Page 17 - South Issue 12

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together and watched the X Factor. In the break, there
was an advert calling for people to audition and I said
‘quick, pass me the ipad’. I just applied while we were
all sat there watching it. I didn’t really sit and think
about it, I just did it. I then pretty much forgot about
it, but we were on holiday in Florida in April last year
and while we were out there I checked my emails
and I had one saying I had got an audition, but it was
the day we flew back. So I thought I couldn’t do it
but I wrote back and explained the situation anyway.
The show said that I could go to another venue on
another date, so I went the following week to Cardiff
and auditioned there. So that’s where it all started. If
I hadn’t been given that opportunity to do it another
time then I wouldn’t have done it, I wouldn’t have
auditioned. I wouldn’t have won!
Your win marked quite a change in past years
because you were in the over 25 category. Do you
think this is a sign the pop industry is become less
obsessed with youth?
Simon said to me that he was really pleased that
somebody has won it in the ‘Over 25’ category
because he said it will be interesting how many ‘overs’
now apply. He said that not many used to apply unless
they were a bit bonkers and thought they were the
next Ricky Martin. But there was not a lot of people in
the category because an over hadn’t won it since 200
– people think it’s not worth going for it. But I thought
‘sod it, let’s just do it’, and I’m glad I did. I would love
to see another over into the live shows. I’ve seen a lot
of shows and noticed how the overs are not always
taken seriously. I was lucky as people did take me
seriously and it would be nice to see everybody in the
overs category treated this way.
This summer sees you taking a trip to Oxfordshire
for the Cornbury Festival. Living only a few
counties away in Leicestershire, have you visited
the area much?
I’m very excited about Cornbury. I’ve been to
Oxfordshire a few times. I normally go to Bicester
Village. I went a few times before Xfactor and even
though I’ve got more money now, I still won’t pay full
price for designer brands. I’d still rather go there. I’d
also like to stay in Malmaison in Oxford sometime as
I used to be a prison officer. It looks amazing and I’d
love to stay in one of the old cells. I think there is just
such a lot of history in Oxford and obviously you’ve got
the university too. The city centre is so picturesque.
Are you doing the famous person thing
at Cornbury and going off site after your
performance to stay somewhere nice or are you
digging in at the campsite with everybody else?
Well it is a family festival and my kids are coming
along for the whole weekend so I’m very much
looking forward to it. I’ve never really been a festival
kind of person…I mean, I hate camping. I really can’t
stand tents and don’t forget I’m also going to be six
months pregnant when I am there as well. So I’m not
going for comfort! But no, I’m not staying in a hotel.
I’m going to be staying on the campsite. I’m going
for it, definitely! I might hate camping but my kids
absolutely love it. It doesn’t matter how much you
hate something, you will do it for your kids. But I am
definitely looking forward to the weekend, yes.
Speaking of your children, how are they both
handling the fame? Are they getting used to
having a famous mum?
They have taken to the whole fame thing like a duck
to water. Any time somebody stops to talk to me, they
just take a step back and don’t speak and they are
really patient. I’m really proud of the way they have
handled everything. My eldest has worked out that
I’ve got a little bit more money now so she is saying
things like ‘oh, I love that coat’ or ‘can I have a pony?’
But I’m not going to spoil them. My daughter has
started to earn money by taking the dog for a walk,
so fame means I can help her earn her own money.
I’m not buying her any massively expensive things
because it’s not how I am as a mum and it’s not how I
am going to be.
What advice would you give to people who
managed to get into X Factor?
Enjoy it. Use it as an experience. If it doesn’t happen
for you, then one day there will be an audition
that you really want and to have the experience
of going through something like this will help with
every other time you audition for something. Many
situations are helped if you to go in with confidence
because if you are nervous and shaking, it can be
a bit off-putting. If you can keep your cool, it looks
more professional and experiences like X Factor helps
you to do that. I’d waited twenty years for somebody
of the calibre of the judges to listen to me and give
me the comments they did, so the first audition was
more of an emotional time for me and when the live
shows started I wasn’t that nervous because I just
appreciated being there so much.
To find out what other acts are on at the Cornbury
Music festival this year, or to buy tickets, visit www.
cornburyfestival.com