“People had told me to try 'The X Factor' for years, but I thought I'd be moody and hate it all. But it's what I needed. I asked Mum and Dad to come to my 'X Factor' audition, and it was the first time that they'd been in the same room in years.”

English singer and songwriter, born 1988

James Arthur is an English singer and songwriter. Born in 1988, he rose to prominence in 2012 after winning the ninth series of The X Factor. His debut single, a cover of Shontelle's "Impossible", was released soon after the final and went straight to number 1 on the UK Singles Chart. It has sold more than 2.5 million copies worldwide, making it the show's most successful winner's single.