Eurovision stars are no strangers to The X Factor UK. And now the crossover continues. Ireland’s Eurovision 2017 singer Brendan Murray and the Maltese Junior Eurovision 2013 winner Gaia Cauchi have both been spotted auditioning for The X Factor UK— and it looks like they’re both doing well.
The new series of the long-running talent show is in production and fans have been reporting from the Bootcamp and Six Chair Challenge rounds.
From there, it has been reported that the “Dying to Try” singer Brendan Murray successfully earned a seat in the Six Chair Challenge. He was guaranteed an unswappable position in the Boys category by getting the “Golden Buzzer” — a new feature that guarantees a seat to one contestant in each category.
Brendan is a former member of the Irish boyband HomeTown, which was managed by now-retired X Factor judge — and good friend of Simon Cowell — Louis Walsh.
Fans have also spotted Junior Eurovision 2013 winner Gaia Cauchi auditioning in the Girls category.
Fans of Malta at Eurovision had been hoping that the young singer — who turns 16 later this year — would audition for X Factor Malta and take a chance at Eurovision 2019. But it seems Gaia is aiming higher.
Gaia reportedly did not make it as a solo performer, but in X Factor tradition, “The Start” singer has been put together with others to form a girl group.
All going well, Gaia’s girl group and Brendan will face the Judges Houses round, where new judges Robbie Williams and Louis Tomlinson will respectively decide which contestants will make it to their teams in the live shows.
Eurovision stars on The X Factor UK
This is not the first time that former Eurovision stars have taken a chance on The X Factor UK. Last year Montenegrin diva Slavko Kalezic and Dutch soul queen Berget Lewis both made it to the Judges Houses stage before being eliminated. The same year, Welsh singer — and Cyprus’ Eurovision 2010 singer — Jon Lilygreen made it to the Six Chair Challenge before being eliminated.
We’ve also seen another Maltese Junior Eurovision winner in a British talent show. Last year, JESC 2015 winner Destiny Chukunyere auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent. She impressed the judges with her big soul voice, but was eliminated in the semi-finals.
The X Factor UK has also boosted the profiles of singers who have gone on to represent their countries at Eurovision. Ruth Lorenzo, Jedward and Saara Aalto all made their mark on the iconic reality show.
Who would you like to see in the live shows of The X Factor UK? Should Gaia represent Malta at Eurovision next year? Sound off below!
Read more Malta Eurovision news here
Read more Ireland Eurovision news here
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Wow, Gaia has grown up! I would have never guessed that was her!
Good luck to them both!
Don’t forget Lucie Jones did X Factor in the late 00s 🙂
Maltese JESC performers are the best. I hope to see Gaia and Destiny participate in the adult version of the contest soon.
They’ll do better than Slavko anyways thats for sure
Wow, Gaia has grown up. She’s so beautiful now. I wish her the best of luck on the show, as The X Factor UK is really something that can open doors for musicians. Brendan, eh, I think his voice is obnoxious and I definitely don’t want him to make it too far. In my mind, his connection to Louis is the only reason he’s gotten this far.
Obnoxius…. So people who have a special voice that people can remember are that? He have succeeed more already then you never will. so i dont think he care what you think.
Well…I don’t want to be a singer so I guess he is a more successful singer than I ever will be lmao nice try
Sorry that I find his voice annoying and that he has a close connection to an The X Factor big wig
Obnoxius is kind of a strong word for a singers voice. I love his voice but he got a really hard song to sing in ESC. Walsh is not in the jury this year:) I hope he got in beacuse of talent :). Sorry if i was a little harsh.
Louis isn’t even a judge this year.
Go Gaia <3
Welcome girl and boy
Take my hand, let’s enjoy
From the bottom of my heart I wish you the best
You can be my gueeeeeeest
Haha. I totally detest that song
Well I read the comment and didn’t understand it! Only now I saw the username of the person you replied to
I hope Gaia comes far, for some reason all the Maltese JESC stars have so much talent and should be famous by now.