X FACTOR reject Rockin Rick says the judges’ decision was fair but he will try again next year.

Rockin Rick, aka Richard Grunnill, 48, of Wainfleet Road, appeared on the hit show on Saturday at the Leeds auditions.
Richard, a regular on the Skegness karaoke circuit, sang Elvis’ Love Me Tender but failed to impress Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh.

He said: “I think they were fair because the way I sang my song was not to my best ability. Next year I hope to have another go.
“It was a little bit nerve racking but once I got in there they weren’t nasty to me.
“I really enjoyed myself.”

Richard, who has washed dishes at Butlins, Skegness, for 30 years, told the ITV1 show judges his ambition was to have a number one single, but Mr Cowell said it would never happen.

Richard said: “If there is any record producer out there who wants me after seeing me on TV, they should get in touch.
“I really want it to happen. I think I could make it, I really do.”

Rick’s first love is rock and roll music, but he also sings modern hits. He did not always want to be a singer, having harboured a desire to be a footballer in his youth. But a friend told him he had a good voice and encouraged him to have a go at karaoke.
He has never looked back and now sings a few times a week at several pubs in the area.