X Factor’s Steve Brookstein unrecognisable with grey beard and glasses – 20yrs since winning show

Steve Brookstein won the first ever season of The X Factor 20 years ago, but has maintained a life mostly away from the spotlight, however he is still singing across the nation. The 56-year-old, who appeared on Simon Cowell ’s competition in 2004 alongside the likes of Rowetta Satchell and Tabby Callaghan, has recently been pictured performing alongside fellow X Factor star Andy Abraham, who finished as a runner up in 2005.

Steve and Andy performed a night of classic music including swing, soul and ballads at Restaurante Los Cucalos in October with Rewind Spain. The two singers first met at one of Rewind’s charity events in October 2019, and they’ve since created their own show following the “rat-pack” style.



Steve Brookstein at Rewind Spain
Steve Brookstein, who won the first season of The X Factor 20 years ago, looks worlds away from his TV heydey as he sports a grey beard and glasses in performance with fellow star

But Steve looks worlds away from his time on The X Factor, when he was in his 30s, as he sported a grey beard, glasses and a flat cap and the singer looked vastly different when compared to his pop star heyday.

He opted for a jazzy shirt for the performance while Andy chose a striped short-sleeved shirt for the occasion.

After winning the talent show over two decades ago, Steve was signed to Sony BMG record label, but left Simon Cowell’s label after a string of hits a year later. But that didn’t stop him from pursuing his passion, and he’s carried on his singing career over the years.



Steve Brookstein and Andy Abraham perform at Rewind Spain
Steve was recently pictured performing alongside fellow X Factor star Andy Abraham, who finished as a runner up in 2005

Now, the X Factor winner delivers performances across the country and abroad while advertising them on his website and social media pages.

While Andy, who finished as a runner up to Shayne Ward in the 2005 series of The X Factor, tried his hand at music for a while but gigs dried up during the COVID-19 pandemic. The former refuse collector became fondly known as The Singing Binman to his fans and occasionally now still performs.

Steve, who sung Against All Odds in the final of The X Factor, which became his first single, is said to be living in Scotland now and covers soul music at smaller gigs.



Steve Brookstein
Steve Brookstein won the first ever season of The X Factor 20 years ago

Since his time on The X Factor, Steve has made his feelings on the ITV programme heard crystal clear, and claimed he was badly treated.

He alleged that the show was ‘one big theatre’ that had ‘turned music into the WWE’.

Brookstein was in his thirties and a singer when he first auditioned for the show in 2004. Steve – who had previously reached the final of ITV’s The Big Big Talent Show – went on to win the competition, and with it a life-changing record deal.



X Factor’s Steve Brookstein unrecognisable with grey beard and glasses – 20yrs since winning show
While Andy, who finished as a runner up to Shayne Ward in the 2005 series of The X Factor, occasionally now still performs

At the time, Cowell, his mentor on the show, hailed him as the new Robbie Williams. After the X Factor, Steve released his first album named Heart and Soul with Song BMG record label.

Then, in 2006, he released his second album 40,000 Things with Numunu Records. Continuing to pursue his music career, the star released Forgotten Man with Pledge Music in 2014.

And over on social media, Steve, who writes that he’s a “singer songwriter” in his bio, regularly posts videos from his gigs to his thousands of followers.

View news Source: https://www.ok.co.uk/tv/x-factors-steve-brookstein-unrecognisable-34307864

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