Michael Couling, 26, from Anderton Street, made it to the televised auditions of the show where he stripped down to just his trousers for the judges.

But the reigning Mr Wigan Open said even though he's taken part in numerous bodybuilding competitions where he's posed in just a thong, baring all for a television audience was the most daring thing he's ever done.

He said: "Going on stage in front of 3,000 people was a bit nerve-racking.

"Cheryl Cole started talking to me first. On telly I've always thought she's pretty fit like every other guy in England but in real life she's just out of this world.

"When she asked if I would take my top off I thought you only live once.

"I've been on stage in just a thong before but it was nowhere near as daunting as this."

Michael set Cheryl's pulse racing when he took off his shirt, but failed to wow her with his rendition of Daniel Merriweather's 'Red' and was voted off before the boot camp stages.

Michael stopped short of letting X-Factor's secrets out of the bag but did say the show is 'a lot more complicated than people think'.

He says his audition had been edited so his singing appeared worse than it actually was.

He said: "The crowd went wild but they completely edited the show and just showed the worst bits when there was one point I couldn't hit the note.

"The crowd even booed Simon when he stopped me."

But Michael won't let the disappointment of not getting through stop his singing career and is busy practising for a spot on the regional finals of 'Open Mic UK'.

He said: "Two weeks after not getting through I joined a rock cover band and now I'm through to the regional finals of the singing competition."

He's hoping to become one of two people to represent the North West in the grand final to win £25,000 and that all-important record deal.

Tell us your story - email: guardiannews@lep.co.uk or tel: 01257 264911