'Mega chuffed' is how X Factor contestant Jay James described making it through to week four of the hit ITV show.
The theme was 'Saturday Night at the Movies' and Saundersfoot's former Royal Navy fitness instructor impressed all, but one of the judges with his take on Adele's James Bond theme, Skyfall.
Louis Walsh told him: "You never let us down. Singing a big James Bond song and looking like a young James Bond. You're versatile, you have a great work ethic and you're going to go far in this competition."
Mel B admitted she didn't particularly like the song.
"Having said that you made me like the song. I really wanted to hate it, but didn't."
But Cheryl Fernandez-Versini was far from impressed.
"The production saved you," she told the wannabe star.
"If you're going to sing a song by Adele, you need a bit more suave and passion in your performance. You were missing sopme performance. I didn't feel that it sorry."
That sparked a bickering feud between Cheryl and Jay's mentor Simon Cowell.
Simon disagreed with his co-judge reminding her it was a singing competition and not an acting competition.
And he told Jay: "You know what's great about you. You are respecting the people who are 'phoning in and voting for you. You come back every week and you get better and better and better."
Jay later put the whole quarrel down to 'tactics'.
"It was incredible to get such amazing comments from the other three judges," he told us.
This week it's 'Fright Night' and 31-year-old Jay is busy working on his song.
When we spoke to him on Tuesday, the exact choice of song had yet to be confirmed, but he said: "I am really excited. I had Monday morning off to spend with my wife Victoria and daughter Nova which has re-energised me for this week.
"I really have to keep my foot on the throttle and keep taking risks.
"I am working as hard as I possibly can so I can remain having the support from the judges and a positive outcome each week."
Jay said that he had a couple of song choices in mind for tomorrow night's show, but Simon had picked one which Jay felt 'was not something I would sing at first'.
Nevertheless, Jay has been figuring out what would work for him and he says he now feels 'a lot happier' with it.
Aside from working on the song, Jay and the other contestants were planning a bonfire night party at the X Factor house and celebrations to mark Fleur East's birthday.
Jay was also 'hoping to open a can' to toast the 350th anniversary of the Royal Marines.
Let's hope Jay's performance tomorrow night is a real 'thriller' and remember keep voting!
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Jay James Picton is affectionately known as Piccie so as Saturday night's show was 'Movie Night,' thanks to Saundersfoot Footlights, we have some photographs from Jay's early stage shows for our 'Piccie from the Past' this week.
Jay first appeared on stage in 1990, at the age of seven, with Saundersfoot Musical Youth (now Saundersfoot Footlights) at the Regency Hall, Saundersfoot, in the musical Guys and Dolls.
He used to go along to the rehearsals with his mum, Janet, who was the choreographer. On one occasion, Jay was practising his own Michael Jackson-style moves on stage and the producer decided to sign him up to the show! Jay wooed the audience with his cuteness as one of the youngest cast members - especially with his hat which was too big for him!
In 1991, he played the young Jerome in South Pacific and even at this young age, he gave a beautiful rendition of 'Dites-Moi.' A year later, he shared the title role in Oliver and those who saw the production will never forget his sole 'Where is Love.'
He was a member of the chorus of Annie in 1993, while his final stage appearance with the company was in 1994 when he played Kurt, one of Captain Von Trapp's children in Sound of Music.





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