Leona Lewis’s friend Duane Lamonte has auditioned again for this year’s X Factor.

Lamonte made it to last year’s Boot Camp, where he was sent home. This year he is determined to make it onto the lives shows.

“He is desperate to hit the big time like his pal Leona, so he bit the bullet and gave it a second try,” a show source told The Sun.

“Of course it’s embarrassing to have to come back on the show with your tail between your legs, but Duane is pretty thick-skinned. He knows that he was unlucky last time and that he could so easily have gone further. He’s going to give it another go and if it doesn’t work well at least he tried.”

Duane will show up on tonight’s X Factor launch show and first speaks to Dermot O’Leary backstage.

“You’re back” says Dermot, Duane smiles.

“At Bootcamp last year, nerves just got the better of me, messed up words, wrong song choice, when I didn’t go further I felt I’d let myself down” says Duane.

“This year is so important, I can’t express, by all means necessary I have to do this,” says Duane.

He walks on stage and the judges remember him.

Cheryl – “do you think it was right that you didn’t get through last year?”

Duane – “yes, I wasn’t good enough last year, I’m going to sing ‘Aint No Mountain High Enough’ today.”

Duane starts singing, Simon stops him half way through song and asks him to sing something that makes him current.

Duane sings another song – ‘Broken Hearted Woman’ by Beyonce, Simon says the second song helped him make up his mind.

Simon – “based on second song – 4 yes’s”

Cheryl – “liked you last year, loved you this year!”

All 4 judges say YES