X Factor dream for hopeful Rylan (From Thurrock Gazette)

X Factor dream for hopeful Rylan

3:00pm Sunday 29th July 2012 in News

STANFORD-LE-HOPE could be the home of the next X Factor winner.

The town’s Rylan Clark has been revealed by a national newspaper as one of the hopefuls who made it through to the bootcamp stages of the ITV talent competition.

Rylan, a 23-year-old model, will be a familiar face to any fans of the reality TV show Signed by Katie Price, which saw him come runner-up in the competition to be managed by the glamour model.

According to an X Factor source who spoke to the paper, Rylan has divided opinion among the X Factor judges, who include Take That’s Gary Barlow and music mogul Louis Walsh.

The source said: “Rylan has split the judges.

“But they think he’s unique and are prepared to give him a chance.

“He’s a real Marmite contestant – you either love him or hate him.”

Rylan, who is gay, was runner-up in the 2009 Essex Factor competition, and was a member of the Spanish boyband 4bidden up until January 2010.

He also had a stint as a regular cast member on BBC TV’s John Bishop’s Britain, as well as appearing on the Comedy Central Show Olivia Lee’s Dirty Sexy Funny.

Rylan’s Twitter page, @rylanclark, reveals he has been in Liverpool, where bootcamp was held.

He tweeted on Saturday: “Amazing week, love everyone, miss everyone more. Bootys DM me your numbers”.

Around 60 of the 200 contestants at the Bootcamp auditions were sent home from Liverpool straightaway, after show bosses feared too many average contestants had made it through.