Joe McElderry through to next round of X Factor

Nov 16 2009 by Joanne Butcher, The Journal

SINGING sensation Joe McElderry wowed both judges and the audience again last night, and sailed through to the next round of the TV talent contest.

The 18-year-old, from South Shields, performed a pitch-perfect rendition of Queen’s Somebody to Love on Saturday’s live show.

And he was the first act to be put through to the final six in last night’s results show.

Joe was backed by a gospel choir for his performance of the Queen hit, which judge Cheryl Cole labelled “a vocal rollercoaster”. The Geordie star, Joe’s mentor in the contest, said the teenager was “technically the best singer in this competition”.

Dannii Minogue praised him for tackling “one of the biggest Queen songs” which she said was even tough for ex-frontman Freddie Mercury to sing.

Louis Walsh also praised Joe’s performance, saying, “That was a really really big song for a little guy from the north of England”.

But he suggested Joe might have broken the rules by performing with a choir. “The only problem I have is that I think the choir helped you a lot,” the Irish judge said. “That’s maybe breaking the rules.”