Joe McElderry brings X Factor back to the North

Mar 11 2010 The Journal

The X Factor rolled into the North East last night – led by the local boy made good. Sam Wonfor was there

ANYONE who has been lamenting the loss of a regular shiny Saturday night date with a crowd of (mostly) mediocre singers, were beside themselves last night as the in-the-flesh manifestation of the X Factor rolled onto Tyneside.

The shiny, live and mini-me-style tour of the nation’s favourite talent show – and associated pyrotechnics – is always a popular draw.

But this year, the crowd weren’t just welcoming the finalists from the ITV1 phenomenon.

They were finally getting the chance to demonstrate their full-voiced delight that one of their own had been crowned Prince of the X Factor (clearly no-one is taking the King’s headgear away from Simon Cowell).

Joe McElderry, the teenager from South Shields, who happens to have somewhat of a cracking (in a good way) voice, was finally on stage to accept the glass-shattering congratulations of his home crowd.

A screen-laden stage at the Metro Radio Arena was playing host to the first of two fun-size (but near-perfectly formed) X Factor visits from eight of the finalists who, this time last year, were all filling in application forms in the hope of getting an audience with Mr Cowell, and his judging minions.

A fleeting triumphant return from Joe in part one, together with a string of polished performances from the likes of Olly, Stacey, Lucy and Danyl and a trio of horrifically entertaining outings from Jedward, did more than keep the capacity crowd hysterically happy.