X Factor finalist Amelia Lily was rejected at her first audition, having only made the cut after sending in a video months later.

Amelia, who ended up finishing third in last year’s show, had originally tried out at auditions in Cardiff last summer, but was turned down by the show’s producers without ever seeing the judges.

“It was mental when we got to the ground, with thousands of people,” Amelia’s dad revealed. “They called rows of seats down, block by block, to audition in these little booths around the pitch.

“I could hear Amelia singing well so I was quite confident, but when she came out she just shook her head. I was gobsmacked.

“We got in the car, had a KFC and drove home, thinking that was that.”

But Amelia didn’t let the rejection deter her, and went on to submit an online video audition via YouTube which can be seen below.

“A few days later, we got a phone call saying they wanted her to perform in front of the judges at Liverpool, and the rest is history!” her Dad added.

See Amelia’s Online Audition Here