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"After months of speculation, the hosts of The X Factor USA have finally been announced ahead of the second round of auditions later today. Alongside Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger - long rumoured to have secured the role - British presenter Steve Jones became a surprise addition to the lineup, beating off stiff competition from the likes of High School Musical star Corbin Bleu to impress Fox executives and take the coveted job. We take a look at Steve&amp;#039;s rise to the top - from working in a Christmas cracker factory in Wales to joining fellow Brits Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole on what will surely be one of the most talked about TV shows of the Fall.  Who is Steve Jones? A native of Rhondda, near Glamorgan in Wales, Steve Jones was born on March 16 1977. He has two brothers; Jonathan (born in 1972) and Chris (born in 1981). The presenter started his working life in a Welsh printing factory that made Christmas crackers before being spotted by a modelling scout while on holiday in Thailand. Following a stint as an international model, Steve became a staple on British television and more recently moved into acting. He now lives in Marylebone, London. Modelling career Steve&amp;#039;s career in modelling began when he was approached by Elle Magazine to do some freelance work. He went on to travel the world, working for some of the biggest names in fashion, including Versace, Armani, Ralph Lauren and Adidas. &amp;quot;I was very big in Korea,&amp;quot; he says.  Transition to television After a successful modelling career, Steve moved into television work, hosting the likes of The Pop Factory Awards and 99 Things To Do Before You Die. His natural sense of humour made him the perfect choice for Channel 4&amp;#039;s youth strand of programming - T4 - and Steve spent the next seven years hosting the slot before leaving at the end of 2010 to pursue other projects. He has since worked on BBC shows Let&amp;#039;s Dance for Comic Relief and 101 Ways to Leave a Gameshow. Acting career In 2008, Steve&amp;#039;s career took another leap forward when he starred as builder Jem in coming of age comedy Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, based on Louise Rennison&amp;#039;s teenage novels.  Love life Renowned as a womaniser in the UK press, Steve has been linked to some of the world&amp;#039;s most beautiful women, such as Halle Berry, Angelina Jolie (pre-Brad) and Paris Hilton. He has also had brief romances with fellow presenter Fearne Cotton, actress Hayden Panettiere and Baywatch icon Pamela Anderson. The X Factor USA Following his successful broadcasting career in the UK, Steve is now taking his talents to the US when Cowell launches The X Factor USA in the Fall. Steve made no secret of the fact that he wanted the role, telling DS: &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s one of the biggest - probably the biggest - jobs in presenting at the moment\u2026 Of course I would love to do it.&amp;quot; &amp;gt; In Pictures: The &amp;#039;X Factor&amp;#039; USA judges begin work &amp;gt; Poll: Is Steve Jones right for &amp;#039;The X Factor&amp;#039; USA? &amp;gt; Video: Cheryl Cole&amp;#039;s got the &amp;#039;X Factor&amp;#039; job - but has America heard of her? &amp;gt; Cheryl Cole: Her rise to &amp;#039;X Factor&amp;#039; USA &amp;gt; Poll: Is Cheryl Cole the right choice for &amp;#039;The X Factor&amp;#039; USA? &amp;gt; Simon Cowell: &amp;#039;No-one turned down X Factor&amp;#039; &amp;gt; Read our complete &amp;#039;X Factor&amp;#039; USA coverage "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/the-x-factor-us/news/a318377/steve-jones-his-rise-to-x-factor-usa/>