Ruth Lorenzo 'signs with EMI/Virgin'

Ruth Lorenzo has signed a record contract with EMI/Virgin, a rival of Simon Cowell's Sony BMG subsidiary Syco, it has been claimed.

According to The Sun, the former X Factor contestant's deal is being kept secret until it is formally unveiled at the start of May.

A source at the launch of Jean-Christophe Novelli's new restaurant said: "Ruth was a bit giddy with the free champagne and was telling everyone Simon was gutted she signed elsewhere.

"She said she wanted to sign with him because they got along so well during The X Factor. She said she would have loved to work with him."

They added: "Ruth says he has given her lots of advice - which she made it clear she was grateful for - and also that he had given her a lot of confidence with her singing and with her career.

"But the EMI deal was just too good for her to knock back. By the way she was celebrating, EMI/Virgin had given her big bucks."

The source also claimed that Lorenzo was overheard suggesting that EMI had described her as "the new Janis Joplin".