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Duncan James

For other people named Duncan James, see Duncan James (disambiguation).

Duncan Matthew James Inglis (born 7 April 1978) is an English singer, actor and television presenter. He became widely known in 2001 as a member of the boy band Blue and later for playing Ryan Knight in the British soap opera Hollyoaks.

Duncan James
James in 2011
James in 2011
Background information
Birth nameDuncan Matthew James Inglis
Born (1978-04-07) 7 April 1978 (age 46)
GenresPop
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actor
  • television presenter
Years active2000–present
LabelsInnocent
PartnerRodrigo Reis

Early life

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James grew up in Dorset as an only child, and was raised primarily by his mother Fiona Inglis[1][2] and his grandparents, after his father abandoned his mother before he was born.[3] He was raised a "strict Catholic"[4] and educated at Dumpton School in Wimborne (where his grandfather worked as a music teacher),[5] Milldown School (Blandford Forum), Corfe Hills School (Broadstone), and Sidmouth College (East Devon).

At the age of 15 he played Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Dr Watson in Sherlock Holmes for Sidmouth Youth Theatre.

Career

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2000–2005: Career with Blue

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Main article: Blue (English group)
 
Blue performing Greatest Hits Tour, in 2005

James, along with Antony Costa, convinced Lee Ryan and Simon Webbe in early 2000 to form the group Blue.[6] Blue's R&B-influenced pop allowed the group to achieve commercial success in the United Kingdom and many other countries, including Ireland, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, France, Australia and New Zealand. The band released their debut single "All Rise" in May 2001 and it reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. Their follow up single, "Too Close", was released in August 2001 peaking at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. They went on to achieve a second number one in November with the ballad "If You Come Back". The album All Rise was released in time for Christmas and reached number one on the UK Albums Chart, eventually selling in excess of 1.8 million albums in the UK. The final single from the album, "Fly By II", reached No. 6 in March 2002.

Their second studio album, One Love, was released in October 2002; it entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 1 and sold more than 150,000 copies. Three singles were released from the album: "One Love", which peaked at No. 3, "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word", featuring vocals from Elton John, which peaked at No. 1, and "U Make Me Wanna", which peaked at No. 4.[7] Their third studio album, Guilty, was released in autumn 2003; it too entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 1, and sold 100,000 copies in the week of release. The album spawned four singles, including "Guilty", which peaked at No. 2, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours", featuring vocals from Stevie Wonder and Angie Stone, which peaked at No. 11, "Breathe Easy", which peaked at No. 4, and "Bubblin'", which peaked at No. 9.[8]

Two compilation albums Best of Blue and 4ever Blue were released in 2004 and 2005 respectively. 4ever Blue included three tracks only previously performed in Japan: "The Gift", "It's Alright" and "Elements". It is indicated in the album booklet that a live version of "Lonely This Christmas" from the TV show CD:UK was intended to be track seven on the album; however, this was removed from the track listing for unknown reasons. The album was available in several European countries, as well as Japan, Thailand[9] and China; however, it was a commercial failure, and failed to chart anywhere. The album was not released in the UK, despite copies being widely available.[why?] [citation needed]

2006–2010: Future Past, stage and television

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James returned to the music scene in May 2006 with his solo single "Sooner or Later", releasing the video in early May and planning to release the single commercially on 5 June 2006. The video reached No. 2 on The Box and No. 5 on The Hits. However, the single was no commercial success and entered the British charts at No. 35, before slipping down to No. 72 in its second week. "Can't Stop a River" was James's next single. Released on 21 August 2006, the track only reached No. 59 in the UK and No. 97 in Ireland. In continental Europe, where "Can't Stop a River" was released a day earlier than in the UK, it similarly proved unpopular, dropping out of the singles charts in many countries such as France, Turkey, Germany, and Belgium. James' album also fell short, selling less than 1,000 copies in the UK in its first week (and failing to reach the Top 50). The album sold a total of 412,350 copies around the world.[citation needed]

Although his debut album Future Past did not do as well as hoped (except in Italy, where it reached No. 2 on the chart and was certified platinum for shipments of 80,000 copies), on 2 February 2007, music channel B4 premièred the video for "Amazed", his new single which was scheduled to be released on 12 March 2007. However, there was once again a lack of interest. The release was cancelled and James was dropped from his recording contract. He has since announced he has quit his solo career. In 2007 he appeared in the West End production of Chicago.[10] He completed ten more weeks in Chicago from 10 December 2007 until 9 February 2008.[11] He appeared in an episode of The Bill entitled "The Morning After", which aired on 1 January 2009. It was confirmed in February 2009 that James had been selected to replace Denise Van Outen as presenter of Grease: The School Musical, the sequel to Hairspray: The School Musical. Filming commenced in early 2009.

In May 2009, James announced the UK's voting in the Eurovision Song Contest. He presented Hannah-Oke on Disney Channel UK, a singing and dancing contest based on the popular Disney TV series Hannah Montana. He also appeared on Celebrity Are You Smarter Than A 10 Year Old? and raised £10,000 for his charities. In 2006, James appeared with the other members of the boyband Blue on 26 June episode of Ministry of Mayhem, where James and the other band members were all hypnotised by UK stage hypnotist David Days.[12]

James has worked occasionally as a television presenter, having presented the 95.8 Capital FM's Party in the Park for the Prince's Trust (2003 and 2004), and ITV2's coverage of the TV series Soapstar Superstar, along with Jayne Middlemiss. His other presenting work includes Pop City Live, Variety Club Showbusiness Awards 2004, T4 Movie Special: Spider-Man 2, Record of the Year: Downloaded and GMTV's Entertainment Today.

He took part on ITV1's Dancing on Ice in 2007, when he made it to the grand final alongside rugby player Kyran Bracken and actress Clare Buckfield. He came third in the contest, although was unable to perform his Bolero performance. In 2007, James played himself in the pilot episode of Plus One, which was part of Channel 4's Comedy Showcase. A full series was broadcast in 2009, in which he played a broad caricature of himself called "Duncan From Blue". He made an appearance on a new show for Sky One, Guinness World Records Smashed, performing with Festival4Stars contestants.[13] It aired in November 2008. In 2008 he became an Ambassador of Festival4Stars talent competition after he judged a national final.[13] James was cast as one of the leads in the musical Legally Blonde (adapted from the film Legally Blonde) as it transferred from Broadway to London's West End in December 2009.[14] He played opposite Sheridan Smith as Elle, and Aoife Mulholland as Brooke.[15] In December 2009, James appeared as Warner Huntington III in the West End production of Legally Blonde.[16] He appeared as a celebrity guest on 14 August 2009 on Daily Cooks Challenge.[17]

In 2010, James presented the quiz show Scream if You Know the Answer! where the contestants have to answer questions whilst on rollercoasters. In July 2010 he was a judge on Don't Stop Believing, a talent show for choirs. He has his own radio show on 95.8 Capital FM, every Sunday from 7–10 pm.[citation needed]

 
Blue performing in Manchester in 2011

2011–present: Return with Blue

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The band represented the UK at the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest in Düsseldorf with the song "I Can" coming in 11th place with 100 points. Blue released their fourth studio album, Roulette on 25 January 2013 with "Hurt Lovers" as the lead single. On 21 February 2013, it was confirmed that the group would be joining The Big Reunion, a TV series in which six groups from the past, including Liberty X, Atomic Kitten and 5ive, reform for a one-off gig. Beginning in May 2013, the group were to tour Great Britain and Ireland with the other groups in The Big Reunion concert series.[18] On 27 March 2013 the group announced they would embark on their first headlining tour later on in the year, their first tour in nearly ten years. On Sunday 29 May 2022 James performed at Durham Pride 2022 as the headline act.[citation needed] In September 2023, James released the duet "That's What Friends Are For" with Denise van Outen. The single, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, was recorded in tribute to their friend, singer Sarah Harding, who died from breast cancer in 2021.[19]

Personal life

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From 2002 to 2005, James dated the model Claire Grainger, with whom he has a daughter, Tianie Finn, born in February 2005.[20][21][22][23][24] On 12 July 2009, James came out as bisexual in an interview from News of the World.[25] In 2014, however, he revealed that he is a gay man.[26][27] In 2014, Lee Ryan claimed that he had a regular sexual relationship with James during the band's early years, although James dismissed this as Ryan joking around.[28][29]

Since 2019 he has been dating Brazilian photographer Rodrigo Reis.[30][31][32]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 Bo' Selecta! Himself Episode: "Blue"
2006–2007 Soapstar Superstar: Extra Tracks Presenter
2007 Dancing on Ice Contestant Series 2
DanceX Billy Flynn Episode: "4 August 2007"
Comedy Showcase Himself Episode: "Plus One"
2009 The Bill Dan Coleman Episode: "The Morning After"
Plus One Duncan Main role
Grease: The School Musical Judge
Hannah-Oke Presenter
2010 Don't Stop Believing Judge
2010–2011 Scream! If You Know the Answer Presenter
2012 Spy Presenter
2016 Pointless Celebrities Contestant Christmas special
2016–2018 Hollyoaks Ryan Knight Main role
2021 Celebs on the Farm Contestant[33] Series 3
The Celebrity Circle Contestant
Celebrity Masterchef Contestant Series 16

Films

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Year Title Role
2021 Help Jogger

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[34] 		GER
[35] 		IRE
[36] 		ITA
[37] 		JPN
[38] 		SCO
[39] 		SWI
[40]
Future Past
  • Released: 12 June 2006
  • Label: Innocent
  • Format: CD, digital download
 55 68 55 2 29 72 59

Singles

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List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[34] 		BEL
[41] 		EUR
[42] 		GER
[43] 		IRE
[44] 		ITA
[37] 		SCO
[39] 		SWI
[40]
"I Believe My Heart"
(with Keedie) 		2004 2 66 8 67 29 13 3 49 I Believe My Heart
"Sooner or Later" 2006 35 52 — — — 3 19 — Future Past
"Can't Stop a River" 59 — — — — 23 32 —
"Amazed" — — — — — 41 — —
"That's What Friends Are For" (with Denise van Outen) 2023 —[a] — — — — — — — Non-album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Promotional singles

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List of promotional singles
Title Year Album
"Greatest Love of All"[46]
(featuring Rachel Stevens) 		2009 Charity single

Notelist

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  1. ^ "That's What Friends Are For" did not enter the UK Singles Top 100 but debuted and peaked at number 53 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart Top 100 on 8 September 2023.[45]

References

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  1. ^ Inglis, Fiona (17 October 2003). Just the Two of Us. ISBN 1843570920.
  2. ^ "BBC One – Cash in the Attic, Series 17 – 30 Minute Versions, Inglis". BBC.
  3. ^ Siegle, Lucy (26 February 2006). "What would you save if your house was burning down?". The Observer. London. Archived from the original on 23 December 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  4. ^ "Blue star Duncan James comes out as bisexual". PinkNews. 12 July 2009. Archived from the original on 10 October 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  5. ^ "33 famous people who went to school in Dorset". Dorset Magazine. 17 February 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  6. ^ Blue – Overview AllMusic
  7. ^ "Blue bands settle name dispute". BBC News. 30 June 2003.
  8. ^ Blue. "Radio Swiss Pop - Music database - Band". www.radioswisspop.ch. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  9. ^ "4Ever Blue Thailand edition". Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  10. ^ "Duncan James Extends Chicago Stint Three Weeks". Whatsonstage.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  11. ^ "Independent Talent Group Ltd Presenters". Independenttalent.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  12. ^ "David Days". David Days. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  13. ^ a b "Purestar Productions: Intensive Dance Training & Corporate Entertainment". Festival4stars.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  14. ^ "Sheridan Smith Nabs Legally Blonde's Elle". Whatsonstage.com. 16 March 2009. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012.
  15. ^ "Duncan James Gets Legal with Sheridan Smith". Whatsonstage.com. 16 March 2009. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012.
  16. ^ "Legally Blonde – James and Smith confirmed". IndieLondon. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  17. ^ "Daily Cooks Challenge Returns – Throng". Tvthrong.co.uk. 30 June 2009. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  18. ^ "Blue Join Reality Show The Big Reunion". mtv.com. MTV. 22 February 2013. Archived from the original on 26 February 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  19. ^ O'Connor, Rachael (1 September 2023). "Duncan James and Denise Van Outen reveal touching way they're remembering Sarah Harding". Metro. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  20. ^ McCormick, Joseph (17 February 2014). "Duncan James: 'My mum was surprised that I got a girl pregnant after I came out as gay'". Archived from the original on 3 October 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  21. ^ "Inside Duncan James' relationship as he looks for love after First Dates Hotel". 3 October 2019. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  22. ^ Eames, Tom (9 April 2013). "Blue's Duncan James wants another child". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  23. ^ "Duncan James Extends Chicago Stint Three Weeks". Duncan James. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  24. ^ "Blue's Duncan James remembers Tara Palmer-Tomkinson". HELLO!. 19 October 2017. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  25. ^ Nunn, Gary (14 July 2009). "Duncan James's sexuality". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  26. ^ Gibb, Jessica (16 October 2017). "Duncan James admits his Blue bandmate was the first to know his true sexuality". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 3 October 2019.
  27. ^ "Duncan James: 'I call myself gay, but I still have sex with women'". Gay Star News. 10 April 2014. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  28. ^ "Celebrity Big Brother player Lee Ryan's same sex fun was with Blue's Duncan James". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  29. ^ "'Celebrity Big Brother' Star Lee Ryan Says He Sleeps With His Blue Bandmate Duncan James 'All The Time'". Huffingtonpost. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  30. ^ Needham, Lucy (6 July 2017). "Duncan James pictured for the first time with new boyfriend on cosy date night". mirror. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  31. ^ Scott, Darren (May 2019). "Queer, I: Blue Singer Duncan James On Embracing Sexuality, Life in Heels and His Love of Miami". Culture Trip.
  32. ^ Akingbade, Tobi (22 July 2019). "Duncan James 'proud to be gay' as he reveals new boyfriend Rodrigo Reis". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  33. ^ "Kerry Katona and Holly Hagan sign up for Celebs on the Farm". Closer. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  34. ^ a b "The Official Charts Company – Duncan James". The Official Charts Company. 5 May 2013. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011.
  35. ^ "Charverfolgung Longplay" (in German). musicline.de PhonoNet. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  36. ^ "IRISH MUSIC CHARTS ARCHIVE". irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 11 November 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  37. ^ a b "Italian Charts". italiancharts.com Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  38. ^ "Japan Charts – albums, DVDs and singles". Oricon. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  39. ^ a b
  40. ^ a b "Swiss Charts" (in German). swisscharts.com Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 7 November 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  41. ^ "Belgium Charts > Lee Ryan". Ultratop – Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 1 December 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  42. ^ "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 44. 30 October 2004. p. 39. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  43. ^ "Charverfolgung Longplay" (in German). musicline.de PhonoNet. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  44. ^ "Irish Charts". irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 9 December 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  45. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart on 8/9/2023 8 September 2023 - 14 September 2023". Official Charts. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  46. ^ "Rachel in a new charity single with Duncan James". Rachel Stenves Official. Archived from the original on 21 December 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2009.

Bibliography

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