2004:The X Factor In 2004, shortly after Stiff replaced original bass Tom Lowe, G4 spontaneously applied to
The X Factor with the intention of using the show to obtain a quote on posters for upcoming concerts and gain publicity – prior to this they performed as
buskers during their free time at college to earn extra money and gain experience. Although the band members originally took it in turns to sing lead,
Simon Cowell – who had dismissed them as "fat buskers" – suggested that Ansell be promoted to the group's frontman. Mentored by
Louis Walsh, they reached the final, and to date G4 remain one of only two classical-based acts to compete in the live shows, the other being
Welsh baritone
Rhydian – coincidentally, both placed second in Series 1 and 4 respectively, but outsold the eventual winners. Cowell, who had mentored Series 1 champion
Steve Brookstein, later admitted that G4 were the real winners of the competition. Despite their success on the show, G4 later branded
The X Factor as a
pantomime due to staged conflict between the judges which overshadowed the contestants. Bass singer Stiff also stated "Backstage Simon would say we were great, but then on camera say nothing. I don't think he wanted us to win and by choosing what he said on camera he knew he had the power to sway votes. He is the ringmaster". In 2013, none of G4's singles appeared on
The X Factor – Greatest Hits album, despite their status at the time as one of the biggest-selling acts in the history of the show.
X Factor performances 2005: G4 and G4 and Friends After
The X Factor, G4 signed a £1.5 million album deal with
Sony BMG. Having not been picked up by Cowell, Sony A&R
Nick Raphael said that his label decided to pursue the band, stating: "We felt that they were the best act on the show." With the rules of
The X Factor allowing any non-winning band or artist to sign with anyone, was offered the role of Prince Tamino in
Kenneth Branagh's modern adaptation of
The Magic Flute, but turned it down to remain with the band. The debut album,
G4, was released on 28 February 2005, and contained classical covers of popular pop songs, most of which had been performed on
The X Factor like "
Everybody Hurts", with a few opera tunes such as "
Nessun Dorma" and "
Flower Duet". Most of the tracks are produced by
Graham Stack and
Brian Rawling. The debut single, "
Bohemian Rhapsody" cover, was released on 14 March 2005, and entered the charts at #9. Following the success of
G4, G4 embarked on a 25-day arena tour. The album debuted at the number one spot in the
UK Albums Chart on the
Mother's Day weekend selling 244,671 copies in the first week, becoming the fastest-selling album of 2005. It has sold 611,000 copies as of December 2012.
G4 & Friends was released on 28 November 2005, and followed the same format as their first album, but also included collaborations with
Lesley Garrett and
Robin Gibb, both of whom were special guests during the group's UK tour. Their recording of "
Miss You Nights" with original artist
Cliff Richard was also featured on the latter's album ''
Two's Company The Duets. G4 & Friends'' peaked in UK weekly charts at #6, in Iris weekly charts at #21, and in Scottish weekly charts at #8. While not as successful as their first album, it was still certified
platinum. Their version of "
When a Child is Born", also from the album, was originally in the running to become
christmas number one for 2005, but was disqualified due to the inclusion of free stickers in the CD case. In 2005, G4 also launched both the Wonder Mum competition – posing for a photoshoot with each of their own mothers - and the similarly named
G Force ride at
Drayton Manor Theme Park, and presented a show on
Classic FM which showcased their favourite pieces of classical music, along with their own recordings.
2006: Act Three G4's third album
Act Three was released on 27 November 2006. Being released in the same week as the third album by the similar band
Il Divo,
Act Three peaked at #21 in the UK charts with first week sales of 37,487. The album included a collaboration with
Stephen Gately on the track "
No Matter What", Gately having sung the lead on the original version of the song with his band
Boyzone, and an orchestral arrangement of
Gnarls Barkley's "
Crazy."
Act Three was the last album to feature Stiff's voice singing bass. During this period, G4 traveled to the
SOS Children's Villages in
Ghana on behalf of Classic Response, completed the
London Marathon, and made a special appearance at the
4th of July party at
Winfield House where they sang "
The Star-Spangled Banner". Towards the end of the year, embarked on a nationwide cathedral tour.
2007: Disbandment On 5 April 2007, G4 announced on
GMTV that they would be splitting after their national tour due to disagreements within the band, with Ansell pursuing a solo career. Tenor Thapa stated: "We did not want to drag on for another couple of years, growing increasingly resentful of each other. We are still friends and we want to stay friends but we won't if we carry on in G4". Ansell also confessed that the group found coping with fame difficult, and being popstars was not the band's lifelong aspiration. They gave their final performance at
Romsey on 28 July 2007 before splitting, but briefly reunited when they all performed at Ansell's wedding to
Quizmania presenter Debbie King in 2009. Prior to this, the group's first official live performance was at the Leeds Christmas Lights Switch-On alongside former
X Factor winner
Sam Bailey. In June 2015, G4 announced that they would be releasing their fourth album
G4 Christmas via
PledgeMusic. This was followed by "Christmas by Candlelight" Tour of eight dates around the UK in Cathedrals and Churches.
2016–2017: Back for Good Tour, G4 Love Songs and Christmas By Candlelight 2016 On 6 September 2016, G4 announced another PledgeMusic campaign to fund their fifth studio album
G4 Love Songs including appearances from
Merrill Osmond and Lesley Garrett and the orchestration of the City Of Prague Symphony Orchestra. On 3 February 2017, G4 released their fifth album,
G4 Love Songs. The album launch was held at The Century Club in Soho London, with guest Merrill Osmond. Whilst promoting the album and staying overnight in Birmingham, Ansell and Christie were mugged while cutting through a park.
2018 On 19 July, low tenor Thapa announced on Twitter that he was leaving the group with immediate effect to concentrate on his opera career. G4 announced on social media after a nationwide search that Lewis Raines would be replacing Thapa. Since that announcement the
King's Singers have posted that Nick Ashby would be joining them from 2019. ==Solo careers==