Your Oxford
Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting 'OXFORD NEWS' to 80360 or email »
Has Nikki got the X Factor?
5:02pm Friday 16th May 2008
A wannabe pop star is gearing up to come face-to-face with TV personality Simon Cowell.
Nikki Stook, exhibitions co-ordinator at the Oxford Mail, will join hundreds of hopefuls for a nail-biting X Factor audition in Birmingham tomorrow.
The 34-year-old from Botley will attempt to wow the famous panel of talent spotters with her rendition of Bonnie Tyler's Holding Out For A Hero.
Miss Stook said: "I'm really excited about it, but a little bit worried as well because I've got tonsilitis this week - but I'm going to go and hopefully I'll get the sympathy vote."
She said she frequently hogged the microphone at karaoke nights in pubs and bars across the county all through her 20s.
"I just love singing and karaoke. I used to hunt karaoke nights out and go to one every weekend. I love the buzz of it," she said.
"I think singing runs in the family because my sister loves it too and my daughter Lauren has a beautiful voice."
The mother-of-one, who has never had a singing lesson, was picked from thousands to audition after a colleague sent off an application form on her behalf last year.
She has been rehearsing her chosen track for the past two weeks in preparation for the audition at Villa Park, the home of Aston Villa Football Club.
She said: "Normally my songs are quite slow so this time I thought I would choose something that really gets them all going.
"I recently heard Simon Cowell hates that song, but I'm still going to do it.
"He's my favourite and I really want to hear what he thinks of my voice.
"I know I won't win, but it will be good to get some feedback."
Miss Stook first realised her talent when she belted out Grease favourite You're The One That I Want to pub-goers at the Bay Tree in Grove, aged 19. She said: "A lot of people just said I was really, really good and everyone clapped and cheered. I got really emotional and cried.
"I got stage fright at a competition at Minchery Farm when I was about 20.
"My whole body was shaking and no voice came out when I opened my mouth - but I don't think it will happen again."
She added: "My dream is to get rich through singing."
Your Say YourOxford
alan page, says...
12:29am Sat 17 May 08
S.Cowell wrote:And your musical ability amounts to what exactly?
X Factor? I doubt it, go back on the tills at Asda where you belong.
Good on her for having the guts. More than cowardly scum like you will ever have. Now go back to your drugs, I'm sure your missing them.
All the best!!
Helen, Oxford says...
11:04am Sat 17 May 08
will join hundreds of hopefuls for a nail-biting X Factor audition in Birmingham tomorrow.Thousands, surely? Even with the invite system the queues last all day don't they?
jlw, East Oxford says...
1:22pm Sat 17 May 08
She wont see simon cowell and co, you only see them after the second round.
The auditions are held in 3 hour time slots.
They only hold "open" turn up if you want auditions on the last day of auditions.
I speak from my own experience last year, and other friends who have done it.
Not being rude, but more chance of winning the lottery than gettin tothe next stage.
Oh, and before anyone says that i cant sing and thats why i didnt get thru, i am actually a professional singer in the land of the West End.
J.L.W
Your sayYourOxford
Add your comment
Register for a FREE Oxford Mail account and you can have your say on today's news and sport by adding comments on articles we publish. The best comments may even get published in the paper.
Please register now or sign in below to continue.
Nikki Stook
In this section
Sponsored Links
Local Advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
S.Cowell, Oxford says...
8:36pm Fri 16 May 08