X FACTOR star James Graham has said he can win the ITV show with his band Stereo Kicks and become the first Essex winner since Matt Cardle in 2010.
Last weekend the Bicknacre teenager sailed through with the final five acts of the competition after his eight-strong band sang Elton John's Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me.
And now James, who first appeared on our screens on Saturday, September 6, with his superb first audition as a soloist, feels that his band can go all the way and win the TV talent contest.
"It's very tough at the moment," James told the Chronicle. "I think that if you would have asked me 'can we win the competition' in the first few weeks I would have said 'no'.
"But we have grown into the competition. And now my mind set is 'why not?'
"I think it took the X Factor a while to get their heads around the fact there are eight of us. We are different to every act out there and that may now work in our favour."
This week Stereo Kicks will perform two tracks – which means twice the harmonies, the practice, the choreography and the stress - so James has been working hard all week to ensure a perfect performance.
The 18-year-old said: "It's amazing to get this far and this is the first week we will have to perform two songs, so it will be stressful I'm sure.
"We're really finding our feet. We had to fight at the beginning and now we are performing well."
One of the songs they will perform will be Snow Patrol's Run, which they sang earlier in the series, but the other will remain a secret until the last minute.
This week has been pretty tough for the former Sandon School pupil who has said goodbye to two acts, including fellow Essex performer Stevi Ritchie, who he had become particularly close to.
And James, who is easily recognised for his high hairstyle, has agreed to have a night out in Essex with the Colchester crooner – to what James consider's Bicknacre's finest pub – The Two Brewers.
"We were disappointed that Only The Young left this week," said James.
"They were good friends as they were in the same category as us and the same age – the house is becoming pretty quiet now."
And when the teenager finally returns to Essex he is looking forward to a night out as he has only turned 18 while on the show.
"I'd never really tried to go clubbing before so to go on a night out in Chelmsford would be a totally new experience," he added.
