Tom Richards returned to The X Factor UK this weekend after eight years.
The former contestant has a lot of history with Louis Tomlinson.
Louis is one of this year’s new X Factor judges alongside husband and wife team Robbie Williams and Ayda Williams.
The trio sit alongside Simon Cowell on the panel, who kicked off auditions at The SSE Arena, Wembley earlier this month.
In this weekend’s episode, Louis instantly recognised one singer.
“Y’alright lad? I know ya! You auditioned the same year as me!” reacted Louis.
Back in 2010, Louis first auditioned for the show as a solo artist before being put into One Direction.
Tom made it as far as judges’ houses, but didn’t make the cut through to the live shows.
In Saturday’s show, Tom told judges he’s been grafting on his music for the past decade.
Saying he’s been singing everywhere from pubs to funerals, Tom quipped: “Give me money and I’ll sing.”
He reflected eight years on from his first audition: “I’m not saying I would’ve been in One Direction but there was a slight possibility that I could’ve been. My life would’ve been quite different today.”
He laughed: “I’m a little bit jealous I think… just a little bit.”
He opted to perform James Bay’s Let It Go but it didn’t immediately win over the panel.
Invited to sing a second song, Tom sang Rag’n’Bone Man’s Skin
Simon still said no, but the other judges gave Tom enough yeses to make the next round.
Other successful acts in Saturday’s show included Ricky John and Armstrong Martins who surprised with his take on a High School Musical classic.
Also through were the LMA Choir, made up of singers from Liverpool and teenager Georgia Burgess who gave an incredible first audition.
The X Factor continues Sunday night at 8PM with more auditions.
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