Oldham duo tune up for ‘X-Factor’
Reporter: Jennifer Hollamby
Date published: 15 August 2008
ANDREW BRIDGE (left) and Graham Wheeler
TWO Oldham singers reckon they have got the X factor — and they will prove their point when the new series of the popular ITV show starts tomorrow
Graham Wheeler (38) and Andrew Bridge (35) hit the high notes at the Old Trafford auditions to make it to the last 147 contestants out of 200,000 hopefuls from across the UK.
The duo made it through a series of auditions with producers before they faced up to the acid-tongued panel of Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Cheryl Cole and Danni Minogue.
For Graham, who works as a construction manager for Severn Trent, it was not the first time he had faced the wrath of the “X Factor” judges.
He said: “I have been singing in the pubs and clubs of Oldham for the last 10 years and I went to the ‘X Factor’ auditions a few years ago with two guys I was in a band with.
“Simon Cowell told me to drop the other two, but I wasn’t interested.
“I only auditioned this year because my daughter was having a go and I was bored with all the waiting around.
“She didn’t make it through, but she’s really proud of her dad.”
Graham impressed the judges with his rendition of Billy Ocean’s “Suddenly” and was pleased to find another Oldhamer in the huge crowd.
Graham, of Moorside, said: “I was really surprised to find another Oldhamer and it was great to meet him.”
The man in question was Andrew Bridge, from Shaw, who showed off his soulful style by singing Duffy’s “Mercy”.
Andrew lives in Shaw and works in marketing. He has written songs, uploading his work on to the internet, but has not performed for a long time.
He said: “The audition was the first time I had performed in a while and it was very nerve-racking. I really enjoyed it though.
“I think I’ve got the potential to go far. My sound is very soulful, like Lamar, and I think that will be popular.”
The pair will be appearing at the Dog and Partridge, Greenacres, on Sunday, August 24, when they will be performing as part of a charity fund-raising day between 1pm and 11pm.
