He's got the X-tractor

WHO'S got the XL Factor? Well, it's Joe McElderry - and he's virtually unrecognisable from the slim hunk he is today!

The X Factor favourite, pictured here on a farm tractor when he was 13, piled on the puppy fat as a youngster thanks to a diet of sausage rolls and Irn-Bru.

But he turned it all around through healthy eating and exercise to become a new heartthrob for teenage girls up and down Britain.

Joe's proud mum Eileen Joyce told the News of the World about her son's amazing transformation - and how he went from singing karaoke at his aunt's house to competing in the country's most popular telly contest.

Eileen, 47, said: "He was a skinny kid until he went into secondary school. He just started living off sausage rolls, chips and fizzy drinks, and then began to get chubby.

LARGE AND LITTLE: Joe on X-Factor

"He would absolutely gulp down Irn-Bru, which is packed with sugar. I tried to get him to drink the calorie-free one, but he wouldn't. Instead he would drink about a litre of the full-sugar variety every day.

"All the local shops around his school carried junk food. You could see all his friends were slowly piling on the pounds too. Joe was never bullied about his weight, because it was only a little extra, and all his friends were in the same boat.

"Then one day, about two years ago, he just said, 'I've had enough, I'm going to get fit.' He wanted to feel better - it was never about his career or women."

Determined Joe, who is 5ft 7ins, started running three miles every other day and using his mum's friend's exercise bike. And he started eating vegetables and low-fat meat to get to his current weight of 9st.

Eileen said : "For the most part he sticks to a healthy diet. He does have one vice, though. He loves the sweets Floral Gums.

"I visited him at the X Factor house last week and brought him half a pound because I thought he might be missing them."

Until he moved to London for X Factor, Joe was living with his mum in a two-bedroom flat in South Shields, Tyne and Wear.

She split from his dad, probation officer Jim McElderry, 47, when Joe was a baby. Eileen explained: "Jim and I dated for about a year. We were 27 when we got married - Joe was on the way. We tried to make it work but it just wasn't meant to be.

"Jim and I split amicably when Joe was one. But Joe has a great relationship with his dad. Jim has seen Joe every week for his whole life. One of their favourite things to do together is go to a caravan site in Northumberland."

But for years the family had no idea about Joe's amazing voice - until he tried karaoke four years ago.

Tough

Eileen said: "That was literally the first time we'd heard him sing. My sister has a karaoke machine and she would always have family, friends and neighbours round to give it a go.

"But Joe always refused - he was too shy. Then one day he grabbed the mic and sang Mr Bojangles with his cousin. We were blown away.

STAR: Joe is one of the X-Factor hopefuls

"After that his nan convinced him to try out for his school's production of Grease, thinking he could get a supporting role.

"He wound up getting the part of Danny, and the family spent hours taking on the different roles so he could rehearse."

Eileen went on: "I feel like I have watched Joe do a million different performances at school and locally. He was named the Pride of South Tyneside Young Performer of the Year in 2008. It was probably his greatest achievement in life so far, up until now."

And Joe is still the pride of his local community - Colmans fish 'n' chip shop in South Shields has even named a dish after him.

Eileen said: "It's amazing how everyone has gone crazy for him around here. There are posters everywhere. I never imagined this."

But this isn't Joe's first crack at X Factor. He auditioned two years ago as a shy 16-year-old and got to the Boot Camp stage but bottled it.

Eileen said: "I knew he was too young but he was determined. But the day before he was due to perform on boot camp he called and said he wasn't ready. I went to pick him up.

"I was worried the same thing would happen this time. But Joe is ready now. He might seem shy but he's a tough cookie, my Joe.

"He's very strong-minded and moral and would stand his ground if he thought something was wrong.

"He hasn't had one single low point on the show so far."

One of the high points for Joe, says Eileen, is being mentored by Cheryl Cole. "He has always fancied her, since way before he met her," revealed Eileen. "And now he gets to work with her - and not only is she beautiful but she is a lovely person as well.

"She spends loads of time with them and is doing a great job. Last week she was really nervous about her performance but the lads rallied around to her support and she gave them plenty of time as well."

When it comes to other girls, though, Eileen says her son simply doesn't have time for them at the moment.

She explained: "He wanted to be single when he went on the X Factor because he didn't want to have any distractions.

"He's had a few girlfriends - and loads of girls who are friends. There hasn't been anyone serious yet but he's only young.

"As far as I know he doesn't fancy anyone in the house, but his best mates are Rachel Adedeji and Lloyd Daniels.

"Rachel is so sweet - she will come on the phone to tell me how Joe is doing."

"He has been doing so well, and I really believe he could actually win this."

jennifer.wiley@notw.co.uk

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