SIMON FALL PUTS LLOYD ON EARLY
WALES’ only representative on the X Factor gave his first stunning live performance last night instead of tonight, thanks to Simon Cowell’s fall on Friday morning.
The Rhondda singer took to the stage to give his rendition of City of Stars – one of the tracks from last year’s mega-hit musical La La Land.
Lloyd Macey, whose nan had tried to bribe judges with a fish finger sandwich in the earlier rounds, joined the rest of Louis Walsh’s boys on the show. Simon’s groups are set to join Nicole Scherzinger’s tonight. And the judges loved him. Sharon Osbourne gushed: “Lloyd, you have such a beautiful, classic Welsh voice. And it was a really beautiful song choice.”
Nicole Sherzinger compared Lloyd to a luxury car. She told him: “Your voice is like a Cadillac. When you sing it’s effortless, so smooth and you make it look so easy.”
And his mentor Louis Walsh added: “I think you’re special. You have a recording voice, and for me, that was the performance of the entire night.
“I want everyone in Wales to lift their phones and vote for Lloyd Macey.”
Host Dermot O’Leary told viewers at the start of the programme that Cowell was resting at home and would not appear last night.
Introducing the judges, he said: “Thankfully three of them made it,” adding: “You might have spotted one judge is missing – that was because Simon was taken to hospital yesterday.
“But he’s doing fine, he’s back home, he’s watching the show. Get well soon, boss.”
The first live instalment of the singing competition saw the hopefuls tackle the theme of Express Yourself, and the judge’s four wildcard acts were also revealed. Alisah Bonaobra, Leon Mallett, Jack & Joel and Talia Dean returned to the competition.
Wales’ Lloyd Macey, 23, won his place in Louis’ final three boys after wowing the Irish judge and his guest, Grace Kelly-singer Mika, in Istanbul, Turkey, after singing How Far I’ll Go from Disney film Moana on last Sunday’s show.
Lloyd, who’s from Ynyshir in the Rhondda, chose the song originally performed by Ryan Gosling in the hit musical as the live shows kicked off.
Simon Cowell is set to return in tonight’s live show.