80 years not too old for X-Factor

Kevin Erickson, an 80-year-old semi-retired accountant from Bricket Wood, will probably be the oldest contestant on ITV1’s X-Factor this year. Already having won an audition for the talent show, Mr. Erickson wants to see how far he can take his “X-Factor”.

Particularly, he wants to get at least as far as performing in front of Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole, according to a Watford Observer report. Mr. Erickson said: “I want my 15 minutes of fame. I want to say I was on the X-Factor.”

Originating from Queensland, Australia, Kevin Erickson first arrived in the UK in 1970. He comes from a musical family, and has won singing contests in the past.

Not being “under any illusion,” Mr. Erickson is not participating to win, but rather to show that anybody at any age can feel and be as ambitious as they want.

At the same time, the senior contestant does not think he needs to feel intimidated by the youngsters. He believes that he can sing better than some of them at least, still being in possession of both a fine ear and “reasonable voice.”

To audition, Mr. Erickson will give a rendition of the Gracie Fields classic The Isle of Capri at the London ExCel centre on 2 May.

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