'˜How'd ya like him now?': Joe McElderry hits back at Daily Mail with Gay Times covershoot

Joe McElderry is on the front cover of magazine Gay Times after doing a topless photo shoot with them. Image credit: Packard Stevens

The South Shields singing star has just carried out a fab photoshoot that proves he looks every bit as hot as he sounds.

The 24-year-old X Factor champ is the cover star of next month’s Gay Times magazine.

He said: “Been asked so many times to do a topless shoot and never had the guts to do it. But been working out a bit and got a bit more confident and finally bit the bullet and done a GT shoot.”

Joe also posted on his Twitter and Instagram pages, telling his fans: “I know I said I would never do it! But been exercising a bit and feeling good so did a topless shoot! In this month’s GT.”

The photoshoot, which also saw Joe go topless, came in response to a Daily Mail article which dubbed Joe fat.

The jibes came after he appeared on morning television to promote The Who’s rock opera Tommy, which he was starring in at Blackpool Opera House.

Joe, who is soon to set off on a UK tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in the title role, posted a svelte-looking topless selfie on Instagram in response to the story, saying: “Just took my full figured little ass to the gym and thought I would take a little pic.”

Gay Times are clearly proud to have Joe on their cover and hit back at the national newspaper.

The magazine posted an image of their February cover on Twitter, saying: “How’d ya like him now, @MailOnline? Our brand new issue with @joemcelderry91 is out NOW.”

Download the February issue of GT now by going to www.gtdigi.co.ukJoe’s issue of GT will be available to buy in shops from Wednesday.