X Factor wannabees brave the weather for chance of stardom

Hundreds of hopefuls waited hours in heavy showers for a shot at stardom as the X Factor auditions hit Plymouth.

Singers braved the rain to perform in front of a video camera inside a tent in front of the Pavilions.

The first people arrived more than three hours before the auditions started – despite having only an outside change of following in the footsteps of previous winners Leona Lewis or Alexandra Burke.

Some contestants who impressed the two X Factor staff were invited back for a further audition later in the day.

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But a spokesman for the show said she could not say what would happen next for anyone who was successful.

Nor would she say how many people auditioned.

Plymouth Pavilions has already said most of the audition filming is complete.

The mobile auditions, a new move for the show, started in Plymouth but take in more than a dozen towns and cities – adding up to thousands of people.

Student Leonie Mayston, aged 17, performed ‘How do I Live?’ by LeAnn Rimes.

The Devonport youngster said: “I have always

had an ambition to be a singer ever since I was four or five years old. I do like the show. It is an opportunity for people who get themselves out there, whether they make it or not.”

Her friend 20-year-old Lucy Wyatt, from Devonport, added: “It is just a chance to be seen and heard. I have been singing since I was five years old.”

The mum added she was invited to go and sing in clubs in Blackpool but felt she was too young at the age of 16.

Songwriter Daniel Chivell, aged 24, from Milehouse brought his own guitar but had no idea what he was going to sing once inside the tent.

He added: “I am in the Navy and between back-to-back deployments. I do not expect anything much to come of it. I am just trying to do as many open microphone spots as possible.”

Not everyone was taking things so seriously.

Dawn Matthews was one of the oldest taking part in the auditions at the age of 49.

She added: “It is better than watching daytime television or reading Bella magazine. Actually, I have my own business so I do have work to do.”

The mum-of-two said she was planning to tackle rap soul superstar Plan B or all-conquering songstress Adele.

She said: “It is a platform for song and dance, so who knows?”

And two middle-aged women, who did not want to be named, had their pictures taken outside the X Factor tent to fool their children they were auditioning.

One said: “They are horrified. They just don’t think we can sing.”