Heartbreaking secret of X Factor twins Kyle and Joshua Brooks, 17, who were placed into their gran’s care at just 18 months as their parents battled heroin addiction
Brothers tilt at fame comes after parents were forced to give them up due to substance abuse
X FACTOR twins Kyle and Joshua Brooks are hiding a dark secret that their parents have battled heroin addiction.
Millions will see the 17-year-olds bid for stardom on the ITV show on Sunday night.
They have been in their gran’s care since mum Samantha and dad Daniel Gibbs gave them up at 18 months.
A third son Liam, now 11, also lives with the twins’ nan Colette, 61, and stepbrother Morgan.
A source close to the boys said: “Josh and Kyle’s parents were ravaged by addiction and incapable of looking after the children.
“Colette stepped in and has been caring for them ever since.
“Sam is proud of all three boys but she is still too sick to be responsible for them.”
Daniel was jailed for 15 months in 2009 after a judge said he had turned into a “semi-professional thief” to fund his heroin habit.
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By age 29 he had racked up 59 offences, including a robbery at 16. He was sentenced at Cardiff crown court after admitting stealing £2,000 of clothes in a day.
The boys, from Penarth, reached the judges’ houses stage of X Factor in 2014, and at that audition they told how Colette was their inspiration.
Josh said: “We want to make Nan proud because she’s given up her life for us.”
Colette, whose Facebook page is full of anti-addiction posts, has hinted at the family’s heartache in messages to her daughter, urging her to put setbacks behind her.
A pal of the twins said: “They are still in contact with their parents but it’s their nan who has always been there.”
