DO GRAN’S FISHFINGER SARNIES HAVE THE X FACTOR?

Christine tries to win judge Simon over with a box full of tasty treats

IN all the years it’s been broadcast, X Factor has seen contestants try all manner of ways to get through to the next round. Other than the most obvious – being really good at singing – they’ve cried, begged and (in some cases) thrown a complete hissy fit in order to persuade the judges not to deny them the big break that could make them an international star.

However, tonight’s show provides a first courtesy of a nanny from the Valleys who tries to win Simon Cowell’s favour with a box full of homemade fishfinger sandwiches.

Nanny Christine, from the Rhondda, pulls the crafty culinary trick in order to try to get 23-yearold Lloyd Macey a good review from the cantankerous Cowell and the rest of the panel – Louis Walsh, Alicia Dickson and Sharon Osbourne.

And it’s not the first time Christine has gone over and above the call of duty to promote her family member – Lloyd’s self-professed biggest fan, she never goes anywhere without a handful of business cards to distribute to everyone she meets in the hope they’ll book him to sing at some upcoming local function.

“When Lloyd was only eight he got up on stage and shouted, ‘Nanny, this song is for you,’ before launching into Tom Jones’ Sex Bomb,” she laughs, before following the nervous hopeful into his audition and sidling up next to Cowell with the packed lunch she’s prepared for him.

“Lloyd has always loved fishfinger sandwiches and I also heard that Simon does too,” she adds.

But will her plan work, or will Lloyd’s rendition of Sam Smith’s Lay Me Down be good enough to get him four “yeses” anyway?

If he does go though he’ll join those from last night’s opening show of the new series who all got a pass to sing another day.

They include a 20-something duo from London called Jack and Joel, a 21-year-old Florence and The Machine-loving shop assistant from Ireland named Rwanda Shaw, a Watford boy band called Rak-Su, 15-year-old Barnsley pub singer Holly Tandy and the extraordinarily named Elisangela Mahogany from Brazil, a personal trainer whose take on Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You earned her praise from the judges.

Tune into the X Factor on ITV tonight at 8pm to find out how Lloyd gets on – and, more importantly, to see if Simon actually eats the sandwiches.

PICTURES: TOM DYMOND Lloyd Macey with his grandmother Christine, who took some fishfinger sandwiches for Simon Cowell

Christine, right, sits next to Simon Cowell as he and his fellow X Factor judges listen to her grandson Lloyd – will he get through in tonight’s show?