Boyband JLS have proved their X Factor credentials, topping the charts and plucking the heart strings of teenage girls and stars from Beyonce to Judi Dench. Band member Marvin Humes talks to MATTHEW JENKIN about gongs, girls and groupies.

WITH two number one singles, a multi-million selling debut album and three Brit award nominations, boyband JLS have come a long way since their shonky first performances on The X Factor.

Despite coming second to Alexandra Burke in the TV talent show in 2008, the awesome foursome bounched back last year with a fresh new sound, a sleek, sexy look and a gaggle of screaming obsessive fans.

What was once a slightly camp pop group wearing hi-tops and garish Top Man t-shirts is now, arguably, Britain’s hottest boyband and every teenage girl’s wet dream.

JLS’s tour this month sold out in 24 hours and they will be playing two shows at The O2 in December as part of their first national arena tour.

Band member Marvin Humes, from Woolwich, says they are on cloud nine and constantly have to pinch themselves.

He said: “Since we left The X Factor we have been constantly on the road and performing. So we haven’t really had time to sit back and reflect on what we’ve achieved.

“There’s no guarantee you’re going to have a successful long career. We’ve had an incredible start and we just hope that it continues.”

Marvin doesn’t need to be reminded of the fickle fortunes of former X Factor contestants.

One only has to look at the meteoric rise and short, sharp fall of winners Leon Jackson and Steve Brookstein to understand why JLS may be reluctant to toot their own horns too loudly.

Marvin said: “What’s been our saving grace is we’ve come out with very good music, which is, first and foremost, the most important thing.

“It was always important for us to make sure the quality was there rather than just rushing something out to keep the momentum going.

“What people don’t realise is that after The X Factor we were on the road for about three months, playing three or four places a night.

“That’s what kept our fanbase alive because after The X Factor you do just disappear. People are used to seeing you on the TV every single week, so you do have to bare that in mind.”

Their first two singles Beat Again and Everybody In Love both shot to number one and their self-titled album released in November also stormed to the top of the album charts selling 239,643 copies in one week.

With Boyzone and Westlife creator Louis Walsh as the band’s mentor on the show, critics groaned at the prospect of another bland clean-cut group of grinning bufoons.

But Marvin says this cliched image of a boyband just doesn’t fly with 21st century listeners.

He said: “Listeners are much more savvy now. You can’t just mime and dance to make it.

“You have to prove yourself a lot more to the public, which goes for everything from your image and style of music to the quality of your album and performances.”

Their efforts to break the mould and be taken seriously seem to have paid off, scoring a hat trick of nods at next Tuesday’s Brit awards.

“It’s incredible to be even associated with the Brits at such an early stage in our career,” Marvin gushes.

“It’s the night of the British music calendar and we’re nominated for British Single, British Breakthrough Act and British Group which is just unbelievable.”

The boys may have been showered in plaudits and awards but the lion’s share of the attention comes from their fans, who include Beyonce and Judi Dench.

With stars such as Rihanna reported to have the hots for Marvin, some girls will do anything to get a piece of JLS.

“Once a girl hid herself in a suitcase and tried to get lost among our luggage when we flew from Heathrow airport. It was pretty intense,” Marvin laughs.

“Another girl wrapped herself up in paper as a human present and delivered herself to us. We have fans trying to break into our hotel and it’s all pretty crazy stuff. We just try and tell them to remember to be careful.”

Having girls literally falling at your feet must be tough for the boys, but Marvin says he’s smitten with one of his former X Factor judges - and it’s not Simon Cowell.

He said: “We’re surrounded by some very good-looking girls in the industry and I’ve never been shy to say I’m a big fan of Cheryl Cole. She’s a great woman and always been so nice to us.

“The Saturdays also have some lovely girls.”

But predictably Marvin says, “We are very busy and at the moment there’s not really time for girlfriends. But who knows what might happen.”

JLS’s new single One Shot is out on February 22.

JLS. The O2, Greenwich. December 9 and December 10. 0844 856 0202 or visit theo2.co.uk