Jamie impressed the audience and judges with his rendition of  Bring Him Home from Les Misérables.

But Jamie, who is currently second favourite to win the show after Susan Boyle – said he deliberately didn’t reveal that his wife Tracey died from a brain tumour 10 years ago because he didn’t want the sympathy vote.

Jamie said: “It was a wicked thing to happen, it was unbearable.

“Tracey would be proud of me, but everybody has a history and I chose not to dwell on it.

“Things like this devastate millions of families.”

He added that he didn’t want to become like Daniel Evans on last year’s X Factor, who was accused of taking advantage of the fact that his wife Jacqueline had died six days after giving birth.

He said: “It’s like Daniel Evans in last year’s X Factor. People latched on to him because of his sob story.

“I don’t want that. It’s not what this competition is about.”

Daniel Who?

Good for you, Jamie!

Age: 38

Place of residence: Pengam, near Blackwood, Wales

Family: Wife Tracey sadly died ten years ago from a brain tumour aged just 27. They had a son together, Callum, who is now 13.

Partner: Now living with Donna Davies, 35.  Donna and Jamie have a three year old son together, called Ethan.

Donna works as a support officer for an Ystrad Mynach special school.