A TEENAGER from the North-East is hoping to impress the judges again as she sings in the next stage of the X-Factor this weekend.

Samantha Lavery, from Coxhoe in County Durham, will be taking part in the show’s “six-chair challenge” after making it through the auditions and boot camp stages.

The teenager, who turned 17 this month, recently finished her GCSEs at St Leonard’s School in Durham and is now studying music at Newcastle College.

She said: “I’m so excited. Everything has been an amazing journey from the first audition to now. It’s been a really positive journey.

“I’ve had such amazing support it’s been overwhelming. I’m so shocked by it all.

“I’ve always wanted to do it and I’ve been waiting to be 16 so I could do this. I’ve watched it every year and I’ve always thought ‘one day I want that to be me’ so it’s crazy that it is happening. Never in a million years did I think I would be here. It’s a massive dream.”

Samantha, who lives at home with her parents Tracey and James and brothers Luke and Jordon says she started singing because of her granddad – club singer Ernie Peachey, from Thornley.

She said: “My granddad is the singer of the family and I’ve been brought up around music. He’s my inspiration and he’s the reason I sing. He’s loving every second of it, he cries every time.

“He used to sing in the social clubs and he sang for the Queen Mother when he was five but he gave it all up to look after the family. He’s never had the opportunity I’m getting now. It was his dream to do what I’m doing so it’s lush I’m getting that chance.”

In her first audition Samantha sang Ellie Goulding’s Explosions and during boot camp impressed with Flashlight by Jessie J.

She will now sing in the six-chair challenge, which is on TV on Saturday and Sunday.

She added: “Every step is a different challenge and it’s enjoyable for different reasons. It’s quite intense but I’m so excited for it. I'm so nervous though."