Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
X marks spot for Ryan
Coatbridge singer makes it through to next round
“It was the best experience of my life”.
That is how Coatbridge singing sensation Ryan Lawrie described performing in front of millions of TV viewers and an enraptured studio audience during the first week of the live X Factor shows.
The 20- year- old advanced through to this Saturday night’s second live broadcast of the show after impressing judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Nicole Scherzinger and Sharon Osbourne with his version of One Direction’s top-10 single Perfect.
Osbourne described Ryan as “so cute she could squeeze him”, Walsh called it “the perfect song for him” and mentor Scherzinger said he “gave it his all for the first live show”.
Ryan’s performance on Saturday saw him rack up enough public votes to sail through during Sunday’s results show.
The delighted young star told the Advertiser: “I was really nervous up until I got up on stage, then the adrenaline kicked in and performing live on The X Factor was the best experience of my life.
“It was all over in the blink of an eye and the judges’ comments were a bit of a blur. It wasn’t until I looked back on my performance later that it all sunk in.
“Simon commented that he felt I was a bit too theatrical, but I was just going for it and put everything into my performance.
“When I heard the voiceover calling out my name to say I’d got through on the results show I was absolutely over the moon.
“I wasn’t expecting to get through as I only made the live shows as a wild card and wasn’t sure enough members of the public had enough time to connect with me.
“But when I advanced it was like a weight lifted from my shoulders and this will give me more confidence going forward.
“The theme for this weekend is Motown and I am definitely up for the challenge.”
Joi n i n g Rya n in the competition’s final 11 contestants is girlfriend Emily Middlemas and Ryan was quick to praise her success – and hit back at weekend reports about the pair enjoying “frisky late night romps” on the stairs of The X Factor house.
He said: “Emily’s name was called out right after mine and it was great for the two of us to make it through to week two of the live shows.
“She performed brilliantly and deserved to advance. “There were some strange stories about us in the press but it’s all rubbish.
“We just chill out with the other contestants in the house watching films and are being professional every step of the way.
“Emily and I are trying to block this stuff out and focus on our music and doing the best we can.”
Ryan’s brother and uncle attended last Saturday’s live show – offering him “invaluable support” – and his parents will be heading south to watch their “brilliant boy” this weekend.
The singer’s sister Samantha added: “We are all so proud of Ryan sailing through to this weekend’s live show.
“It was a nail-biting experience waiting to hear his name get called and when it did everyone went crazy.
“This has been the best experience for our family and with all the support throughout Monklands, we hope he continues to get enough votes to keep him in the competition.”