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Ché Chesterman, from Langdon Hills, was first introduced to a national audience when he made it to the X-Factor finals in 2015. Now, having wowed the judges and the American voting public, Ché is closer than ever to his achieving his biggest break yet. We're now on WhatsApp! Join our new channel at to get all the latest breaking news and exclusive stories delivered straight to your phone.
"It’s been unlike anything I’ve ever done – I thought that the level of the competition on the X Factor was tough and a really strong year in 2015, but being on Idol is like nothing else," said Ché. The Basildon-resident's rendition of James Brown and Betty Jean Newsome's "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" on Sunday night's episode saw him survive a public vote and secure himself a place among the competition's final 12 contestants. "It means the world to me every time the judges praise what I’m doing, they’re at the top of their game to have the support of them is unreal," he said.
"I think there’s much more of an appreciation for my kind of voice in the US – they really value that strong, classical, soulful sound which is why I think I’m getting the reception that I am." The show is well-known for it's A-list panel of judges, which is currently composed of Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood. Ché has received the judge's praise for every performance on American Idol so far, an important achievement for one of the few contestants without an existing US fan base.
When he faced elimination after failing to secure enough votes to remain in the top 20 contestants, Bryan, Richie and Underwood stepped in to save him. "I’m so grateful for the support of the judges and the public and am just going to keep on giving this my all," he said. "I was quite nervous coming out here on my own, but the whole American Idol family have been so supportive and amazing.
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