THE proud brother of Bicknacre teenager James Graham believes the singing sensation can bounce back from a cold to give his all at the second X Factor live show this weekend.
James and his eight-piece boy band Stereo Kicks were voted through on Sunday, on the day of his 18th birthday, after performing Katy Perry's Roar on the Saturday night show.
However, a bug has swept through the X Factor house and on Tuesday James was placed on "voice rest", given a sign to wear to warn people, a nasal spray and a steamer after visiting a doctor.
James was on strict instructions therefore not to give the Chronicle an interview, but 20-year-old Ben happily stepped in this week.
"It's not ideal," said Ben.
"If you get one person ill, it's going to go round. I know a couple of people in the house have a cold but I think it's just James who's quite badly affected, but luckily the doctor says he should be fine for Saturday.
"He is literally on voice rest. I don't think he is allowed to say anything.
"Mum phoned him and because he was told not to talk she was just talking straight at him, which is how it is a lot of the time so it didn't make much difference."
After the band performed in front of hundreds in Wembley and millions sitting at home, with James opening and closing the song with a solo, chief judge Simon Cowell said: "This is exciting for me because I am seeing something really good here."
James entered the competition as a solo singer, but after producers stitched together the makeshift band, they've sailed through each round.
"I thought he did brilliantly," said Ben, an Open University history student who chatted with his brother backstage before the singer was whisked off for an early night.
"The song is not my cup of tea but I thought they did fantastically with it.
"I am so proud of James, he always does well. I always think I couldn't stand up and sing with such confidence like that but after seeing him perform so much I'm quite confident in James because his voice just doesn't seem to waver."
The pair grew up together with parents Paula and David and both played football for Focus Ferrers where dad David coached.
"Who's better at football? I will go with myself, he already has the singing over me so I have to have something," joked Ben.
The two attended Priory Primary School and The Sandon School, where Ben could keep an eye on his little brother.
"But James doesn't need protecting," said Ben.
"He has a strong enough personality to look after himself. The thing with James is he is a nice lad, so he is always one who gets on with people and doesn't have enemies."
Despite proving his skills from an early age, winning a Year 6 talent show and Maldon's Got Talent in 2012, Ben never thought his brother's rise to fame would be so meteoric.
He added: "You've got to hope they can win, otherwise there is no point being in it," said Ben.
