A NORTH-EAST singer reduced judges on TV talent show the X Factor to tears with an emotional audition.

Car mechanic Josh Daniel, 21, from Billingham, Teesside, sang Jealous by Labrinth, moving judges Cheryl Fernandez-Versini to tears and visibly affecting Simon Cowell, who had recently lost his mother. The audition was screened last night (Sunday).

Mr Daniel, a former pupil of Northfield School in Billingham, explained his song choice to judges, saying: "I lost my best friend a couple of years ago and I interpret the lyrics in a completely different way."

Mr Cowell bit his lip and appeared to wipe away a tear during Daniel's performance, which got a standing ovation and three 'yeses' from the judging panel.

The X Factor auditions at Event City in Manchester were postponed after the death of Mr Cowell's mother Julie Brett, 89, on Sunday July 5. Friends said he was "completely heartbroken".

Cowell did not comment on Mr Daniel's audition, leaving the praise to fellow judges Fernandez-Versini and Nick Grimshaw. "That really got me right in the heart," the BBC Radio 1 DJ said.

Ms Fernandez-Versini added: "That was the most captivated I've been in all the auditions so far," before she asked to give Mr Daniel a hug.

As the 32-year-old headed to the stage, she placed a hand of support on Mr Cowell.

The head judge gave Mr Daniel a wink before leaving the panel. A concerned Ms Fernandez-Versini said "leave him" as he walked off alone.

Last night Mr Daniel took to Twitter to say he was overwhelmed by the response and said: "Feeling very blessed right now."

The song was dedicated to his friend Tom Woolley, who died of a lung condition aged just 18.

Mr Daniel will go through to the next stages of the talent competition at "boot camp".

He said: "It was an experience I'll remember for the rest of my life. I was nervous, yeah, but as soon as I sang my first word I got lost in the song and then only seemed to realise what had happened when I walked off stage."