Hero Image

X-Factor's Ben Foden says he has support of both ex-wife Una and new wife Jackie

X-Factor: Celebrity star Ben Foden has made the surprising revelation that his ex wife, Una Healy from The Saturdays, has been supporting him on the show.

Ben, 34, is currently competing in the show as part of rugby play boy band Try Star alongside Thom Evans, 34, and Levi Davis, 21.

The couple split in 2018 after six years of marriage following rumours Ben was unfaithful to her.

They share children Aiofe, seven, and Tadhg, four.

Ben added that his current wife Jackie Belanoff Smith, who he married after just two weeks of dating, is also cheering him on.

However - her favourite member of Try Star is not her hubbie... It's Thom Evans.

He told MailOnline he is working on his relationship with Una for the sake of their children.

"Una and I have a good relationship for the sake of the kids", he said.

"I always wish her the very very best. And the kids are loving The X Factor .

"They went to the show last week. They’re coming this weekend. They’re going to go absolutely bananas.

"Their mum is obviously mega talented at singing. She always says when she catches [the show]. Sometimes she’s busy, but she thinks [Try Star] are doing great."

In fact, he revealed, she had always encouraged him to try out a music career.

"I told her that I was doing [The X Factor] she thought it was a great idea. She loves it", he added.

His new wife Jackie is his "number one fan", although she won't be watching if he does make it to the final next week.

"Jackie has been here the whole time. She’s my number one fan.

|She’s had Try Star T-shirts made up. And she's told me that Thom’s her favourite in the band!|, he laughed.

"She’s loving it. The problem is - it’s Thanksgiving next week [in America] so if we make the final she will have to disappear home, which will be a bummer."

He explained that dating an American meant she did not have any preconceptions of him from the press.

"She doesn’t know me as Ben the rugby player, or Ben in the public eye", he said.

"In New York I was no-one. So she’s come into this crazy world."

Ben also talked about the similarities between performing on the X-factor and playing rugby.

"It’s surreal", he said.

"It’s also quite similar [to rugby]. We prepare all week. In rugby, you prep for an 80 minute [game] a week, but it’s still like being on a stage.

"When you’re [playing] at home you’re a hero. The opposition is the villain. It’s still like a stage show.

'"Obviously, it's condensed into a two-minute appearance on X Factor. So if you make mistakes they’re a lot bigger, for everyone to see.

"But it’s still the same mentality. We go into the weekend to put on a show."

READ ON APP