With both a top 10 album and single under his belt, Marcus Collins has more than proved his right as an X Factor finalist.
His thousands of adoring fans, dubbed Colinators, may sound sinister, but have carried the former hairdresser from the salon to national stardom, voting him into second place on the UK version of Simon Cowell's TV singing contest.
Now the Liverpool-born singer is returning home, headlining the city's pride festival on Saturday (4 August).