‘The X Factor’ UK notes: One Direction on ‘Today Show’; James Arthur rumors

Even though “The X Factor” USA may currently be in its live rounds, it is really a former act from the British version of the show that has captured the hearts of America at the moment in the group One Direction, even to the point where a record number of people came out to watch the famed boy band perform some of their greatest hits thus far on “The Today Show.”

As a part of a mini-concert for thousands of fans in Manhattan, with many of whom waitied for days on end in a city still recovering from Hurricane Sandy, the boys rocked out to a set that included smash hit “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Live While We’re Young,” and their latest single “Little Things” written be Ed Sheeran. Considering how many camera  shots the crew got of teenage girls singing along, it’s probably fair to say that this was among the most passionate an audience we have ever seen for NBC’s morning show.

The band’s new album “Take Me Home” comes on Tuesday, which helps to justify this concert for all of their fans. With that being said, it has to be rather sad for all the teenage girls who had to go to school rather than getting the opportunity to watch the show live had it been during the Thanksgiving break next week.

As for James Arthur… – Now, we turn to James Arthur who is quickly becoming the star of this current season in the UK, even to the point where he is being romantically connected to Caroline Flack who previously dated One Direction member Harry Styles.

In an interview on ITV1’s “This Morning,” Flack admitted that James does like to flirt with her on “The Xtra Factor” by saying that he loves her; however, she thinks he does it more out of fun rather than some sort of serious desire for the two to hook up:

“Well yeah, he says he does [love me], but I think it’s just a bit of banter for the show! He always says before the Xtra Factor that ‘right, I’m going to wind you up again’ and I go ‘oh, alright’…so it’s fine.”