British boy band JLS have announced they are splitting up five years after finding fame on X Factor.
The R&B group - made up of Aston Merrygold, 25, Marvin Humes, 28, Jonathan 'JB' Gill, 26, and Oritse Williams, also 26 - shot to fame in 2008 after finishing second to Alexandra Burke on the TV reality show.
Now, after five number one hits and two Brit awards under their belts, they are going their separate ways.
The quartet will leave fans with more than just memories, bowing out with a farewell tour planned for December, a final single and a greatest hits album.
Fans are "devastated" as the boy group announces it is to break up, five years after shooting to stardom on The X Factor.
The band apparently agonised over their decision for months.
In a message on their website they said: "To each and every JLSter, our beloved fans around the world. We wanted to make sure that you heard it from the four of us, that we have decided to bring our time as a band to an end.
"It has been the most incredible journey over the last six years and we have achieved more things than we could have ever dreamed possible.
"Thanks to all of you guys, your support, your dedication and your love, you have changed our lives forever and we wouldn't be where we are today without you.
"We are currently in the studio working on what will be our last album - Goodbye: The Greatest Hits.
"We will be bringing you a new single later in the year to coincide with the album and the tour.
"Goodbye: The Greatest Hits Tour will be the last time that we will perform together as a 4 and we want to make sure that this tour is the best ever and that we end on a high!
"We will always remain brothers and friends and we will always be your boys."
Merrygold, a judge on Sky 1 talent show series Got to Dance, told The Sun it was the right time for the band to go their separate ways, saying: "We are still the best of friends and always will be - but this is the end."
Humes added: "It's an emotional time. There's no getting away from that. We have been through so much together.
more story...
