Weekends wouldn’t be weekends without shows such as The X Factor and The Voice over the years.
The reality hits have reigned supreme as flagship shows on their channels and pulled in millions and millions of viewers.
The British public seemingly just can’t get enough of singing-based reality TV shows, writes KentLive.
Whether it be to watch screeching vocalists be ripped apart by Simon Cowell or support a talented underdog, there’s always been something for everyone.
When it comes to the reality show competitors, it’s not hard to think of acts such as One Direction and Little Mix who made it big time.
But not all reality TV singers stay on our screens, so what about those contestants who went back to their normal lives after their shows?
Frankie Cocozza – The X Factor
(Image: PA)
The 2011 series of The X Factor was the season that spawned international girl group Little Mix.
It was also the year which Brighton’s Frankie Cocozza stole the headlines for his rock ‘n roll behaviour.
In his first audition, he flaunted his bare bottom to showcase a list of girls’ names to Tulisa.
He didn’t make it to the end of the series as his life had “gone out of control” and he pulled out.
(Image: Instagram)
And shortly after The X Factor, he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother.
After that, he admitted to blowing his £200,000 earned from fame and ended up working for £7.50 an hour as a builder.
He joined the list of wishful stars looking for love on series 3 of Celebs Go Dating, where after all the work from the agents he paired up with fellow celeb Charlotte Dawson.
Although after the final the pair didn’t stay together long and parted ways.
Since then he has cleaned up his act and lives in Sydney with his wife and son.
Katie Waissel – The X Factor
(Image: ITV)
Katie Waissel was known as the quirky contestant of The X Factor in 2010.
She finished seventh on the show but it was a year with a lot of competition.
That series was won by Matt Cardle but also featured Rebecca Ferguson, One Direction and Cher Lloyd.
Katie released a number of tracks after the show and also competed in Celebrity Big Brother in 2016.
Now she works as a Health & Fitness specialist and mental health campaigner, promoting her work across social media.
Same Difference – The X Factor
(Image: Ken McKay)
When The X Factor was in its infancy, the bubblegum pop duo of Same Difference went all the way to the final, where they finished in third place.
The duo had a brief but successful music career afterward, principally targeted at young children with their cheesy pop.
The brother of the two, Sean Smith, has continued to release music to this day and has made occasional appearances on shows such as Loose Women.
However, sister Sarah took a step back from the spotlight to find a lower-key job.
Still working in the arts, she now owns SD Studios, a performing arts school in Portsmouth.
Ray Quinn – The X Factor
(Image: Talkback Thames)
Ray Quinn finished second in The X Factor series of 2006, losing to Leona Lewis.
He went on to compete in Dancing on Ice in 2009, which he won.
Ray is still singing today and is popular on social media, but a source revealed to The Sun last year that the celeb has also taken a more mundane job as a delivery driver.
They said: “Times are tough and no one can be snobby about work. Ray is a hard-grafting lad, and naturally loves being on the move, doing things and seeing people.
“He feared getting bored so applied for a job with Hermes and has been dropping off packages ever since.
“It’s kept him busy and he’s really popular — especially with fans who want a selfie. It’s brilliant he’s doing this – more and more people are bound to follow suit.”
Jermain Jackman – The Voice
(Image: BBC/Wall To Wall)
In 2014 The Voice crown was taken home by Jermain Jackman thanks to his silky smooth vocals.
His first release immediately after the show stuttered, his debut single landing at number 75 in the charts and his first album selling just over 600 copies in its first week.
Having competed on the talent show at just 19 years old, Jermain still had plenty of ambition to pursue his studies.
He left the show to study politics and now works as an author and an activist, finding time to pursue his singing ambitions when he can too.
Leanne Mitchell – The Voice
(Image: BBC/Wall To Wall/Ray Burmiston)
Leanne Mitchell was the very first winner of The Voice back in 2012.
She stormed her way to the final thanks to her booming voice, which impressed from the first moment she stepped on stage to perform ‘If I Were A Boy’ by Beyonce in the blind audition.
The singer’s career didn’t quite hit the heights the show’s producers would have hoped following the show, her debut album only reaching number 134 in the charts.
Even though Leanne hasn’t found the celebrity life, her post-show return to normality is still made up of music.
She is bookable for events and runs singing workshops with children.
In 2020, she pulled together an ensemble cover of ‘Carol of the Bells’ to showcase the talent that had been hit hard by the pandemic.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
