Punters at a small Northumberland pub were given a musical treat on Saturday evening as they settled down for a quiet, end-of-the-week pint.
Indeed, former X Factor winner Steve Brookstein, 55, looked unrecognisable as he performed for patrons at The Courtyard – a rustic converted farmhouse in rural Morpeth.
Seated in a corner, the bearded singer belted out a series of hits as they sipped drinks and tucked into their evening meals.
Many moons have passed since that triumphant night, but those with longer memories may well have recognised his gravelly, soulful voice as he performed to a scattering of guests.
Now sporting a black baker boy cap and spectacles, the singer looked vastly different when compared to his fleeting pop star heyday.
Steve Brookstein, 55, performed to a small crowd in a Northumberland pub this week and looked quite different to when he appeared on X Factor back in 2004
The singer performed as patrons enjoyed a night out at The Courtyard – a rustic converted farmhouse in rural Morpeth
Now 55-years old and sporting a black baker boy cap and spectacles, Steve Brookstein looked vastly different when compared to his fleeting pop star heyday
The British star was performing a low-key gig in the north-east of England, twenty years after his triumph on the first ever series of Simon Cowell’s long-running show.
London-born Brookstein was in his thirties and a jobbing singer when he first auditioned for the show in 2004.
But while he failed to impress Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne, head judge Simon Cowell saw enough potential to send him through to the next round.
Brookstein – 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.
At the time, Cowell, his mentor on the show, hailed him as the new Robbie Williams.
His first single, a cover version of the Phil Collins hit Against All Odds, suggested he might live up to that billing by soaring to number one in the United Kingdom, but it wasn’t long before his career started to stall.
His subsequent debut album, Heart And Soul, reached number one with UK sales of 105,338, but a second single was not forthcoming and Brookstein was eventually dropped by his label, Sony BMG.
Seated in a corner, the bearded singer belted out a series of hits as they sipped drinks and tucked into their evening meals, possibly unaware that he famously won the very first series of an equally famous talent show
The British star was performing a low-key gig in the north-east of England, twenty years after his triumph on the first ever series of Simon Cowell’s long-running show
Over the years Brookstein has been vocal in speaking out against X Factor, claiming the show turned music into WWE and that he was treated badly in his time on it.
He said he had been writing and recording over the COVID-19 lockdown, with plans to release a new album, but it’s now a decade since his last studio album, Forgotten Man, was released.
Twenty years on from winning X Factor, Brookstein now lives in Scotland with his family and performs intermittently in small venues, singing a rendition of soul covers.
He played at Esher Theatre in Surrey on Valentine’s Day alongside 90s boyband East 17 – the current line up of which only includes only one of the group’s original members, Terry Coldwell.
The Esher Theatre can seat 200, or 350 standing.
Simon Cowell, his mentor on the show, hailed him as the new Robbie Williams back in 2004
But times have certainly changed for the singer, who performed to a small audience in Northumberland over the weekend
The Courtyard is a small pub restaurant, situated in a rustic 19th century building in Morpeth
Brookstein posted on social media afterwards: ‘Did an acoustic show tonight in Esher. Lovely venue and wonderful audience. Thank you so much for all the kind comments.’
in February, the singer had been due to perform at the 300 capacity Merryfield Theatre in Verwood, Dorset – named after the late actor Buster Merryfield, who famously played Uncle Albert in Only Fools & Horses.
But the gig was called off 10 days before it was due to go ahead.
Brookstein’s agent Barry Collings claimed the show was cancelled due to ill health because the singer had lost his voice.
But a spokeswoman for Dorset Council, which runs the Verwood Hub venue, confirmed he cancelled on February 8, 10 days before the show.
A Dorset Council spokesman said: ‘We know that 27 tickets were sold. The artist cancelled on February 8 and all ticket holders were contacted prior to the event.
‘All ticket holders have also been given the choice of a full refund or to roll-over their tickets to a future event at the Verwood Hub.’
Entertainment agent Barry Collings said: ‘The gig was cancelled due to ill-health. Steve had lost his voice. He will be performing more later on in the year and hopes to have something (new music) out shortly.’
The singer enjoyed a glass of wine after finishing his performance at the venue over the weekend
Brookstein in Morpeth on Saturday evening (left) and performing on The X Factor in 2004 (right)
Brookstein – who had previously reached the final of ITV’s The Big Big Talent Show – won the first series of The X Factor in 2004, and with it a life-changing record deal
