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X Factor judges Louis Walsh and Tulisa Constostavlos back Only The Young pair from Canterbury and Margate

A talented singer from Canterbury is celebrating today after his band made it to the X Factor live finals.

Charlie George, from Chartham, and his band Only the Young, impressed judges Louis Walsh and Tulisa Constostavlos when they took part in judges houses in Bermuda in an episode aired on Friday night.

Charlie, 17, and his bandmates including Parisa Tarjomani, 20, from Margate, grabbed one of the three places up for grabs.

Only the Young are made up of Mikey Bromley, 19, from Carlisle, Parisa Tarjomani, 20, from Ramsgate, Betsey-blue English, 18, from Brighton, and Charlie George, 17, from Chartham
Only the Young are made up of Mikey Bromley, 19, from Carlisle, Parisa Tarjomani, 20, from Ramsgate, Betsey-blue English, 18, from Brighton, and Charlie George, 17, from Chartham

Their rendition of Ella Henderson's Ghost kicked off the show.

After their performance, Louis praised their energy and said he thought they were "good, reliable and honest".

Former judge Tulisa said: "They seem like a band that needs an edge - their fate will be one of the hardest decisions you have to make."

The X Factor auditions are coming to Maidstone
The X Factor auditions are coming to Maidstone

Charlie, who learned to play guitar and piano at the Canterbury Academy, has since praised his former music production and performing arts teachers at the Knight Avenue school.

“I’m so grateful for my training at the Canterbury Academy as it has helped mould me into the performer I am today,” he said.

“I put everything I learned at the academy to use in my musical and stage career.

“My teachers there, Angela Banbery and Andy Freeman, always supported me and were an inspiration and I don’t think I would have made so much progress without the training I was given.”

Charlie recently left the academy to take up an apprenticeship as a music producer with a recording studio in Gravesend.

Fellow band members are Betsy-Blue English, 18, from Brighton, and Mikey Bromley, 19, who comes from Carlisle.

The group, which was formed two years ago, describes its sound as “pop with an edge”.

Phil Karnavas, executive principal of the Canterbury Academy, said: “Charlie was one of the first to join us from grammar school to benefit from our specialist programmes.

“We are delighted with his X Factor success. He showed exceptional musical ability from an early age.”

Only The Young is one of two Kent acts through to the live finals, along with the as-yet unnamed eight-piece boyband, which features Charlie Jones from Dartford.

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