John and Edward Grimes, known as Jedward, have announced they are taking on separate television projects for the first time, with Edward landing his own game show and John joining Ex on the Beach. The 35-year-old twins, who rose to fame on The X Factor in 2009, said they are "grateful" that the media is beginning to see them as individuals.
Edward told Express.co.uk: "We've got three TV shows recording this winter so we are going to be back on your screens and I was offered a show by myself. So I have my first ever solo show. It's just a game show. And then John has gone solo too to do Ex on The Beach."
Still Jedward to the Core
Despite the solo ventures, the duo stressed their partnership remains intact. Edward added: "It's great that the media and TV companies are seeing us as two different people. But we are still Jedward to the core. The quiffs are still going strong."
The twins also revealed they have turned down major reality offers in the past. Edward said: "We were asked to do I'm a Celebrity twice over our career, but Big Brother came in before them. But I'm A Celeb is still going so we would still be down to do it, wouldn't we, John?"
John replied: "Yeah, whether it's solo or together. Or maybe Traitors. We really want to do Traitors where one of us is a Traitor and one is a Faithful."
Brotherly Differences and Rollercoaster Challenge
While they remain close, the twins admitted they occasionally clash, particularly over their hair. Edward shared: "We fall out over the styling of our hair sometimes. John isn't happy about how I styled my quiff recently."
John added: "We have our differences here and there but we still get up on that stage and make it happen for the fans... We are in each others pockets a lot of the time but we do also have our own normal, little lives that everyone has."
Recently, the pair took on the Straight Face Challenge at Thorpe Park and Alton Towers, attempting to keep straight faces on extreme rollercoasters. The challenge was held ahead of National Rollercoaster Day on August 16. Research commissioned by Merlin found that 69% of Brits say rollercoasters make them happier, and almost half laugh more on rollercoasters than watching comedy films.
The twins are now challenging the nation, with visitors to Merlin's UK theme parks from August 16-23 able to enter for a chance to win free rollercoaster rides for a year. Edward said: "We got involved with the campaign because the parks are so iconic and we are iconic. We're actually inspired to make a documentary based on the rollercoaster community because the parks just bring people together."
John added: "I think in life, you have always got to be brave and we always take a leap of faith together. So the fact that we just showed everyone we are able to ride these rollercoasters, then you can be brave also. There is no need to be nervous."
