X Factor’s Grace Davies gives us all the goss ahead of this years huge live tour

We chat to Grace Davies ahead of The X Factor tour at Echo Arena, this February.

She’s started the New Year with a record contract with Syco and is about to embark on a 14 date UK Arena Tour as The X Factor launches a brand new show where the audience becomes the judges.

X Factor 2017 runner up Grace Davies is excited and ready to hit the ground running with her unique songs and style that had everyone talking throughout the 2017 series.

20 year old, Lancashire born and bred Grace, joined by fellow contestants; Kevin Day White, Lloyd Macey, Matt Linen and Rak-Su and more, will be put through their paces every night, battling to win over the crowd and be crowned the show winner. Having narrowly missed out on the top spot to boyband band Rak-Su on the X Factor finale, Grace has enjoyed an incredible few weeks since the live final back in December.

The press had a field day during the competition with rumours of diva behaviour and stern words from mentor, Sharon Osbourne, so we caught up with Grace in the thick of the X Factor promo tour, to set the record straight…..and to find out the weird thing she misses most about the North.

Hi Grace! How are you feeling ahead of the X Factor Tour 2018 and are you ready to live in each other’s pockets again?

Well, rehearsals start at the beginning on February so it’s going to be a crazy busy few weeks and I’m really excited to get on the road with everyone again. I was used to living at home with just my mum and dad when my siblings moved out so I found living in the X Factor house loads of fun, I love having lots of people around, it’s going to be manic.

You smashed it on stage with Paloma Faith, if you could sing a duet with anyone else, who would it be?

Can I choose two? Haha. I’d choose James Arthur, I adore his voice, love his music and I reckon we could write a cracking track together. The other would be Robbie Williams, I was brought up on his music, my parents are massive fans. When I did my first audition I was asked who I would duet with if I made the final and it was definitely Robbie. Word got round and before the final he sent me a bouquet of flowers, I literally cried for days, I couldn’t believe it!

You played a huge part in changing up the X Factor by writing and performing your own songs, do you think this will encourage other contestants to follow in your footsteps?

Absolutely yes, I know that for definite as I’ve had other artists and management teams tell me that it’s had a positive impact on what’s to come. A few big profile artists took to social media like James Arthur, asking the press to stop praising us for performing original and ‘being brave’ because in the music business that’s exactly what we should be doing! I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to do that, it was a huge risk when you want people to vote for you.

We can’t not ask you about the rumours you were a bit of a diva backstage. It was reported that mentor Sharon Osbourne had to have word too, so once and for all Grace, are you a bit of a diva?

[Laughing} Absolutely not! I’ve taken to calling myself Diva Davies following all the press attention, which was a real shame as it changed people’s opinion of me, when in actual fact I just know how I want my songs to sound. I want to do the songs justice and unfortunately someone used that to have a go. Sharon also came out and branded the rumours ‘bo*&ocks’. It upset me a lot as it’s not me, I just want my performance to be perfect.

Your casual style caused a fair amount of hype during the X Factor 2017, who inspired that?

You know what it’s just me, I want to be able to perform confidently and tiny mini skirts and heels doesn’t allow me to move like I want to. I’m not the skinniest and I don’t feel like I have to be. I know I have a lot of young girl fans and I want them to see that there’s nothing wrong with being different. I love my food too much and I’ve proved that baggy trousers and trainers have their place on the stage.

X Factor Tour is sponsored by Just Eat and as avid take away fans, we want to know, what’s your go-to take-away on a Friday night?

Ahh it has to be a Chinese take-away for me. I order the works too, prawn crackers, fried rice, shredded beef, the lot. I’m in the process of moving to London at the moment so there’s all these new take aways to try out!

Who do you get on with most from the X Factor Tour?

During the show I was definitely closest to Jack from Jack & Joel, but coming out on tour I reckon I’ll spend a lot of time with Shaun and Connor, they’re so funny and always up to mischief, I think their rebellious streak will be loads of fun on tour.

Now that you’ve moved ‘daaarrrn saaaaafff’, what do you miss most about the North?

I know it sounds weird but I miss the tap water from back home, I swear you can taste the lime scale in the water in London, and the air smells better up North too!

The X Factor Tour 2018 spans the UK, which gig are you most looking forward to? (Apart from Liverpool of course)

I’ll have to say Manchester because I’ll have friends and family come down from Blackburn to watch the show and because I grew up watching amazing tours there from the likes of Adele, Rihanna, Mumford & Sons, and the northern crowds are said to be the friendliest. To be stood on that tage doing what my idols do is just incredible, I can’t wait to get started.

The X Factor 2018 UK Tour comes to Liverpool Echo Arena on Wednesday 28th February 2018. You can get your tickets by heading to www.ticketmaster.co.uk.

You can follow Grace’s journey on Twitter @gracedavies and get regular updates from the tour @TheXFactor

Who has been your favourite X Factor contestant of all time? Drop us a line on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram with your suggestions and we’ll share the best.