A GROUP of boys are hoping to be the first band to win TV talent contest The X Factor.

Boy band JLS breezed through the first audition for talent contest The X Factor with a yes vote from all four judges and impressed judge Louis Walsh in the so-called boot camp round.

Now they are battling against nine other acts for a record deal in the live shows, shown every Saturday on ITV1.

Each week the panel of judges and a public phone-in decide which act will leave the contest.

Despite two girl bands already being voted off, eldest of the four band members Marvin Humes, of Herbert Road, Woolwich, believes the group can win this year’s contest.

The 23-year-old said: “A band has never won The X Factor and I think secretly the judges want a band to win.

“But there’s no telling what’s going to happen and we’re just going to give it our best shot.”

The former pupil of Eaglesfield School, Red Lion Lane, Shooters Hill, has been performing on stage and screen since he was five years old.

He joined the band last year when it was formed by 21-year-old Oritse Williams, with mutual friends Aston Merrygold, 20, and Jonathan Gill, 21, known to his friends as JB.

Mr Humes is now enjoying being in the spotlight and said: “Everybody recognises me walking down the street. It’s flattering, we’re loving every minute of it and I’m really enjoying the celebrity lifestyle.”

JLS performed a version of Michael Jackson’s hit song The Way You Make Me Feel in Saturday’s second live show and received rave reviews from all four judges.

Mr Humes admitted that performing on the show was nerve-racking and said: “We had a big following in the crowd and the atmosphere was electric.

“Judge Simon Cowell has been really supportive to us and said that potentially we could be the best group they have ever had on the competition.”

Watch JLS perform live again on ITV1, Saturday, at 7.45pm.