X Factor’s Joe McElderry has shared a new snap to social media, where he looks completely unrecognisable. The singer took the show’s top spot nearly 15 years ago before he watched his first single, The Climb, reach number one on the UK and Irish singles chart.
Joe was just 18 when he won the X Factor. Now aged 33, he recently took to Instagram where he shared a pair of photographs taken during a holiday in Montenegro. The star could be seen grinning as he held an Aperol Spritz on a balcony.
Fans of the reality star were quick to comment on the post, and many made the same observation about how “relaxed” and “happy” he now looked. One person wrote: “Lovely glow to match your Aperol!! xx.”
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Another agreed: “Beautiful, so relaxed,” followed by a heart emoji. Meanwhile, a third chimed in: “Lovely holiday photos Joe!”
“It’s good to see you relaxed and happy,” agreed a fourth. Another added: “You look lovely and tanned hope you’re having a nice holiday.”
Joe, from South Shields, beat runner-up Olly Murs and third-place contestant Stacey Solomon to win the ITV show’s sixth series and competed against Rage Against the Machine for that year’s UK Christmas number one. Ultimately, the rap metal group’s 1992 song Killing In The Name Of made it to the top spot after music fans downloaded it en masse in protest against the show.
(Image: Ken McKay / Rex Features)
However, this did not stop Joe from going on to have an illustrious career. His cover of Biffy Clyro’s hit song did eventually make it to number one, and he went on to be the first X Factor contestant to release a fourth album. He has seen five of his albums break the UK top 20, and two reached the top three.
After his success as a recording artist, Joe set his sights on the theatre. He has appeared in the likes of Cinderella, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and, in 2023 and 2024, a pantomime version of Pinocchio. The production, at the Royal Theatre Newcastle, saw him take on the role of Jiminy Cricket.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
