X Factor hopeful Rikki Loney has admitted that he had a hard time after failing to make it on last year’s series.

Rikki made it to an advanced stage of last year’s bootcamp before Simon Cowell dropped him and has admitted that Simon’s decision crushed him at the time.

Rikki told The Daily Star: “I am so happy to be back and to be in with a chance this time.

“I almost gave up on my dream after missing out last year. I was totally devastated to be so close and yet so far and it really knocked me back for a long time.

“I was depressed and shed quite a few tears. The hardest thing was having to pretend I was still in the show even though I’d been kicked out.

“The way the show is filmed I knew I hadn’t got through but none of the viewers did, so I constantly had people coming up to me wishing me luck.

“It was about four months before I started to get my life back on track and regained enough confidence to realise this is the only thing I want to do with my life.

“This time I only decided to audition a week or so before they were held.

“I was terrified after last year.” Speaking about judge Cherly Cole, Rikki said: “Cheryl is amazing. Out of all of the judges, I would prefer to be in her category.”