Their manager Louis Walsh has confirmed the move but is sticking with his protegees: "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 FactorTour in April and I am in talks with a major record label about a new deal for them."

The Grimes’ brothers’ record pact with Sony was announced at the start of 2010, and the first single’ ‘Under Pressure’, a duet with Vanilla Ice, was released last month. But it was prevented from claiming the top spot by American band Owl City. The single fell out of the top 10 the following week.

X-Factor supremo Simon Cowell has refused to sign Jedward to his Syco label, instead signing X-Factor winner Joe McElderry and the runner-up Olly Murs.