X FACTOR fans have been treated to a blast from the past after one of the show’s finalists auditioned for American Idol.
The singer, 28, finished in third place on The X Factor 10 years ago and has now tried his luck Stateside.
An X Factor finalist has been given a second chance thanks to American Idol[/caption]
The singer, from Essex, wowed the judges in New York[/caption]
In a new and emotional video, the X Factor star can be seen video calling his three children before heading into the audition room.
Ché Chesterman‘s little girl jumps up and down and tells him: “Daddy, we miss you, we love you!”
Smiling, the 28-year-old singer says: “I miss you and love you too, darling.”
Ché, who starred in the 2015 series of The X Factor, explained to the camera: “I have three children at home in the UK.
“I’ve never loved anything as much as I love my kids.
“Being a dad is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
In the new clip, Ché is seen heading into the audition room to face American Idol judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan.
With a pianist accompanying him, the hopeful wows the panel with his rendition of Mirror by US singer Madison Ryann Ward.
Once finished, singer and former American Idol champ Carrie tells Ché: “You can do some crazy stuff with your voice but I want to hear some more fire in there, for sure.”
Commodores legend Lionel adds: “You don’t have to curl so much, but I am glad you were curling just to show us that you are capable of some amazing vocal….”
Finishing off his sentence, Carrie said: “Acrobatics!”
Lionel told Ché: “Really, no kidding, it’s a yes from me.”
Carrie and country singer Luke also said ‘yes’, before all three judges said in unison: “You’re going to Hollywood!”
Once outside in the corridor, American Idol host Ryan Seacrest asked Ché: “Are you going to ring the Mrs?”
Despite it being nighttime in the UK, Ché said he was before video calling his fiancée Brodie back home in Essex.
He asked if she wanted to see something, before holding up his Golden Ticket to the Hollywood round of auditions.
Gobsmacked, Brodie put her hand over her mouth as Ryan leaned over and urged: “Don’t wake the baby up!”
TEENAGE DREAMS
Ché was just 18 years old when he auditioned for The X Factor in 2015.
He told judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Tweedy, Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw that he had been working as a shelf stacker in Tesco but had given it up to concentrate on his singing career.
Ché ended up sailing all the way through to the live finals in the ‘Boys’ category, with Nick as his mentor.
He finished the series in third place, missing out to winner Louisa Johnson.
The new series of America Idol kicked off earlier this month.
Taking to Instagram following his successful first audition, Ché filmed himself getting into bed with his Golden Ticket.
He said: “Goodnight from me and my golden ticket.. we will be dreaming of HOLLYWOOD!
“A massive massive thank you to everyone at home watching, the 3 amazing judges and all of those at @americanidol. I love you all and I’m so grateful.”
Then 18, Ché finished the series in third place[/caption]
Ché impressed the American Idol judges and got a Golden Ticket for the Hollywood round[/caption]
He phoned his fiancée back home in the UK[/caption]
Ché’s fiancée Brodie was gobsmacked to hear of his success[/caption]
