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Regional daily business editor auditions for X Factor

A regional daily business editor is bidding to become a pop star by auditioning for the X Factor.

William Telford, of the Plymouth Herald, has auditioned for the ITV talent show, and will find out if he is to appear on the programme in July.

The 54-year-old claims he “pretty much blew away” X Factor talent scouts Toyah Dann and Michael Greene with an a cappella version of I Wanna Be Sedated by The Ramones.

Auditioning under the stage name ‘William Telford and The Flaming Journos’,  he told the judges he had fronted “the world’s worst, and second worst” punk bands aged 18.

William, centre, with X Factor judges

William, centre, with X Factor judges Toyah Dann and Michael Greene

Writing about his experience in the Herald, he said: “Yes, they were laughing right through my performance, so much so that the camera nearly fell over, but I guess that was something they’re trained to do so you can’t tell how impressed they are.

“And I did put on a remarkable show for them, even throwing in a few dance moves and some raw emotion.

“Well they said they were looking for someone who could give them the whole package. True, I did mess up the entire song on only the second line and had to start all over again.

“But The Ramones did that sort of thing all the time, so I explained I was staying true to my punk roots.”

In September 2016, HTFP reported how William was invited to perform on stage with London Calling, a tribute band to The Clash, as a reward for giving them a good review in the newspaper.