Same Difference
| Company type | Duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Sean Smith, Sarah Smith |
| Headquarters | Portsmouth , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Same Difference was a bubblegum pop duo from Portsmouth, England, composed of siblings Sean and Sarah Smith. They rose to fame in 2007 as the final act eliminated during the fourth season of ITV's talent competition, The X Factor.
Their musical style was aimed primarily at children aged 13 and younger. Their initial single, "We R One", debuted on 24 November 2008, shortly before their first album, Pop, which was released on 1 December 2008. In November 2009, they joined PopLife Records and subsequently launched their sophomore album on 7 February 2011.
On 24 December 2014, Same Difference declared their split but left open the possibility of issuing a third album titled Superheroes. London Records expressed regret over not collaborating further with the duo.
In 2020, Same Difference reunited to record a charity single in aid of the COVID-19 Urgent Appeal. The track "One Life, One Love," featuring students from SD Studios, was released on 3 August through SP Music.
Biography
Sean (born 24 September 1985) and Sarah (born 4 November 1988) were brought up in The Dale, Widley, part of the Borough of Havant. Prior to joining The X Factor, Sean worked as an entertainer in Portsmouth, performing on cruise ships and participating in pantomimes. Sarah left home at age 16 to study at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, where she earned her diploma in 2007. Alongside modeling and acting roles—including an appearance on Genie in the House—her main focus remained singing.
Career
In 2007, Same Difference took part in the fourth series of the British talent show The X Factor. Their audition took place in London, where judge Simon Cowell initially described them as "potentially two of the most annoying people I've ever met," but later became their mentor and commended them as "genuinely nice people." During live performances, judge Louis Walsh criticized their act as "cheesy" and more appropriate for children's parties; however, Cowell along with judges Sharon Osbourne and Dannii Minogue defended their lively presentations.
They advanced to the final round, largely propelled by their well-received cover of S Club 7's "Never Had a Dream Come True." Ultimately, they were the last contestants eliminated; Rhydian Roberts finished second while Leon Jackson took first place.
Performances on The X Factor
2008: Launch of Debut Album
Following their appearance on The X Factor, Same Difference secured an initial single release agreement with Simon Cowell's label, Syco. During the X Factor Live tour, they announced that their first single would be a rendition of "Breaking Free" from the film High School Musical, a song they had performed on the show. Alongside this, an original B-side titled "The Miracle" was planned, with both tracks recorded in Poland in early March 2008.
By April of that year, their contract with Syco was extended to encompass a full album deal, reportedly valued at approximately £1 million. On 19 July 2008, they appeared at "My First Festival" held at Legoland Windsor, sharing the stage with artists such as Chico and Bob the Builder. Throughout 2008, they participated in tours across various venues, including festive events and performances at Butlins resorts.
After the show concluded, Sarah and Sean made appearances on several television programs, including Blue Peter, GMTV, and Nickelodeon. They returned to The X Factor as guest performers on 22 November 2008 to showcase their debut single "We R One". Additionally, they appeared on the children's program Toonattik on CITV in December.
Following their contract with Syco, Same Difference-themed dolls were introduced on the website Stardoll. Their debut single "We R One" was officially released on 24 November 2008 through Syco Music/Sony BMG. The track was penned by J Elofsson and P Westerlund, produced by Quiz & Larossi, and published by Universal Music Publishing AB: Elofsongs. Their album, entitled Pop, was launched on 1 December 2008.
Included in the album was a cover of "Turn It Into Love", originally written by Stock Aitken Waterman for Kylie Minogue, as well as "I Need A House", a song previously recorded by Swedish pop artist Marie Serneholt.
2009–11: The Rest Is History and Label Transition
Same Difference initially announced a UK tour spanning 21 dates set for March and April 2009; however, this tour was ultimately cancelled. Instead, they embarked on a co-headlining tour alongside fellow X Factor alumnus Leon Jackson, which included performances in Ipswich and Birmingham, along with a solo show in Portsmouth.
Due to underwhelming sales figures from their debut album, Same Difference was dropped by their record label Syco. Subsequently, under new management, they signed with PopLife Records and undertook an extensive 66-date UK tour performing at Pontins Holiday Parks.
In December 2009, Same Difference unveiled a redesigned official website featuring updated branding. Their lead single from the forthcoming album, "Shine On Forever (Photo Frame)", was released on 29 August 2010 accompanied by a music video directed by Lauren Pushkin and produced by PMA Digital. The single reached Number 100 on the UK Singles Chart dated 5 September 2010. Their sophomore album, titled The Rest Is History, was released on 7 February 2011.
On 10 September 2011, Same Difference announced the launch of the "Same Difference Pop Academy," a singing and dancing program for children beginning in October 2011 in Portsmouth.
Later that month, in late September 2011, the duo submitted their song "Music" to the Swiss national selection for participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, but their entry did not advance.
2012–2014: Superheroes and Separation
In early 2012, Same Difference commenced work on their third studio album, showcasing a more developed musical style. On 6 January 2013, London Records officially announced signing the duo to a new recording contract.
By 24 December 2014, Same Difference declared their breakup, though they remained open to potentially releasing their third album, titled Superheroes.
In 2020, the pair reunited briefly to produce a charity single called "One Life, One Love," which was distributed by SP Music on 3 August. The single featured contributions from students at SD Studios and raised funds for the COVID-19 Urgent Appeal.
Sean Smith solo career
Following the disbandment of Same Difference, Sean Smith took on the role of Aladdin in a December 2015 production at the Stiwt Theatre in Wrexham, performing alongside Alex Reid.
From April through October 2016, he assumed a leading role in the UK touring show That's Entertainment, sharing the stage with performers including Jane McDonald and The Overtones.
As a solo artist signed to Energise Records, Sean launched his debut single "Turn Me On" on 23 September 2016. The track was penned by Nalle Ahlstedt and Christian Ingebrigtsen from A1, with a remix EP featuring a version by Paul Varney.
Sean reprised his portrayal of Aladdin at Liverpool's Epstein Theatre between December 2016 and January 2017, starring with Natasha Hamilton, Jordan Davies, and Mark Byron.
His second solo release, "Magic," came out on 26 May 2017. To promote it, he appeared on ITV's Loose Women and debuted a refreshed image.
The third single, "Fire," was issued on 2 November 2017.
In August 2018, Sean collaborated with Australian artist Peter Wilson on a cover of "Verona," produced by Matt Pop.
That December, he played Prince Charming in Sleeping Beauty at Horsham's Capitol Theatre alongside Ben Ofodu.
Sean's single "Do or Die" was released in February 2019. In April that year, he performed as Tin Man in The Wizard Of Oz at Liverpool's Epstein Theatre.
He provided lead vocals for Beware The Bear's "Show Me Love," which appeared in the BBC2 drama Mother Father Son and was released via SP Music in May 2019.
November 2019 saw Sean release the duet "Dirty Mirrors" with Ben Davidson through Energise Records.
He returned once more to play Aladdin in December 2019 at The Forum Theatre in Barrow and continued the role at Colne Muni Theatre in January 2020.
Sean’s debut solo album Solo was launched on 20 July 2020 via Energise Records.
He featured on Beware The Bear’s song "Wishing on the Water" (August 2020) and their EP We Will Survive (November 2020), which achieved #15 on the UK iTunes Singer Songwriter Album Chart.
In March 2021, Sean released the "Hazard/Human" EP through Energise Records.
His album Swing For The 90's, distributed by SP Music in April 2021, reached number one on the UK iTunes Jazz Album Chart and peaked at #30 on the overall UK iTunes Album Chart.
Later that month, he issued the duet "One And One" with Peter Wilson via Energise Records.
Sean continued releasing singles including "In Love With The Night" (June 2022) and "Young Love" (February 2023) through SP Music.
In January and August of 2024, he put out the singles "Feels Like Forever" and "Little Song," respectively.
His most recent release is the single "Feel This Love," which came out in June 2025.
Television appearances
In 2008, Same Difference made a comeback on The X Factor to showcase their debut track, "We R One". The following year, they took on a small acting part in the CBBC sitcom Dani's House, playing siblings "Erik and Erika," who were champions of a game show. That same year, they also appeared on The DPK Gameshow. Their television presence continued in 2013 with an appearance on Celebrity Juice, and in September 2016, they were guests on the talk show This Morning.
Other appearances
In 2009, Same Difference participated in switching on the Christmas lights in Coalville, followed by a similar event in Burton upon Trent in November 2010. Between December 2012 and January 2013, they performed as Lilac Fairy and Prince Robin in the pantomime production of Sleeping Beauty held at Weston-super-Mare. On 26 November 2016, they delivered a live performance at The Concorde Club located in Eastleigh.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | UK Chart Positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pop |
|
22 | Gold |
| The Rest Is History |
|
100 |
Singles
| Year | Single | UK Chart Position | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "We R One" | 13 | Pop |
| 2010 | "Shine On Forever" | 100 | The Rest Is History |
| 2020 | "One Life, One Love (feat. Students from SD Studios)" | – | Non-album single |