G4's Ansell signs £1 million solo deal

G4 star Jonathan Ansell has signed a £1 million record deal with Universal Music to make five albums.

The former X Factor contestant split from his classical group, with which he sold two million albums worldwide, in the summer.

Now Universal has snapped up the singer, who it thinks is the classical music answer to popstar Justin Timberlake.

Ansell said of the contract: "I'm incredibly excited to be signing to Universal, and thrilled to be pursuing a solo career.

"It's been an amazing journey to this point and I think, at the start of this new chapter in my career, anything is possible. Three years ago I was at music college and I went on The X Factor with some mates for a bit of fun, and now I've got my own deal.

"I never, ever expected to be able to do an album with anybody, let alone on my own. I just wanted to be able to earn my living as a singer in whatever way. So I'm completely blown away."

He is being managed by Jonathan Shalit, the man who discovered Charlotte Church.