Simon Cowell is about to get a blast from the past in the X Factor’s hotly-anticipated premiere episode.
Danny Tetley is set to step out on stage in the first episode of the series, but it’s the second time he’s performed in front of the music mogul as he first tried out on Pop Idol in 2001.
The singer, 37, failed to impress the 58-year-old back then, but he proves his skills have only improved since as he wows the audience with a rendition of Broadway hit And I Am Telling You.
X Factor SPOILER: Simon Cowell is set to apologise to Pop Idol contestant Danny Tetley in the music show’s premiere episode after rejecting him 17 years ago
Explaining his situation, Danny said: ‘I did try for Simon many years ago on a TV show called Pop Idol, not a lot happened, it’s why I’m back here.’
He continued: ‘Simon was very nice but back then it was a very image led business.
‘This is my World Cup final, I’ve waited 17 years to show I’ve still got it, I’ve still got the same passion as before.’
Proving himself: Explaining his situation, Danny said: ‘This is my World Cup final, I’ve waited 17 years to show I’ve still got it, I’ve still got the same passion as before’
It’s not just the public he impresses, as husband-and-wife duo Robbie Williams and Ayda Field stand up to enjoy a slow dance together.
Not only that, but the audience then give him a standing ovation before Simon apologises for saying ‘no’ 17 years ago.
Ayda and Robbie make history by becoming the first ever married couple to join The X Factor’s judging panel, in a deal reportedly worth £10million.
Amid the show’s dwindling ratings, entrepreneur Simon promised press that the couple, alongside fellow new judge Louis, ‘are going to bring a whole new energy’ to the series, which has been running since 2004.
Very happy: It’s not just the public he impresses, as husband-and-wife duo Robbie Williams and Ayda Field stand up to enjoy a slow dance together
World first: Ayda and Robbie make history by becoming the first ever married couple to join The X Factor’s judging panel, in a deal reportedly worth £10million
The American Idol star added at the launch last month that he’s ‘tried to get Robbie on every show we’ve had for 18 years then it happened by accident. We went to my house and chatted on the balcony and did a deal.’
As for Ayda, Simon explained that when the US beauty interviewed him in LA for Loose Women, it was ‘one of the funniest interviews I’ve ever had.’
The new lineup marks the first time in the show’s 14 year history that there’s been three male judges on the panel, and just one woman.
After the new panel was announced, Ayda was forced to defend her place as a judge, due to her lack of musical experience.
New blood: Amid the show’s dwindling ratings, entrepreneur Simon promised press that the couple, alongside fellow new judge Louis, ‘are going to bring a whole new energy’ to the series
She said simply: ‘It makes it’s a little more exciting. I’m excited to be the underdog and show the boys how it’s done!’
While Robbie added to MailOnline: ‘Ayda is a member of the public too and they never get it wrong. It is fallacy that there’s a magic formula to what makes a pop star. If a member of the public was up here now their opinion would be as valid as hers.
‘Ayda is my rock and she’s looked after me though thick and thin. I would say every move I’ve made professionally has been made by my wife. I agree with her 95 percent of the time.’
The latest series of X Factor returns to ITV at 8pm this Saturday.
Something new: After the new panel was announced, Ayda was forced to defend her place as a judge, due to her lack of musical experience, saying it makes it ‘more exciting’