Tragedy-hit hopeful on X Factor

A man who missed out on last year's X Factor because of a family tragedy will finally get a chance to wow Simon Cowell and the other judges on this Saturday's show.

Daryl Markham missed last year's audition to be his brother's best man, only to see him diagnosed with lung cancer soon after and die six weeks later.

Viewers of tomorrow night's show, the second in the new series, will see the 40-year-old carpenter from East Sussex fight back emotions to perform Rod Stewart ballad I Don't Want To Talk About It.

Daryl told judge Simon Cowell: "I applied to come on last year but it was my brother's wedding, but unfortunately shortly after his wedding he was diagnosed with lung cancer and six weeks later he passed away.

"Me and my brother were inseparable, we did everything together, he was my best friend. Only six weeks after being told, he died, he was only 37."

Daryl said he had worked as a carpenter for 24 years, sharing a business with his brother, but had always dreamed of being a singer.

"I promised my brother I'd look after his young nine-year-old boy Kian, he's a very bright young boy but goes back into himself... We all have to be strong for him, that's why I'm here today, to make him proud."

The next edition of The X Factor is on Saturday at 7pm on ITV1.