Tom Morley, the boy who won an impressive third place for the United Kingdom at the 2003 Junior Eurovision Song Contest, sailed through auditions for a UK TV talent show – only to be disappointed by the show's age restriction at the final hurdle.
Tom and brother Jim Morley successfully sang their way through three sets of auditions on the ITV talent show The X Factor, performing for judges including Australian singer Danni Minogue. They were both amongst only 200 performers to reach the show's infamous Boot Camp this year, where the experts select their favourite candidates for the live TV shows. Tom, however, just missing the 14-year cut-off for the minimum age for entry by only two months, had to withdraw. Brother Jim, meanwhile, is allowed to progress, and could be amongst the lucky few chosen for ITV's fourth series of The X Factor.
The erstwhile Junior Eurovision contender is understandably upset, explains his mother, but rules are rules: "It wasn’t their fault, it was in the small print. It’s just the way it goes. He was really upset but happy for his brother." It is hoped that Tom will be eligible to go straight through to Boot Camp if he enters next year's competition.
