The X Factor promises fame and fortune for a lucky few – but for others, not all that glitters is gold.
27-year-old Sam Black won over viewers with his strong singing voice and romantic side, but there was great disappointment following his elimination at the quarter final stage.
Who could forget his sweet onstage proposal to his now-fiancée Emma Smith? Even cynical Simon softened a little…
However, life is cruel – even when you are talented, handsome and beloved, the plasterer/pop star has now admitted he’s completely broke.
Check out Sam on the ITV show below:
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Speaking with The Daily Star, Sam confessed how planning a wedding was proving to be difficult:
I’m not going to lie. I have £1.25 in my bank account. Until I earn some money I can’t really make wedding plans.
I’m really broke as I haven’t been earning money while I’ve been on X Factor.
They do help out but I’m used to working seven days a week and only just getting by then. So it’s been tough with no wage coming in.
Staying positive, the dad of one added:
But hopefully now I’ll be able to make a career out of singing which I honestly never thought I would.
Sam’s X Factor journey was a real rollercoaster ride – he wowed judges at the audition stage with his note-perfect version of Dion DiMucci’s Runaround Sue, receiving quadruple yeses.
He became a fan favourite – with viewers left shocked when he was initially sent home before the Six Chair Challenge.
However, he made a surprise comeback after contestant Anthony Russell quit the competition for personal reasons – Sam replaced Anthony at the Judges’ Houses, going on to be chosen as one of the top three during the live shows.
Yet his X Factor experience came to an end when he was let go at the quarter final stage, after singing Oops by Little Mix – this placed him at a very respectable tenth place for 2017’s show.
Sam is apparently now looking forward to spending some quality time with his bride-to-be Emma and their one-year-old son Mason:
The hardest thing has been missing Emma and Mason. You really do feel a million miles away.
I saw Mason on his first birthday but other than that I’ve not seen him for weeks.
You want to stay on the show as long as possible but you also want to leave so you can finally see them.
It seems mentor Louis Walsh could well be organising his upcoming stag do:
I’m going to have an X Factor wedding when I can afford it. The winner is going to sing and Louis can be my best man if he wants for giving me this chance.
Emma is the only one for me. We trust each other 100 per cent.
A million girls could throw themselves at me but I only have eyes for her.
This is sweet and all, but just imagine if Louis gets a say in the wedding music?… It will literally just be Boyzone and Westlife on repeat…
With upcoming gigs planned, hopefully it won’t be long until Sam is back on his feet.
Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.