Dreamgirls Aloud: Cheryl & Co transform themselves into Beyonce-a-likes for their Christmas TV show

They have transformed themselves from reality show winners into pop icons.

Now Girls Aloud have been given there own one-off show on ITV1 this month and seem to have got in to the seasonal spirit.

Dressed in skin tight, silver fishtail dresses, the group share more than a passing resemblance to a box of Christmas crackers.

The five-piece aped the glamorous style of the cast of 2007 movie musical Dreamgirls, which starred Beyonce Knowles as a Sixties singer in the style of Diana Ross.

A show insider said: 'It seemed fitting to have the girls record this special in the very same studio where all their careers began six years ago on Popstars: The Rivals.'

Entitled, The Girls Aloud Party the production will broadcast on ITV1 on December 13.

Last year, the group featured on a series on ITV2 but executives now feel that they are suitable for the main channel.

This has in part been aided by aided by Cheryl Cole’s success as a judge on The X Factor.

The group, made up of Cole, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts, Sarah Harding, and Kimberley Walsh, will perform all of the biggest hits and news songs from their album.


The programme also features collaborations with the Kaiser Chiefs and James Morrison.

Cilla Black, Paul O’Grady and Julie Goodyear also appear on the programme.
Harding said: '2008 has been a great year for us all and what better way to round it off than with a festive special.


'The show is a true Girls Aloud Christmas party and loads of fun.'

Since finding fame in late 2002 the band have had 19 consecutive top ten hit singles.

Cole’s popularity as a judge on The X Factor has raised questions over the group’s long term future but a national tour is scheduled for next year.

Britney storms the X Factor... but was she miming?

After four years absence from British television screens Britney Spears made a storming comeback on the X factor last night.

But those fans able to look past the skimpy PVC hotpants and fishnet stockings were left wondering whether the long-awaited performance was all that it seemed.

Indeed some fans were quickly debating on internet forums whether Britney had been miming the words to her new single Womanizer.

The pop princess' energetic dance routine did not seem to interrupt her vocals - which seemed near perfect.

This was despite apparent problems with her microphone, which she touched several times during the three-minute performance.

A spokeswoman for the X Factor production company insisted Britney had been singing, telling MailOnline: 'There were some live vocals, but that's a question for the record company.

ut for those who have watched Britney go through a much-publicised breakdown, then make an astonishing return to form, perhaps it didn't matter.

Louis Walsh certainly wasn't worrying about Britney's vocals.

He was wide eyed as the 27-year-old bounded across the stage to a position next to the judge's table.

As she bounced up and down Louis broke into a large smile, perhaps appreciating the novelty of his front-row view of Britney's scantily clad derrieré.

After her performance a grinning Britney told presenter Dermot that appearing on the X Factor was 'awesome' and 'amazing'.

'I love being here in London,' she gushed.

Unlike guest stars Take That and Mariah Carey, Britney did not mentor the contestants ahead of last night's show.

And when pushed as to whether she had any advice for them she told Dermot: 'Good luck and just keep doing it!'