A Co Derry barman is one step closer to his goal of making it through to the live finals of the X-Factor, after being selected for the judges’ houses stage of the TV talent show.
Niall Sexton, from Magherafelt, is one of six in the ‘Boys’ category to make it to the Nice home of Nicole Scherzinger, where they will compete for three places in the live stages of the contest.
The 22-year-old singer first tried his luck with X-Factor success in 2011, when he made it to the last 12 Boys line-up, before being sent home by then-judge Gary Barlow.
A Twitter controversy followed Niall’s previous ejection, when he claimed online that he was given the boot in favour of Co Tyrone singer Janet Devlin, who went on to finish in fifth place.
His return to the ITV show saw him impress judges with a version of Sarah Barielles’ ‘Gravity’, which earned him a place at the show’s ‘Boot Camp’ stage.
Judge Simon Cowell told the Mid Ulster barman: “I think you have an incredible voice, I really do.”
Fellow Irish contestant Janet Grogan, meanwhile, has also made it through to the last six in the ‘Overs’ category.
The 28-year-old Dubliner is also in her second stab at X-Factor success, having previously appeared on the show in 2014, when she made it to the ‘Six Chair Challenge’ stage before being sent home by Cowell.
