Get the latest gossip

X Factor's Steve Brookstein marks 20 years since his win with London coffee shop gig... and unrecognisable star can't resist having a pop at the ITV show

X Factor's first ever winner Steve Brookstein is making a music comeback - exactly 20 years after his triumph.

But his venue for Wednesday night's gig was a stark contrast to the Fountain studios in Wembley, North West London where he was crowned the first X Factor king on December 11 2004 after being mentored by Simon Cowell. And revealing the depth of insults levelled at him by judges he told how Sharon Osbourne called him the c-word during rehearsals, while Louis Walsh even said he looked like serial killer Fred West on live television. '‘I’ve never wanted to take my own life - but I have felt that if I didn’t have Eileen and the kids I could have.’ Brookstein is unequivocal: the treatment he received on the programme showed a callous disregard for him as a person.'

Get the Android app