Mayor backs Joe McElderry to win X Factor

Nov 18 2009 by The Journal

THE Lord Mayor of Newcastle has pledged his support for X-Factor's Joe McElderry.

Joe, from South Shields, has been entertaining millions of viewers for the past few weeks with his performances on the ITV1 show.

Before the show, the 18-year-old was studying performing arts at Newcastle College and Newcastle Lord Mayor Coun Michael Cookson recently visited the college recently for a tour of the £21m Performance Academy. Coun Cookson said: “The Performance Academy at Newcastle College provides excellent facilities which, I am sure, have helped in Joe’s continued success in this year’s competition.

“Joe is doing a fantastic job representing the whole of the North East and I would like to wish him and his fellow students well for the future. ”

Newcastle College is backing Joe to win the competition and has produced posters, leaflets, screensavers, web links and is projecting good luck messages on the side of the Performance Academy to encourage people to vote.

David Turner, director of Newcastle College Performance Academy, said: “We were delighted that the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress were able to spend time at the college and see the outstanding facilities we have on offer.

“Our learners were very excited to meet him and talk about their experiences of life at Newcastle College. I am sure Joe will be thrilled at the fantastic support he has received from everyone in the region and I would like to thank the Lord Mayor for his kind words.”

The singer, who is being mentored by Geordie singer Cheryl Cole, has made it into the final six acts left in the competition, and is now only three shows away from the live final on December 12.