Punters at a small Northumberland pub were treated to a musical treat on Saturday night as they settled down for a quiet beer at the end of the week.
In fact, former X Factor winner Steve Brookstein, 55, looked unrecognizable as he performed for patrons at The Courtyard, a converted rustic farmhouse in rural Morpeth.
Sitting in the corner, the bearded singer sang a string of hits while they sipped drinks and ate dinner.
Many moons have passed since that triumphant night, but those with longer memories may well have recognized his deep, soulful voice as he performed to a scattered group of guests.
Now sporting a black baker’s cap and glasses, the singer looked very different compared to his fleeting heyday as a pop star.
Steve Brookstein, 55, performed to a small crowd at a Northumberland pub this week and looked quite different to when he appeared on X Factor in 2004.
The singer performed as patrons enjoyed a night out at The Courtyard, a converted rustic farmhouse in rural Morpeth.
Now 55 years old and sporting a black baker’s cap and glasses, Steve Brookstein looked very different compared to his fleeting heyday as a pop star.
The British star was performing a low-key concert in the north-east of England, twenty years after his triumph in the first series of Simon Cowell’s long-running show.
London-born Brookstein was in his thirties and a working singer when he first auditioned for the show in 2004.
But although he failed to impress Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne, head judge Simon Cowell saw enough potential to send him through to the next round.
Brookstein, who had previously reached the final of ITV’s The Big Big Talent Show, won the competition and with it, a life-changing record deal.
At the time, Cowell, his mentor on the show, hailed him as the new Robbie Williams.
His first single, a cover of the Phil Collins hit Against All Odds, suggested he could live up to that fame by reaching number one in the UK, but it wasn’t long before his career began to stagnate.
His subsequent debut album, Heart And Soul, reached number one with UK sales of 105,338, but a second single was not issued and Brookstein was eventually dropped by his label, Sony BMG.
Sitting in the corner, the bearded singer sang a series of hits while they were wined and dined, possibly unaware that he won the first series of an equally famous talent show.
The British star was performing a low-key concert in the north-east of England, twenty years after his triumph in the first series of Simon Cowell’s long-running show.
Over the years, Brookstein has spoken out openly against the X Factor, claiming that the show turned music into the WWE and that he was treated poorly while on it.
He said he had been writing and recording during the COVID-19 lockdown, with plans to release a new album, but it has now been a decade since his last studio album, Forgotten Man, was released.
Twenty years after winning X Factor, Brookstein now lives in Scotland with his family and performs intermittently in small venues, singing soul covers.
He played the Esher Theater in Surrey on Valentine’s Day alongside ’90s boy band East 17, whose current lineup only includes one of the group’s original members, Terry Coldwell.
The Esher Theater has a standing capacity of 200 to 350 people.
Simon Cowell, his mentor on the show, hailed him as the new Robbie Williams in 2004.
But times have certainly changed for the singer, who performed to a small audience in Northumberland over the weekend.
The Courtyard is a small pub and restaurant situated in a rustic 19th century building in Morpeth.
Brookstein later posted on social media: ‘I did an acoustic show tonight in Esher. Beautiful place and wonderful audience. Thank you very much for all the kind comments.’
In February, the singer was due to perform at the 300-capacity Merryfield Theater in Verwood, Dorset, named after the late actor Buster Merryfield, who played Uncle Albert in Only Fools & Horses.
But the concert was canceled 10 days before the scheduled date.
Brookstein’s agent, Barry Collings, claimed that the show was canceled due to health problems because the singer had lost his voice.
But a spokeswoman for Dorset Council, which runs the Verwood Hub venue, confirmed it canceled the show on February 8, 10 days before the show.
A Dorset Council spokesperson said: “We are aware that 27 tickets were sold. “The artist canceled on February 8 and all ticket holders were contacted before the event.
“All ticket holders have also been given the option to receive a full refund or transfer their tickets to a future event at the Verwood Hub.”
Entertainment agent Barry Collings said: “The concert was canceled due to health concerns.” Steve had lost his voice. “He will be performing more throughout the year and hopes to have some (new music) out soon.”
The singer enjoyed a glass of wine after finishing his performance at the venue over the weekend
Brookstein in Morpeth on Saturday night (left) and performing on The X Factor in 2004 (right)
Brookstein, who had previously reached the final of ITV’s The Big Big Talent Show, won the first series of The X Factor in 2004 and with it, a life-changing record deal.