By Geoffrey Rowlands

 
Judge Nicole Scherzinger said X Factor winner James Arthur was what the programme is all about.
The 24-year-old singer’s troubled past saw him spend time on the streets and in care after break-ups within his family. He also overcame a severe anxiety attack while competing on X Factor and became the first winner to have been placed in the bottom two during the series and saved by the public vote.
“I know it’s the old cliché but winning X Factor really was a dream come true,” smiled Middlesbrough-born James. “I’ve been trying for a career in music since I was 15 when I started writing and recording songs.
“I’ve uploaded my own songs to YouTube and Soundcloud and been in four alternative rock bands around the north-east of England. Some of the bands released records on independent labels but we never got anywhere.” Just under a year ago, James also suffered the disappointment of being rejected during the London callbacks for BBC Television’s The Voice. “Funnily enough, I wasn’t all that upset. I’d made it through to the last 200 singers which was quite an achievement, particularly for someone who looked like me. I knew I wasn’t really the kind of person they wanted. Other competitors said they were shocked by my rejection but I wasn’t. The programme makers knew I couldn’t be moulded to fit the right image for the show.”
In telling his Facebook followers about being rejected from The Voice, James ended the post by saying 2012 would be his year and reaffirming his determination to become a star.
“It does seem weird to see that now,” he laughed. “It looks like I knew what would happen in X Factor. The truth is it was almost all bravado. I did have confidence in my songs and my vocal ability but I’d spent so long trying for that elusive break into the big time. I hoped, but certainly didn’t expect, to have a chart-topping single before the end of this year.”
James would have been delighted to simply get a recording contract during 2012. “I’d recorded songs with friends and self-released some EPs as The James Arthur Band or The James Arthur Project. But the record deal was as far away as ever.
“I think the truth is I wasn’t as good as I thought. I discovered this on X Factor as the series progressed. My early performances didn’t capture the public imagination. This is obvious from the voting. But we are coached in vocal technique and presentation. I took this advice on board and felt my performances really improved towards the end.”
This was the first year when the finalists could choose their own winner’s song. A previous criticism of X Factor was the chosen winner’s song always seeming better suited to one of the finalists and that artist invariably won.
“I loved Shontelle’s 2010 single, Impossible, and thought it was perfect for my winner’s song. I’m really happy that so many people enjoy the song as much as I do.
“Getting to No.1 is incredible but the most important thing is all the proceeds being donated to Together For Short Lives. This is a fantastic charity which assists children with life-threatening or life-limiting conditions and their families. I’m so pleased to have been able to help.”