I would never have been discovered without the X Factor. I was just doing the working men's clubs and I loved doing that. That was the life for me at that time. I never expected to be noticed doing that, that's why I went for X Factor by myself.

What I said to my family is, 'Our history is our own. Let people write what they want, we know who we are.

Obviously there are a lot of 12-year-olds over in America who are incredible singers.

Once I got in the public eye there was no going back.

I grew up in Manchester in a big Irish family - there are seven of us in all - so my life has always been about role-playing, about doing anything for a laugh. I'm always joking about; that's the way I am.

I don't think that money makes you any better brought up than I was.

I put my money in property and I love merchandise; such as Muhammad Ali boxing gloves. It's about stability for the future.