The audition begins with Christopher Maloney, a 34-year-old customer service advisor from Liverpool, visibly shaking from nerves as he stands before the huge crowd and the celebrity judges. Maloney revealed to the judges that his anxiety had caused him to rip up the application form multiple times over five years because he had been told he was not good enough.
For his song choice, Maloney performed Bette Midler’s “The Rose,” which carried deep personal significance. He dedicated his performance to his late grandfather, as the song had been played at his funeral, making the moment profoundly emotional for Maloney.
What followed was a shocking transformation; despite his initial nervousness, Maloney delivered a strong, powerful vocal performance that instantly stunned both the judges and the audience. The sudden, powerful bellow of his voice stood in stark contrast to his shaky demeanor moments before.
The performance culminated in a standing ovation from the audience and all four judges: Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos, and guest judge Geri Halliwell. Judge Gary Barlow was so surprised that he asked, “How the hell have you kept that voice hidden until now?”. Maloney then brought his biggest supporter, his grandmother, onto the stage to share in the moment of his unanimous “Yes” votes.
Though he was later eliminated before the live shows, the public voted him back as a wildcard contestant, and he went on to make it to the live final shows. Following his time on The X Factor, Maloney signed a record deal with Tristar Records and established a performing arts school in Liverpool to support the next generation of local talent.
The YouTube video for Christopher Maloney’s audition – Bette Midler’s The Rose – The X Factor UK 2012 can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1T9-I3wx8I
