Eight years after his first audition, Tom Richards is set to get a second shot at the X Factor tonight.
The 24-year-old first auditioned for the singing competition back in 2010 – the same year as current judge, Louis Tomlinson – and made it all the way to the Judge’s House.
He sang Robbie Williams’ Feel for Dani Minogue and Natalie Imbruglia, but ultimately ended up losing out on a spot in the live shows.
During Saturday night’s show, he tells the cameras how he hopes this can be his second chance – especially after watching One Direction’s success.
He explains:
“I auditioned for the show back in 2010, I was only 16 years of age. I got through to the judges houses.
“At bootcamp that year, One Direction was formed. I’m not saying I could’ve been in One Direction, but there was a slight possibility – and my life would’ve been quite different today.
“At the time we were just kids, we had no idea that they would go on to have the careers that they did.”
Admitting he’s always felt like there’s been a bit of “unfinished business” with the show, he continued:
“After the show, when they had their success, my life went back to normal pretty quickly. I gigged every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.
“I’ve had eight years, it’s always felt like I’ve had unfinished business with the show. You don’t get many second chances, this is…the biggest moment of my life.”
Louis and Tom have a mini-reunion on stage, before he asks the X Factor hopeful what he’s been up to since the last time he auditioned.
Tom tells him:
“I’ve been grafting, gigging at pubs, clubs, Bar Mitzvahs, funerals – give me money and I’ll sing.”
He kicks things off by singing James Bay’s Let It Go – his favourite song to sing – but will the judges give him the second chance that he wants?
- The X FACTOR airs on Virgin Media One tonight at 8pm
