Call for Chinese community to back Bristol X Factor finalists

The father of X Factor finalists Tita and Phoebe Lau has called on Bristol's Chinese community to get behind them.

Chung Lau, 44, who runs the Golden Dragon restaurant in Downend, says he wants as many Bristolians as possible to pick up the phone and vote for his daughters' group, Girlband, in this weekend's show.

Mr Lau, from Whitehall, was at last Saturday's nail-biting live show, but will have to watch this week's on a TV in his restaurant.

He said: "Unfortunately I have to stay and work – everything hasn't stopped just because the girls are on X Factor.

"We are trying to get the whole of Bristol's Chinese community involved. Vote for Girlband!"

Last weekend, Tita, 20, Phoebe, 18, and their bandmates Marisa Billitteri, 20, from Kingswood, and Layla Manoochehri, 22, from Birmingham, went head-to-head with fellow girl group Bad Lashes to stay in the competition.

The judges' vote was split and the outcome was decided by the results of the earlier public vote, which Girlband won.

The whole Lau family are behind the girls, but they are hoping for a less nerve-racking night this Saturday. Mr Lau's mother, Lai Lau, 75, said: "I am a very proud grandmother. I am watching them every week."

The girls' cousin, Ting Kuan, 21, from Downend, said: "We are all so happy for them. I got really nervous watching them at the weekend. Hopefully this weekend they will get more votes."

Their aunt, Mimi Lau, 34, from Whitehall, said: "The girls have always put on shows for us – they are always performing, singing and dancing. Tita sang at a big Chinese New Year party last year in Bristol.

"Tita has been in a few girlbands before this one, and one of them supported the boyband Blue on tour. She has always wanted to work in this industry."

Mr Lau spoke to his daughters earlier this week, and said they were feeling confident. He said: "They haven't been knocked back. They are very strong and can handle the pressure."

This Saturday's live X Factor show, which starts at 7.25pm on ITV1, will have a Michael Jackson theme.