Jedward axed by record label

John and Edward Grimes were signed to Sony after surviving several weeks on the X Factor (Getty Images)

X Factor twins Jedward have been given the boot by their record label after their debut single failed to top the charts.

John and Edward Grimes, 18, were signed to Sony after surviving several weeks on the X Factor, despite being ridiculed for their performances.

The record deal was announced in January with the teenagers saying they were delighted to be "like our idols... living our dream".

But their first song, Under Pressure, a duet with Vanilla Ice, was beaten to number one last month by US band Owl City and dropped out of the top 10 a week later.

Jedward failed to top the charts despite benefiting from huge exposure performing the track with the 90s rapper at the National Television Awards.

Louis Walsh, who decided to manage Jedward after they were voted out of the X Factor, confirmed they had been dropped by Sony and said he is talking to other labels.

He said: "I'm completely committed to Jedward and I know they still have a great career ahead of them. The boys have a sell-out tour in Ireland that they start straight after The X Factor Tour in April and I am in talks with a major record label about a new deal for them."

The twins became a national phenomenon on the talent show with their tuneless performances of Ghostbusters, We Will Rock You and Oops, I Did It Again.

Simon Cowell refused to give Jedward a deal with his Syco label and signed X Factor winner Joe McElderry and runner-up Olly Murs instead.