WASN’T HE LOVELY? Watch this incredible throwback of Harry Styles auditioning on X Factor six years ago today
TODAY marks the sixth anniversary of an important moment in X Factor history: the audition of a baby-faced unknown named Harry Styles.
The future One Direction star, then just 16 years old, took the stage in Manchester on September 19, 2010, in front of judges Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh.
As his nervous family watched backstage wearing T-shirts that read “We think Harry has the X Factor”, the youngster explained he’d just finished his GCSEs and was planning to go to college in September to study business, sociology and law.
However fate had other plans for Harry, who wowed the judges — well, two of them, anyway — with his rendition of Stevie Wonder’s hit song Isn’t She Lovely.
Nicole was impressed with the teen’s vocals, telling Harry: “For 16 years old you have a beautiful voice.”
Louis agreed, but added: “I think you’re so young, I don’t think you have enough experience or confidence yet.”
However Simon chimed in: “Someone in the audience just said ‘rubbish’ and I totally agree with them… I think with a bit of vocal coaching you actually could be very good.”
A delighted Harry then got two yeses from Simon and Nicole, allowing him to move on to the next round.
He was later rejected from the show as a soloist, along with Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson — but the five lads were called back and told they could stay on as a group.
That group of course would be One Direction, which finished only third on the talent show but soon became one of the biggest boy bands in the world.
