN: Eoghan Quigg interviews former X-factor winner Alexandra Burke|website=Q Radio}}
=Football=
He began an amateur football career in 2015, signing for Coagh United F.C.{{cite news |date=13 August 2015 |title=X Factor's Eoghan Quigg signs for Tyrone soccer club |work=The Irish News |url=http://www.irishnews.com/news/2015/08/13/news/x-factor-s-eoghan-quigg-signs-for-tyrone-soccer-club-225911/ |access-date=14 March 2017}} He later joined Portstewart F.C. in the Northern Ireland Intermediate League.{{cite news |last1=Weir |first1=Billy |date=9 January 2017 |title=X Factor Eoghan's Portstewart outmatched in cup battle |work=The Belfast Telegraph |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/x-factor-eoghans-portstewart-outmatched-in-cup-battle-35350549.html |access-date=14 March 2017}}
Personal life
Quigg lives in Derry with his wife Amy (Nee Campbell), whom he began dating in 2015. They have a daughter, Emmy Belle, who was born in April 2021. Quigg also plays an active part in the lives of Cooper and Milla, Campbell's two children from a previous relationship.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/irish-x-factor-star-eoghan-28018762|title=X Factor star Eoghan Quigg unrecognisable 14 years on from stint on talent show|last1=O'Sullivan|first1=Kyle|last2=Rusk|first2=Connie|last3=McCarthy|first3=Clare|date=17 September 2022|website=Irish Mirror}} In October 2022, the couple announced that they were expecting their second child (and Campbell's fourth overall).{{cite news|url=https://www.sundayworld.com/showbiz/irish-showbiz/former-x-factor-star-eoghan-quigg-prepares-to-become-dad-again/140810751.html|title=Former X Factor star Eoghan Quigg prepares to become dad again|last=Gorman|first=Roisin|date=9 October 2022|website=Sunday World}}
He had a hair transplant in 2020, travelling to Turkey to get the procedure done.{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/entertainment/eoghan-quigg-says-his-hair-transplant-has-the-x-factor/39718022.html|title=Eoghan Quigg says his hair transplant has the X Factor|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph.co.uk |via=www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk}}
Quigg has maintained his singing career as a member of a wedding band called The Housem8s.{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/x-factor-star-eoghan-quiggs-26093925|title=X Factor star Eoghan Quigg's beefy transformation and Diana Vickers heartbreak|first=Kyle|last=O'Sullivan|date=31 January 2022|website=Daily Mirror}}
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Chart Position ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Sales |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| UK Peak chart positions in the United Kingdom:
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| IRE
|
| scope="row"| Eoghan Quigg
| | 14 || 1 |
|
=Singles=
==As lead artist==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" | |
| scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album | |
|---|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| UK ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| IRE | |
| 2009
! scope="row"| "28,000 Friends" | 96 | 32 |
| 2014
! scope="row"| "The Movie Song" | — | 33
| Non-album single |
| colspan="18" style="font-size:85%"| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released. |
==As featured artist==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" | |
| scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album | |
|---|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| UK ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| IRE | |
| 2008
! scope="row"| "Hero" | 1 | 1 |
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{The X Factor contestants}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quigg, Eoghan}}
Category:Male singers from Northern Ireland