Joe McElderry was catapulted to fame with his powerful voice and young looks almost two decades ago but now he looks extremely different
A former X Factor star looks very different nowadays.
Joe McElderry, who became a household name after winning the show in 2009, left fans stunned by his transformation as he took on a starring role in a theatre show. Now 33, Joe was just 18 when he triumphed on the singing competition, beating out Stacey Solomon, Olly Murs, Rachel Adedeji, and Jedward. This week, Joe took to the stage in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Manchester’s Opera House, where he played the role of Pharaoh.
Wearing a gladiator-style costume, Joe appeared almost unrecognisable to fans who remembered him from his X Factor days. At one point, he even went shirtless during a dramatic scene, showcasing his transformation and his new career direction.
Joe’s first single, The Climb, reached number one on both the UK and Irish singles charts after his victory on the singing competition show.
Joe, from South Shields, beat runner-up Olly to win the ITV show’s sixth series and competed against Rage Against the Machine for that year’s UK Christmas number one. Ultimately, the rap metal group’s 1992 song Killing In The Name Of made it to the top spot after music fans downloaded it en masse in protest against the show.
However, this did not stop Joe from going on to have an illustrious career. His cover of Biffy Clyro’s hit song did eventually make it to number one, and he went on to be the first X Factor contestant to release a fourth album. He has seen five of his albums break the UK top 20, and two reached the top three.
It was after his success as a recording artist that Joe turned to theatre. As well as starring in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, he has appeared in productions like Cinderella and, in 2023 and 2024, a pantomime version of Pinocchio. In this production at the Royal Theatre Newcastle, he took on the role of Jiminy Cricket.
The X Factor last aired on TV in 2018, before going on a hiatus. X Factor producer Simon Cowell is currently working on the sixteenth series of BGT. Tt’s been claimed that he is contracted to be head judge on the show until 2025. It has also been reported that he could move to rival broadcaster Channel 5 for other projects. It’s teased he could develop new shows or even revive the likes of the X Factor.
Discussing the possibility, a source told the Sun that it would be a “huge move” for Simon, who has carved out a career in TV through the likes of the X Factor and BGT on ITV. The source further commented: “It would effectively see him turn his back on ITV after two decades which has seen him deliver them two of their biggest hits. There’s a strong sense that one chapter is ending and another beginning and Channel 5 are keen to be a part of that. But they’d need to nail down a seven-figure contract to seal the deal to bring him across.”
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