Exclusive! Move Over Ryan Seacrest. "The X Factor"’s Steve Jones Has Arrived.

Steve Jones

What is it about Wales that it produces so many extremely attractive and talented men? Despite having a population of only three million, the country has given the world a long list of handsome actors,singers and celebrities including Luke Evans, Tom Jones, Ioan Gruffudd, Matthew Rhys, John Rhys Ifans, Anthony Hopkins, Gareth David-Lloyd and the recently deceased Andy Whitfield.

To that list I predict will soon be added 34-year-old Steve Jones, whose career is likely to hit hyperdrive when Simon Cowell’s U.S. version of The X Factor hits American television next Wednesday night.

Why am I so confident that U.S audiences will take to Jones? Well, everyone knows us gay guys are trendsetters when it comes to the next hot thing and many of us have been aware that the 6’2’’ Welshman is not only incredibly easy on the eyes, but is as charismatic as they come. And as the “presenter” or host for such programs as The Pop Factory Awards and As Seen on TV in the UK, Jones has shown he knows how to put contestants at ease, keep audiences entertained and programs moving along.

Nor does it hurt that Jones is very gay-friendly, whether that means snogging Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears, posing for the cover of Attitude's "Sex Issue," talking about being willing to do gay sex scenes, or just flashing his bare bum on TV for a laugh. (Google it.)

AfterElton.com recently chatted with Jones about his gay following, the pressures of hosting a Simon Cowell produced show and how he came to pose for those sexy Equus pictures modeled on Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe.

AfterElton: What’s most exciting about making the jump over here to the U.S. version of The X Factor?
Steve Jones: The scale of things. I mean filming this show, it’s such a monster, it’s gigantic. On a personal note, everybody’s dream is to make it and to do what you do on the biggest stage, and I’ve always wanted this. I mean if you crack America, that’s a very, very good thing.

Of course, I owe it to Simon. He started it and got the ball rolling and I wouldn’t be here without him, but now that I’m here, I’ll grab the bull by the horns and hopefully make an impression. And hopefully the show will be a success and I can continue to do it year after year because I love the L.A. lifestyle. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a proud Brit and I love my home, but I do love this city. It’s fun.

AE: What’s the hardest thing about being the host?
SJ: Well, make no mistake about it, I’m an island on this show, especially in the auditions and boot camp. I’m just backstage. My job is to be in the mix with the acts and to be with them for the entire course of time when they are on the show and get under their skin and be their friend basically. And to go through the experience and hopefully translate that back to the people watching at home.

But the most difficult aspect is, as I said, I’m kind of on my own back there and the days can be so yo-yo-ish. One day someone can come running off the stage with all their hopes and dreams confirmed by the giants that are Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul, and that’s wonderful that I can be a part of that moment and their families are there. But the next person that comes up might have just had the opposite experience and had their dream shattered. The days go up and down and by the end of it, I’m just emotionally and physically shattered because they are very, very, very long days, so that’s tough. I can be quite lonely.

AE: When did you first become aware that you had a gay fan-base in the UK?
SJ: I don’t know. I socialize a lot in Old Compton Street in London which is kind of a gay Mecca, and I’ve had various men approach me and they like my style and this and that. And they like my face, which is always nice when somebody says they like you. Yeah, maybe a few years ago. But to be aware of it, it’s weird to say ‘I’m totally aware that gay men like me.’

AE: It’s not just how you look, you're one of those straight guys who is very confident with your sexuality and you don’t mind having fun with it, for instance like when you did that interview with Jake Shears.
SJ: [laughs]

AE: You ambushed him with a kiss, and trust me our readers noticed that. What prompted you to kiss Jake that way?
SJ: Well, because I thought it would be funny and because I’m a big fan of Jake, and I knew he would take it the right way. And I would do anything for a laugh, and the look on his face – the shock was well worth it. I never considered ‘Is it okay to kiss a man on TV?’

I’m personally one of those “Who gives a shit, everyone is doing what they are doing, no one is getting hurt and everyone is having fun do whatever you like” people. That’s never an issue for me to kiss a man. I can do that any day of the week.

AE: The look on his face was utterly priceless.
SJ: It was wonderful. It was wonderful and I’m glad I did it. He came up to me afterward and he’s such a sweet guy and he came across and said ‘Was my breath smelly? I felt like I had onions before…” No, no, no, minty fresh. Don’t worry about it, Jake. It was a good kiss. [laughs]