13/12/14: Last weekend, ITV’s X Factor express finally pulled in to the station with the Croydon van driver Ben Haenow winning the coveted title.
Meanwhile, across town at G-A-Y, last week’s evictee and 4th place semi-finalist Lauren Platt took to the stage for the first gig of her life outside the X Factor experience.
Only 16 when she first auditioned, her confident vocals made easy work of Whitney’s ‘How Will I Know’, Pharrell’s ‘Happy’, Zedd/Foxes’ ‘Clarity’ and Frozen’s ‘Let It Go’ before Jeremy blackmailed her to an a cappella reprise of ‘Let It Go’ to win an Elsa drag bear.
This Saturday sees winner Ben grace the hallowed boards with 2nd place Fleur and 3rd place Andrea coming in January to round off the X Factor experience for another year.
Heaven, under the Arches, Villiers Street, Charing Cross, WC2N 6NG
Words and photos by Chris Jepson
