THE dad of Accrington’s X Factor hopeful has called for more people to show their support for a local lad.

Sixteen-year-old Reece Bibby’s band, Stereo Kicks, had their fate decided by the judges on Sunday after failing to impress the voting public.

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The eight-member-strong group had performed 80s classic Boys of Summer on Saturday, but finished in the bottom three for the number of votes received, and were forced to perform again in order to keep their hopes alive in a live ‘sing-off’ on Sunday.

Reece’s dad Jamie said: “We are calling on the people of East Lancashire to support Reece, who is overwhelmed by all the support back home. We are doing our best to relay all that support to him. We can’t express enough how much we really need the votes. Sunday was a real kick up the backside for the lads.”

Female artist Chloe-Jasmine, who was eventually eliminated from the hit ITV competition, sang first on Sunday before Reece kicked off a rendition of The Pretenders’ 1994 song I’ll Stand By You with a fantastic solo performance.

Jamie said: “Reece was a bit down until we expressed to him how well he did. He’s only 16, he’s one of the youngest ever contestants so to open up a song in that situation is a lot of pressure.”

 


 

Only Chloe-Jasmine’s mentor, judge Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, voted to send Stereo Kicks home, with Simon Cowell, Mel B, and Louis Walsh all deciding to keep them in the competition.

And the lads will be hoping next week’s theme, ‘Saturday night movies’, will let them win over the public, as well as Cheryl, who again criticised their singing.

The former Girls Aloud artist told them: “When a boy group comes out you normally feel hysteria in the room and, apart from the fact you may have friends and family here, I don’t feel that and there’s eight of you.”

But Simon added: “I really am beginning to believe in you as a group, I really, really am.

“I think the competition would be really boring without you.”

After the show, Reece tweeted: “Well... We did it in the end! Thanks to everyone who voted. Love you. Celebration with the fam now. Then hard work.”