Watch X Factor’s Anthony Russell very first audition from ten years ago

Here is Anthony Russell’s very first X Factor audition – from ten years ago.

Anthony returned to the show this year after quitting last year’s series.

But that wasn’t his first time auditioning for the show – he first went before the judges when he was a teenager.

Anthony’s first audition aired in 2007 on now axed Xtra Factor, then hosted by Ferne Cotton.

At the time Anthony declared confidently: “I’m going to blow everyone in the competition away, it’s all about this face.”

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The teen performed Beyond the Sea and impressed Louis Walsh, Sharon Osbourne and Dannii Minogue.

Simon Cowell however said no, telling Anthony he needed singing lessons.

Fast forward ten years and Anthony was back on The X Factor last year, again singing for Simon, Louis, Sharon as well as Nicole Scherzinger.

His take on ‘Issues’ by Julia Michaels touched the judges.

“I really really loved it. I felt every word you were saying, you told the story of the song so well,” praised Sharon.

“You’ve got a good energy about you. You can interpret a song in your style and make it your version,” Simon said in a far more positive review than in 2007.

Although Anthony got through to the Six Chair Challenge, he left the competition for personal reasons.

It was third time lucky this year, with Anthony making a triumphant comeback and getting through to the live shows.

Now mentored by new judge Louis Tomlinson, Anthony is one of the favourites to win the series and is one weekend away from the final.

The 28-year-old from Liverpool said at judges’ houses: “I’ve been at this since I was 16 trying to make this, so it would be the icing on the cake for me.”

The X Factor 2018 continues Saturday and Sunday night on ITV with the semi-final.