Right into the fame game

7:00am Sunday 22nd October 2006

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TWO brothers who appeared on the X Factor have quit their jobs in search of fame.

Mark Agyei, 27, of Station Road, Forest Gate, and his brother Noel, 33, recently starred in the popular ITV show.

The Agyei brothers and twins Adam and Christian (CJ) Neroni, from Crystal Palace, made it on to the show as a foursome singing soulful R n' B numbers by the likes of Backstreet Boys, Boys 2 Men and George Michael.

But in a dramatic split, Adam and Christian left the band following a row over Christian booking a holiday.

Unperturbed, the Agyei brothers carried on as a duo and reached the last eight of the groups section under the watchful eye of pop guru Louis Walsh.

But the brothers were eliminated after Walsh decided not to pick them to compete in the show's live finals.

Now Mark has quit his job on the London Underground ticket barriers and Noel has left his position working for BUPA as the pair attempt to land a recording contract.

Mark said: "Becoming singers is something we have always wanted to do from a young age. It is not just about being famous, we want to do it for the love of the music."

Mark described the nerve-wracking experience of walking out in front of the X-Factor's panel - Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh and the formidable Simon Cowell.

He said: "Beforehand there is a lot of waiting around, you get nervous as it builds up and you get a bit scared that your voice might not be all right.

"Some people are shaking and crying because they are that nervous, but when you get there and the music kicks in you are fine."

After the split with the Neroni twins, Mark and Noel adopted a more soulful style and made it through to Louis' final eight, where they performed in the splendour of the 5-star Dromoland Castle Hotel in Ireland.

Mark said he believed that Louis made the wrong decision by not allowing them through.

He said: "I think a lot of people were surprised, people have been saying to me since that we deserved to go through to the final."

Since Mark appeared on the show he has been constantly recognised in the street.

He said: "Ricky Gervais saw me in Covent Garden, he recognised me, shook my hand and told me he was gutted that we were eliminated. I don't mind all those people coming up to me. But I think I'm nobody until I have made it in the industry."

The Agyei brothers are performing at a series of corporate events and are hoping to release an album early next year.