A local singer took the X-Factor by storm on Saturday night.

Sam Smith, 27, who lives in Douglas, wowed Simon Cowell and the other judges with a version of the 60s classic ’Runaround Sue’.

Performing under his stage name ’Sam Black’, he was voted through to the next round of the ITV talent show, winning a place at the ever-gruelling bootcamp.

He was told by Simon Cowell that he’d done the song justice while fellow judge Nicole Scherzinger admitted she wanted to squeeze his cheeks.

Sam is pictured on stage on Saturday, which was the launch of this year’s show.

There will be an interview with Sam in Thursday’s Manx Independent.