X Factor: Union J say they’re more Maroon 5 than 1D

Union J have said they are musically different from X Factor boyband One Direction, claiming they are more Maroon 5 than 1D.

Mentor Louis Walsh has suggested that Simon Cowell thinks that Union J could be a threat to 2010’s third-place act.

Asked what made them different to One Direction, Jamie ‘JJ’ Hamblett told Heat: “Um, we’re a four-piece, theyr’e a five… No we do different music. We’re just different.”

Josh Cuthbert added: “They’re very young-poppy. We’re a bit like Maroon 5.”

Of the suggestion that they could surpass One Direction, Cuthbert added: “I’m not sure it’s possible to be any bigger than One Direction, but that would be amazing – that would be the dream.”

One Direction’s Harry Styles has said that he thinks Union J and District3 are “really great and talented” acts.

It emerged this week that Union J may be sued by music manager Julian White, who managed Cuthbert, Hamblett and Jaymi Hensley when they were a trio named Rewind.