Robbie Williams drops in to give X tras a singing lesson

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The X Factor finalists got their first lesson from an A-list star last night, and talk about getting a crash course in pop music. They were holed up at the Soho Hotel with Robbie Williams, who was their mentor and guide for the first week of the finals.

Quiet night: Robbie Williams and Ayda Field

The wannabes, including Stacey Solomon, were singing Robbie songs with a piano accompaniment, as he coached them and gave advice. We can't wait to hear the pearls of wisdom provided by the not-so-serious singer.

Wannabe: Stacey Solomon

Presumably his wide-eyed hopefuls were given a few pointers on the recreational side of fame.
One contestant who doesn't need any tips on how to handle groupies is young Lloyd Daniels. The 16-year-old has been swamped by female fans for the past two nights, and appears to be taking everything in his stride.

Mobbed: Lloyd Daniels and female fans outside the X Factor house

Robbie has said he's a huge fan of the show and will also be appearing live at the weekend to perform his new single Bodies.

He already has his eye on one contestant — thought to be Olly Murs — and said: “There's this one guy on The X Factor who is amazing. I think he could take my place. I've got my eye on him — he's dead.”

The 35-year-old singer was joined by his girlfriend Ayda Field, and they both popped into Waterstone's after the Soho Hotel. He bought a pub quiz book, so we can only imagine how thrilling their evening in was last night.

Meanwhile Ethan Boroian, who many were shocked to see omitted from the final 12 acts, was getting on with his career last night. The US singer, 19, played to a packed Wandsworth Palais, and security staff were so concerned about the baying female fans that they drafted in a team of former SAS men as bodyguards for Ethan. Luckily he escaped unscathed.

 

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