X Factor’s Steve Brookstein marks 20 years since his win with London coffee shop gig… and unrecognisable star can’t resist having a pop at the ITV show

by

As a lifestyle expert with a keen eye for the human side of showbiz, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of admiration for Steve Brookstein. His journey from the first-ever X Factor winner to a music comeback 20 years later is nothing short of inspiring.

20 years following his initial victory, the very first X Factor champion, Steve Brookstein, is preparing for a musical resurgence.

On Wednesday evening, the performer captivated a packed audience at a venue in Chiswick, West London, and took a playful jab at the former ITV talent competition that no longer exists.

Steve, who is now 56 and hardly resembles his former self from his days on the cancelled ITV talent program, shared with his audience during his performance: “Twenty years have passed since I won that show, I still refer to it as ‘that show’.

However, the location for his performance on Wednesday night was significantly different from the Fountain studios in Wembley, North West London – a place that saw him win “The X Factor” on December 11, 2004, under the guidance of Simon Cowell.

Instead of performing on a grand theater stage with an audience of 10 million, Steve gave a show to just thirty individuals at the coffee shop named Rhythm and Brews, nestled in the green suburbs of Chiswick, London.

Steve received an invitation from the owners, following their discovery of an article on TopMob regarding his performance in Scotland during October.

‘I’m only here because of the Daily Mail,’ he said.

Steve performed renditions of popular songs like “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye, “California Dreamin'” by The Mamas & The Papas, and “Nightshift” by The Commodores.

Steve didn’t forget the occasion, given that he resides in Scotland with his wife Eileen, and it was a significant date for him.

And he is now to mark it by preparing to release a new record.

Although he didn’t win over Britain’s housewives through his stint on The X Factor, his smile never waned throughout the evening.

Since it was his initial discussion about his part on the show over the weekend, Steve revealed that the program caused him intense distress.

He said: ‘The X Factor gave me everything I didn’t want: humiliation. It’s been like an albatross around my neck.’

He disclosed the severity of the insults hurled at him by judges, detailing an instance where Sharon Osbourne referred to him using a derogatory term during rehearsals, and another time when Louis Walsh publicly compared him to the notorious serial killer Fred West on live television.

‘It was quite shocking. There was so much hate towards me.

The most challenging aspect for me was enduring online bullying. I received emails and links to websites with images of me alongside Fred West. This occurred primarily within chatrooms. It’s something you’re not typically prepared for in real life. Previously, the worst I had encountered was bullying at school, but this incident gained national attention.

“Brookstein clearly states that while he never desired to end his life, there were moments when he felt that without Eileen and the children, he might have done so.

In his words, the bosses didn’t have a responsibility to care for the employees (artists). Instead, what they took away from the first season was not about nurturing the artists, but rather about safeguarding the company.

Read More

2024-12-12 03:33