Scots singer shows the X Factor – five years after his first audition

Published on Sunday 4 October 2009 22:15

AT THE age of 16, Glaswegian Rikki Loney auditioned for The X Factor. He didn't make it then, the next year or last year, but last night viewers watched as judge Cheryl Cole finally put the determined young singer through to the final of the show.

The 21-year-old performer didn't let his previous auditions get him down and will now appear alongside 11 other acts on the nerve-wracking live shows.

ITV viewers watched the last 24 acts do their final auditions on Saturday night before the four judges announced the final three in each category on television last night.

The early favourites from this year's show have all made it through, with front runners Rachel Adedeji, the Grimes brothers and Stacey Solomon all making the cut.

Londoner Adedeji has been backed by last year's winner Alexandra Burke, while Essex student Solomon's version of the classic ballad Over The Rainbow won the praise of Kylie Minogue.

Minogue told her: "I sung that song every night on tour for a while and it's one you don't want to mess up, but for me it was flawless."

Welsh teenager Lloyd Daniels also made it through alongside Loney, despite judge Cole voicing her concerns about his tender age.

She told the 16-year-old: "I was 19 when I was given my opportunity and I struggled to cope with it," said the Girls Aloud singer.

All four judges said deciding who was to go through to the final 12 proved really stressful.

The 12 acts who will go through to the live finals are: Miss Frank, Kandy Rain, John and Edward, Lloyd Daniels, Joseph McElderry, Rikki Loney, Lucie Jones, Stacey Solomon, Rachel Adedeji, Danyl Johnson, Olly Murs and Jamie Archer.