X Factor’s Saara Aalto discovers she has long-lost brother who contacted her after spotting their likeness on telly
THE X Factor has changed SAARA AALTO’s life in more ways than she could imagine.
The show’s 2016 runner-up has bagged a huge record deal with Warner, a slot on next year’s Eurovision Song Contest — and, more surprisingly, a new brother.
I can reveal that the Finnish singer has discovered a secret sibling, called Mikael, who came forward after spotting a family likeness while watching her on the ITV talent show.
Saara’s dad later confessed he had a one-night stand before he met Saara’s mother — and a DNA test has confirmed the two are related.
In an exclusive interview in Finland’s capital Helsinki, Saara revealed: “It is crazy. I lived in the same hometown as Mikael for 18 years but then it was being on an international TV show that brought us together.
“Everybody asks me, ‘Did X Factor change your life?’.
“And now I’m like, ‘More than you know’.
“One small decision, for me to get on a flight from Finland to the UK — I had no idea how that one small thing could just change my whole life forever.
“I can’t believe this is all happening now when I have Eurovision, my new label and so many things going on — and now I have a new brother.
“It’s an amazing surprise, there’s nothing negative about it. I’m just super-happy to have a new person in my life.”
Despite this, Saara admitted that she was initially “shocked” when her mother first called to tell her she might have a secret brother.
However, Saara, who came second to MATT TERRY in X Factor last year, said she instantly gelled with her new sibling when they first met. She added: “Me and my little sister flew from Helsinki to Oulu where we all met.
“I think he fits into our family so well that it felt so natural. His personality is so similar to ours.
“This whole story is so amazing and weird so of course all of us were speechless and I was just staring at Mikael thinking, ‘He looks exactly like my dad’.
“His smile and his eyes are just like mine — it feels so weird.
“He he is a guitarist. My dad plays the guitar and my brother plays the guitar and now my new brother plays the guitar, so it’s like all the men in my family play.
“He is studying to be an English teacher and his second language is Japanese, which is really weird because I love and speak Japanese. We have so much in common.”
The incredible life change has inspired Saara to write new music for her album.
She said: “We’ve been laughing that this is the plot to a new musical — it’s like a film script.
“Good inspiration for a song, too. Of course my album will be full of my own stories so I think I should write a song about this actually.”
It’s a back story that the X Factor would be proud of.
The new X Factor tour is epic!
SIMON COWELL has revolutionised this year's X Factor tour.
The all-new puts the power back in the audience's hands, as each night our finalists battle it out for fans' votes just like they do on Britain's most exhilarating TV show.
Gigi Hadid for a fall
HER job is strutting down the catwalk – but GIGI HADID is now struggling to walk at all.
She tripped while leaving her New York apartment for the Glamour Women of the Year bash. But luckily she had her sister
BELLA to catch her – and later had wise words for other young women with big dreams.
She told the audience at the event: “Just because I’m here, winning this award, doesn’t mean I have it all figured out. If you don’t feel strong every day, that’s OK. That’s normal.
“Something could happen that could change the course of your day, your week, your life.”
I don’t think I’ll take my advice on life from the Hadids, if that’s all right.
Brand new Russell show
RUSSELL BRAND’s crude prank voicemails to Fawlty Towers legend ANDREW SACHS on his BBC radio show in 2008 sparked more than 44,000 complaints – forcing him to quit the Beeb.
JONATHAN ROSS, who joined pal Russell in making the calls was suspended for 12 weeks.
But BBC top brass clearly have a short memory – as they have just handed Russell his own TV show.
Now married to TV host KIRSTY GALLACHER’s sister Laura, and a dad of one, his Russell Brand TV Show will launch next year. He will tackle topics he knows more than most about – sex, relationships, drinking and self-loathing.
A source said: “Everyone thought there would be no way back for Russell at the BBC after Sachsgate, but they’re giving him another chance. He is ultimately a very intelligent man who sometimes does overstep the mark. But they’re keen to see if the new show works.”
I guess this programme will be pre-recorded.
A butt iffy, Jen
THE world’s most curvaceous booty just lost a few inches – apparently thanks to Photoshop.
JENNIFER LOPEZ has been accused of having her most famous asset slimmed for a magazine shoot with her new man, former baseball star ALEX RODRIGUEZ.
A snap in Vanity Fair shows him pulling up her dress to reveal her bot – and fans were quick to voice dismay.
One tweeted: “Who did this shambles of a Photoshop?” Another posted: “Why did they Photoshop @JLo to have a 12-year-old’s butt?”
A third tweeted: “I’m still mad about the way Vanity Fair made @JLo’s bum look.”
J-Lo should never want to hide away the junk in her trunk.
Niall pops in
FOR most kids, the school talent contest is the closest they ever get to meeting a celebrity.
But 50 well-deserving youngsters got much closer, thanks to Children In Need.
As my exclusive picture shows, NIALL HORAN surprised people from the Young Carers Project in Kingston, South West London, when he turned up to perform.
That was followed by a fancy dress party with PIXIE LOTT and a penalty shoot-out with England keeper JOE HART.
Niall said: “I have been working with this amazing organisation for a long time now and have been privileged to meet some incredible children they help.”
They totally deserved it.
No Direction
THEIR 2015 hiatus broke the hearts of millions of fans, but it hasn’t stopped ONE DIRECTION raking in the cash.
But the paperwork also makes grim reading for anyone hoping for a quick reunion, despite member LIAM PAYNE recently insisting the band intends to perform together again.
A note from 1D’s accountants admits: “No new income streams are anticipated.”
I doubt the legion of loyal Directioners will ever lose hope of seeing HARRY STYLES and Co back on stage.
bizmeter: mags
- MATT DAMON admits his work schedule has taken its toll on his 12-year marriage, but says he is happier than ever with wife Luciana. He told Heat: “It is a work in progress and I think that we listen to each other and communicate really well. We are willing to do the work that it takes.”
- AFTER big success in music and telly, BLUE and Hollyoaks star DUNCAN JAMES wants to go into fashion and design his own underwear range. But asked if he would model it too, he told Now: “Trust me, no one wants to see an obese 40-year-old parading about in his pants. The six-pack has long gone.”
- HE was 17 when he won a role in Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire, and now ROBERT PATTINSON blames it for not going to university. He told Time Out: “It was so nice to be a part of it. That, more than anything, changed my life. It’s the reason I didn’t go to university. It went so far over schedule, I couldn’t go.”
- SCARLETT MOFFATT’s role as a presenter on I’m A Celeb spin-off Extra Camp isn’t her mum Betty’s top priority. The reigning Jungle Queen told Star: “My mam is flying out and then she’s going back to the UK to watch STEPS in concert. Then she’s flying back to Australia with my dad and my nan.”
