Now, as any self-respecting celeb coupling knows, you can shift all the records you like, star in the biggest blockbusters and win fistfuls of awards, but nowadays, the only measure of true stardom is the uni-name, or portmanteau, if you will.

First we had Tomkat, then Brangelina and now… well, now we have Jedward.

A few months ago, 18-year-old Irish twins John and Edward Grimes were just two teenagers with big hair and big dreams.

Now, after what has to be the most talked about stint in X Factor history, the hair is even bigger and, although the whole singing dream didn't quite work out, they're among the most sought after stars in the country, nay, the planet.

Forget the Cole-marriage-on-the-rocks debate, the Cheryl v Danni style wars or even the argument over who is going to win – this year, no matter who takes the X Factor crown, the competition is always going to be remembered for Jedmania.

rumour mill

After they were finally given the boot, losing out to ladies' favourite Olly Murs, the rumour mill went into overdrive, with talk of an appearance in the I'm a Celeb jungle, tabloid headlines hailing them as the new Ant and Dec and councils having to issue statements denying any Jedward action at Christmas lights switch-ons.

Heat magazine made T-shirts, fans wore creepy Jedward masks and celebs across the world lamented the loss to TV on Twitter.

Even the Prime Minister gave his views on them.

But the twins don't seem too fazed. "We don't actually realise how big the hype is because we're focusing on what we're doing," says one half of Jedward. Don't ask us which half.

"It's really cool that people got behind us. They knew that we were practising so much, that we were giving it our all. We just had fun with it."

Anyone who says they loved them from their first audition is probably lying.

Then, at "boot camp", the twins were more annoying than Kerry Katona, Peaches Geldof and X Factor choreographer Brian Friedman combined. But after that rendition of Britney's Oops! I Did It Again, they garnered a cult following overnight.

Apparently the pop princess herself has been in "fits of laughter" watching the footage on YouTube and who can blame her?

But then there was also Under Pressure, Ghostbusters, She Bangs… so many great Jedward performances.

And, as the lads say themselves, it was all about the performance.

"I know we're not the most amazing singers, but at least we give it a try," says Jedward.

"The best singers out there aren't the most amazing singers but everybody loves them, like Britney Spears, Madonna. They're all amazing and we love them all."

Right. So what's next for Jedward?

"I think the main focus for us is music at the moment, but in the future it'll be cool to do different projects."

Info

Jedward will perform at Zanzibar on Saturday.

www.zanzibar.co.uk