SINGING hopefuls queued from the early hours to prove they had the X Factor.

The auditions for the hit ITV1 show took place at the Market Place shopping centre in Bolton town centre today.

It was one of 34 mobile audition venues across the country.

Budding vocalists were hoping to get through this stage of the competition and then head to the next round in Manchester, where they could meet star judges Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole.

More than 70 candidates put themselves forward throughout the day and one person who will be heading to the next stage is 26-year-old mum Kylie Taylor, who travelled in from Breightmet with her lucky mascot, two-year old son, Jaiden.

She said: “I can’t believe it — my head has gone after that, I have never sung in front of anyone properly before.

“They asked me to sing two songs, one by Adele and one by Rihanna — Jaiden came in with me and I could hear him singing along as well.”

Joining Kylie at the Manchester auditions next week at the Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground will be 68-year-old Jonie Mackenzie, who impressed judges with her Tina Turner impression.

She said: “I sang Tina Turner and I’m really pleased to get through to Manchester. I think I’m most looking forward to meeting Simon Cowell.

“I’ve come here from Blackpool with my husband who is a big supporter of me, he just tells me to keep going.”

Hoping to impress the judges with a special Jessie J mash-up was 15-year-old Bronwyn Ellis.

She said: “I am a bit nervous, but I’ve done quite a few things including a show at the Albert Halls and I am doing musical theatre classes.”

She was joined in the queue by fellow 15-year old Leoni Bates, who said: “I’ve not really experienced this before and I’m hoping it will be a good experience.

"I’m a bit nervous but I think I can do it.”

She was not selected to go through to the next round, however, with judges citing her age as the reason.

Market Place manager Nikki Wilson-Cook said she was unable to confirm how many hopefuls had got through to the next round of auditions but said there were definitely some “ones to watch”.

She added: “We had a good crowd of people queuing here early this morning and have had a steady number coming through the day, there have been a fair few people leaving with yes letters in their hands so we are hopeful of seeing someone from Bolton do well on the show.”

The Manchester stage of the auditions will take place on Saturday.


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