Northern Ireland

Voice Ireland winner Patrick James rejected for having no X Factor

X Factor contestant Patrick James PICTURE: Tom Dymond/Syco/Thames TV/PA
X Factor contestant Patrick James PICTURE: Tom Dymond/Syco/Thames TV/PA X Factor contestant Patrick James PICTURE: Tom Dymond/Syco/Thames TV/PA

A winner of The Voice of Ireland has told of his shock after being rejected by Simon Cowell on the X Factor.

Patrick Donoghue, now known as Patrick James, failed to get past the audition stage, after being stopped by Cowell mid-audition and branded a 'pub singer'.

The Dubliner (27), who won the 2015 series of the now axed RTÉ talent show, said he was shocked at how he was treated.

He sang Rag'n'Bone man's hit Human for judges Robbie Williams, Ayda Field, and Simon Cowell.

"I was shocked they treated me like this. I didn't apply for X Factor.

"They rang me and asked if I had any plans that weekend, so I flew out on the Saturday morning. They didn't pay for the flight, I did," he told Sunday World.

"I wasn't prepared for it. I would have liked to have a week or two to prepare a good song."

Before he started singing James told judges that he sang in pubs and clubs and anywhere that will let him sing.

Williams encouraged him by saying, "Come on, blow us away".

But Simon stopped the music after he had sang a few lines and told Patrick, "I'm really sorry, I'm not feeling this. I'm not going to remember you in one hour."

Robbie Williams agreed with Simon saying: "You can sing. You've got a set of pipes. It's incredible. But I'm not feeling it either, and I don't know why that is."

Patrick was gracious and thanked the judges before leaving the stage.