THE PROUDEST DAD IN WALES
X Factor sensation Lloyd Macey’s father opens up the family album ‘I can’t walk down the street without people stopping me’
DARREN Macey can remember the moment he realised his son was set for stardom. Despite his parents not being musical themselves, Lloyd Macey grew up in a house where singing was celebrated.
The 23-year-old performed in school choirs and competed in singing competitions.
But at the age of 19, The X Factor star visited his grandmother, Nora, while she was living in a care home.
“It was so special,” his father recalls. “The way that my mum smiled and reacted, it made me realise just how incredible Lloyd’s voice is. I have a video which I still watch. It was just amazing.
“He was always singing, and always had a lovely voice – and of course he would sing in Welsh.”
Nora sadly passed away from Alzheimer’s three years ago, missing out on Lloyd pouring his heart out to millions of viewers every week on The X Factor.
Darren sighs: “She would find it amazing. She would be absolutely blown away.”
Much like the rest of the UK – and even further afield. Since appearing on the hit talent show, Darren and Lloyd’s mother, 49-year-old Michelle, have been sent messages from fans across the globe, including from the Philippines, Mongolia and Afghanistan.
Living in Wattstown in Rhondda, it has been a giant leap from the Valleys to overnight success for this small family. In fact, as Darren speaks about the experience an image of his son pops up on the television, stopping him in his tracks.
“It’s surreal,” he explains. “That sums up what life is at the moment. I can’t walk down the street without people stopping me and congratu- lating me on what a lovely boy he is and how well he’s doing.
“I spoke to Lloyd on Thursday night in The X Factor mansion, and he told me he was on his way to the Daddy’s Home 2 premiere. I was sat with a cup of tea! But to be honest, I think he would rather be sat with a cup of tea here too, he misses Wales tremendously.
“He absolutely loves the Valleys – and I think that is what keeps him so grounded. His identity as a Welshman is very important, and he loves the sense of community and support.
“I think that has been so important to his success so far on the show. He knows what is more important than fame and fortune.
“It’s amazing that everybody across Wales has got behind him. We like to look after our own. We have made so many new friends.”
It’s clear from watching Lloyd on the weekend ITV television programme that family is incredibly important to him, and as an only child he has built a very strong relationship with both of his parents.
The pair travel from the Valleys to London every weekend to watch their son perform, along with the infamous Nanny Christine, who attempted to bribe Simon Cowell with one of her fish finger sandwiches.
Unfortunately, she was unable to make it to the studios last night, when Lloyd sang a song his own mother sang to him as a baby: “From This Moment On” by Shania Twain.
“When Lloyd sings it just feels like he’s singing for you,” Darren said.
Growing up, the singer’s parents always taught him not to worry about things that couldn’t affect him, but instead to move on and make the best of each situation.
“We taught him to pursue his dream,” Darren adds.
After starting a tourism degree, Lloyd spoke to his parents about instead focusing on his passionon – singing.
The pair backed him 100%, and d Lloyd took a breather from his is rehearsals earlier this month to o graduate from university at a ceremony in Carmarthen.
He achieved a first-class honours degree at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David after completing a Welsh h medium BA Perfformio (Perforormance) degree in the summer.
Lloyd’s inherited optimistic attitude titude became all the more important nt for him when he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, an incurable inflamnflammatory bowel disease, in 2011.
The condition can leave the singer in agony. He has previously spoken poken about how his weight dropped from 20 stone to 12 stone before he went ent to see his doctor and was diagnosed osed with Crohn’s.
Lloyd opened up about his condiondition on daytime TV show Loose oose Women earlier this month. For Darren, Lloyd’s diagnosis was an ordeal. deal.
“It was a tremendously difficult fficult time,” he explains. “It was months nths before we found out what the condindition was. As a parent it was very scary.
“But that is really what drives ives Lloyd to provide awareness around und Crohn’s conditions, so people do go, get checked out and get diag- ag-
“He was always singing, and always had a lovely voice – and of course he would sing in Welsh.
DAD, DARREN MACEY
nosed. He doesn’t doesn approach it with the attitude ‘poo ‘poor me’. If people get checked, despite it being an irreversible condition, it can be managed and treated.” The day aft after Lloyd finished his degree, he was singing for a place on Th The X Factor. His dad was there. Now he has been left in the hands o of his mentor, Louis Walsh. Darren says: “He’s really, really s supportive of Lloyd, and a really r nice guy. He is definit definitely in good hands. “Wh “Whatever comes of this, Lloyd’s classic voice is one that never goes out of fashion and we hope that he has longevity in his career, we don’t believe that this will be a flash in the pan.
“Thank you to everybody for all of the support this year – and let’s all get voting this weekend to keep him in!”
To donate to the #teamlloyd macey fundraising page, for the Alzheimer’s Society and Crohn’s and Colitis UK, you can visit mydonate. bt. com/ f undraisers/ teamlloydmaceywristbands
The X Factor is on ITV tonight at 7.30pm.