Alloa's Alan has the X Factor
Hamish Hutchinson • Published 12 Sep 2012 09:30
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HE has been involved with amateur theatre for 25 years but it only took 60 seconds on X Factor for him to become a household name.
Alan Dewar belted out Take That's Shine in front of the judges at the Glasgow auditions but failed to make Boot camp.
Despite him failing to make it through, the Alloa man has become a local celebrity - and even got a congratulations from Co-op bosses.
A short trip to the shops now becomes a two-hour fan-fest thanks to his turn on the ITV talent show.
He said, "The next day after it went out I came down to get messages and what should have taken 10 minutes took two hours.
"Folk have been shouting at me when passing in cars, doing the X Factor sign - an old wife said I'd put Alloa on the map."
Louis Walsh described Alan's performance of Shine as an "improvement" on the original version, albeit he had his tongue planted firmly in his cheek.
Only Anastasia gave the Co-op worker the thumbs up on the panel which included Tulisa, Gary Barlow and Louis.
Alan was realistic about his hopes and admitted that he was off-key.
He said, "It would have been nice if I got to boot camp but I don't think I would have got any further to be honest."
The 41-year-old has performed with amateur theatre groups for the last 25 years - most recently with Scene Two in Stirling - and in the week that he appeared on X Factor was recognised by the National Operatic and Dramatic Association.
He said it was this wealth of experience which meant he was not awe-struck on the stage at the SECC.
Alan said, "It didn't bother me. A lot of people said I walked on that stage with confidence and didn't bat an eyelid. I just got in the zone as if I was singing in a club."
It wasn't the first time Alan had tried out for the TV talent show.
He said, "I've been doing it for the last three years. Normally I would get through to the second audition before being told no."
Alan said his original choice of song was going to be the show tune, The Lady is a Tramp, but producers deemed it too old and so he opted for Shine.
The Alva shop worker got through several auditions with producers before he found out he made it through to the judging panel.
He then began "practising like hell" on karaoke in his local pub to prepare.
Alan appeared only briefly on the ITV show, however featured as part of a longer segment on the Xtra Factor on ITV2 - showing more of his audition and him dancing with presenter Caroline Flack.
He said, "I was sitting at home poised for it coming on but when it did I recorded it and changed the channel. When I watched [X Factor] back I was embarrassed as they showed the bad bit. I had a full five minutes on ITV2 but a lot of folk have only seen the ITV clip.
"I would go back next year. At least I got a yes from Anastasia."
This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 12 Sep 12
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