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1. Joe McElderry, 18, comes from South Shields and is a performing arts student at Newcastle College.
2. Joe started singing four years ago when he shocked his family by finally taking a turn at karaoke in his aunt’s garage and proving himself the best singer in the family.
3. He went on to play Danny in Grease at Harton Technology College two years later.
4. Joe reached the boot camp stage that year, but felt too young compared to the other contestants and opted to walk away.
5. Gigs this summer before the X Factor finals included a local football team’s pub night awards do and a charity fashion show.
6. One punter in his home town, believed to be a family member, staked £500 on Joe winning The X Factor, a bet which could land them £7,000.
7. He used to work at South Shields arts venue The Customs House.
8. Joe was the Pride of South Tyneside's Young Performer of the Year in 2008.
9. South Shields MP and Foreign Secretary David Miliband has written to Joe to wish him luck.
10. He earned a standing ovation from the audience in Manchester with his first audition, when he sang Luther Vandross’s Dance With My Father.
See
X Factor Top 10: All you need to know about Joe McElderry for his Audition video.
