LIFE AFTER X FACTOR FOR WALES’ CONTENDERS
AS A NATION known for its love of song it’s no surprise that Wales has produced its fair share of X Factor talent over the years. From Rhydian to drag queen performer Thomas Pound there have been the divas, the desperate, and occasionally some so good their first audition went on to guarantee a career for life.
For those thrust into the limelight overnight, however, it can also be a daunting experience that nothing can prepare you for. We’ve caught up with contestants old and new to see what happens once the X Factor cameras stop rolling...
LLOYD DANIELS
Teenage Lloyd stole the heart of the nation back in 2009 when he battled against the likes of Jedward and Olly Murs to reach fifth place.
So it’s little surprise that 10 years later the Treharris star is still recognised out and about – although he looks slightly different nowadays.
Now 26, Lloyd made the decision last year to move away from the stage after a decade touring on the road.
Today he spends weekdays as a regional development officer for an optical company before returning to the microphone at weekends. And he hasn’t looked back since.
Lloyd, who lives in Peterborough with his partner, said: “I’ve loved [performing] but after 10 years doing the same thing in life you start losing the love for it.
“If you want that lifestyle that’s great but if you want to see your partner at the end of every day and be able to go on holiday and see your family you have got to think of what works for you.”
After his sudden rise to fame Lloyd took the decision to leave school after his GCSEs and pursue his musical career. At only 16 years old he found himself living in London with fellow X Factor contestant Lucie Jones for six months before moving away from the city to stay in Windsor.
For him one of the hardest things was being so far away from family – prompting worries from his mum and grandmother that they would “lose him to the industry”.
“When I was 16 my stepfather auditioned. They saw me and said I had the look they were looking for and asked me if I could sing. I did my audition not expecting anything. I hadn’t even taken music at GCSE.
“When you’re 16 you don’t necessarily think about what are you are doing. It was as much to do with what I thought I was capable of, not what I was actually capable of.”
Overwhelmed at first by his own success, Lloyd turned down opportunities to work in theatre in order to focus on strengthening his vocals and prepare himself mentally.
Since finding his own voice he has toured with the X Factor, on his own, and as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Overall the performer guesses he has performed in around 1,000 different venues in the last 10 years – not counting all his touring.
Lloyd said: “I love intimate gigs. Normally I go out in front of 500 people but to have 100 people surround you in those moments, it really makes everything so grounded and everyone is so emotional. It’s so nice when you have command of the room.”
THOMAS POUND
Thomas Pound is definitely a contestant that those who were watching last year won’t forget.
After making an entrance with a rendition of Simply the Best, the 20-year-old came back and auditioned all over again as his drag queen alter-ego, Lady Freida Wylde.
He got to the Louis Tomlinson’s house in Ibiza with his mantra of inspiring others to be themselves before failing to make the last four.
A year down the line Thomas, from Bridgend, has now left behind his old cleaning job to run the popular Llyndfi Arms in Tondu with his business partner.
When he’s not behind the bar, or in the kitchen of the bustling pub, he can be found belting his heart out microphone in hand. But, despite his success, it hasn’t been all plain sailing since his TV debut.
Thomas, 22, said: “I had some really bad trolling on social media [after X Factor] and I had a lot of sick death threats about me doing drag. It got to the point where I became unwell emotionally after the show so I took a short break from social media.
“People just want a reaction and I didn’t go back to them and respond. I’m not about that. I knew some people would love me and some people wouldn’t love me. You can’t be everyone’s cup of tea.”
According to Thomas, Lady Freida Wylde has gone into temporary retirement for the time being. But the drag queen will be making her return for a one-off appearance on New Year’s Eve – and continues to inspire others.
Thomas said: “Still to this day people message me. When I came off the show I had messages from all over the world from people who can’t be accepted for being gay and who have seen my father’s relationship with me and how accepting he was.
“It opened so many corridors and opened people’s minds just with a few seconds of TV.”
Beyonce fan Thomas, who says he has been described as the ‘Robbie Williams of Bridgend’, said his rise to fame has also made him mature faster than others his age.
But that hasn’t put him off – in fact he’s looking to back into TV.
He said: “I would go back to TV but on a different route, on reality TV.
“I’m planning on doing reality TV but you’ve got to know which are good and which are wrong for you.”
LUCIE JONES
Pentrych-born Lucie made her way all the way to finals of the live shows back in 2009 thanks to her emotional performance of Whitney’s I Will Always Love You.
Perhaps one of the X Factor’s most successful alumni, since then she has become a familiar face on the West End after taking on lead roles in Les Miserables, We Will Rock You, Legally Blonde, The Wedding Singer, Rent and Ghost.
In 2017 the Welsh singer took on her biggest challenge yet by representing the UK in Eurovision with her performance of Never Give Up On You. While she may have ended up 15th she gained herself an army of fans with her cheeky tweets throughout the night.
As well as gaining herself a glamorous career on the stage the X Factor also proved to be a huge hit for Lucie when it comes to love.
Two years ago she tied the knot with X Factor contestant sweetheart Ethan Boroian after the couple bonded at boot camp. Nowadays she is taking on the role of Jenna in the hit musical Waitress in London.
KAYLEIGH MORGAN
In 2016, Clydach waitress Kayleigh Morgan battled through to the judges’ houses stage of the competition.
Three years later her dream of becoming a full-time performer has become a reality.
Kayleigh, 23, said: “I’ve always loved singing and it was always a dream of mine to sing in front of
Simon. That was the third time I had tried out for the show and it was third time lucky.”
Today a typical week for Kayleigh might see her perform between two and five gigs around the UK – usually accompanied by her partner or friends to help with equipment.
Last year also saw her take to the stage in a touring production of Aladdin for three months – her first time in a pantomime.
But at only 19 years old and appearing on the small screen the former X Factor contestant found herself in a very different place.
She said: “The whole world changes in 24 hours.
“When it did air I couldn’t leave the house for a few days – it was mental. There was no going down the shop – you could go down and instead of 20 minutes it would take an hour just to grab something.
“People would ask for pictures which was really nice but it did mean I would have to wear make-up or take care of my image. If someone wanted a photo I felt like I had to make sure I looked okay.”
Kayleigh added: “You have all these notifications and comments and you want to know what the comments are. I was the type to read everything everyone commented. I think about three comments out of everything were negative but those three count more than anything else. It’s just changing your mindset about what sticks with you.”
For University of South Wales student Kayleigh her newfound success meant she faced a difficult decision once her time on the show was up.
She said: “I did the first year [of university] and I had to take a year out to do the X Factor.
“I wasn’t going to go back, I was going to move to London and try do West End shows, but my dad advised me to have a back-up plan. Then we lost my dad. So I went back to uni and I could just hear his voice in my head.
“I was going to university in the week and performing at the weekend but I couldn’t not do university and I couldn’t not sing and perform.”
LLOYD MACEY
The second Lloyd to take the X Factor by storm, 23-year-old Lloyd Macey managed to make it all the way to the show’s semi-finals.
He also brought his family into the spotlight along the way after the Rhondda singer’s grandmother charmed the nation by bringing in fish finger sandwiches for the judges during his audition.
And who can forget what can only be described as the world’s proudest parents supporting him back home in Wattstown?
Since his appearance in 2017 Lloyd has continued to take his musical career from strength to strength.
Last year he headlined a three-day music festival at the Welsh Mining Experience at Rhondda Heritage Park.
And the University of Wales Trinity St David graduate added another feather to his cap after being invested