Jahmene starts X Factor with a bang (From Messenger Newspapers)

Jahmene starts X Factor with a bang

12:21am Saturday 18th August 2012 in National Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

The new series of the X Factor starts with a bang as shy supermarket worker Jahmene Douglas wows the judges in tonight's show.

Viewers will see the singer, from Swindon, Wiltshire, conquer his nerves to put in a great performance of the Etta James track At Last.

The youngster, who describes himself as a "stay-at-home kind of guy", gets a great reception, with Louis Walsh calling him "a revelation".

The Irishman tells him: "You have got the X Factor, you are what we are looking for. I think a star is born."

But not everyone gets such an easy ride, with fellow judge Nicole Scherzinger warning: "Everyone might take me for the nice, sweet judge but underneath I'm a scary bitch."

Fellow judge Tulisa Contostavlos shows off her mean side, telling one contestant they sound more like the "cookie monster" than a professional singer.

Other contestants on the first show include a fireman, a florist and a Rod Stewart lookalike.

Viewers will also see Pink lookalike Zoe Alexander storm off stage after reacting badly to the judges' comments.

Former Spice Girl Mel B joins the panel in Manchester and does not hold back in her criticism, telling one act: "I would have more fun watching paint dry."

But even she is impressed by 16-year-old Ella Henderson, from Tetley in Lincolnshire, who sings a song dedicated to her dead grandfather. She tells the teenager: "What we just witnessed was incredible."