Jayde Tunnacliffe

X Factor's Sam Callahan: The Beginning In The End...

Since being voted off of the X Factor in November, Essex's own Sam Callahan has been creating a storm. Between gigging up and down the country; appearing on the radio and spending time in the studio, he's been very busy. Pleasingly for his thousands of fans though, he still finds the time to upload the occasional 'selfie' to his Instagram feed - pretty lucky really, considering he claims to be the "selfie king"!

Sam poses with his guitar for his first photo shoot since the X Factor. 

Image courtesy of Sophie Callahan Photography

When he auditioned for the talent show back in July, Sam couldn't have imagined the whirlwind that was ahead of him. The 19-year-old from Maldon auditioned for the X Factor at Wembley Arena in front of judges Nicole Scherzinger, Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh, and Gary Barlow, along with the 4,000 strong crowd.

Sam performed his own version of Ed Sheeran's 'You Need Me, I Don't Need You' which led to all four judges putting him through to 'bootcamp'. From there, he experienced the intense musical chairs element of the bootcamp auditions, where the contestants were put through their paces in order to earn a place at judges' houses. This new surprise twist caused some controversy and of 303 people who answered a recent survey, 52% of those who watch the X Factor thought that "it was mean". The survey was used to gather people's views on the X Factor as a whole. Below is a video interview with 21-year-old Alice Davies, who watches the show regularly, on her opinions on the show including the changes at bootcamp:

Alice Davies - X Factor viewer interview 

Despite the differing opinions surrounding the new twist, 'Callafans' (Sam's nickname for his fans, get it?!) were overjoyed when their boy was given the first seat in Louis Walsh's category. Sam says he is "nothing without [the] Callafan Army" and describes his fans as "crazy, united and extremely loyal!"

Sam then went on to join his mentor and the other boys in the category at judges' houses in St. Tropez. It was here that he performed Fun's hit 'We Are Young' for Louis Walsh and his guests Shane Filan, Nicole Appleton and Sinnita. Sam then went on to receive the life changing news that he had made it through to the live shows.

Sam says that this was his favourite part of the experience: "there's been loads of amazing bits and bobs to choose from but it has to be getting to live shows... The whole experience was awesome from performing each weekend, to living in a big mansion and having your best mates around you the whole time!" When describing the experience as a whole, Sam says it was "intense... but I loved it!"

"This is just the beginning!" - Sam's twitter bio 

Both before his time on the X Factor and during the show, Sam has accumulated quite the fan base; he has over 200,000 followers on Twitter (right) and often takes time out of his busy schedule to interact with his loyal fans.

Since losing the X Factor sing-off to fellow contestant and close pal Luke Friend, Sam has been on a mini tour of the UK, which has included visits to the Scottish city of Glasgow.

Sam sings to Mackenzie outside of her
hospital room. Image: Twitter/Sam Callahan

During his time in Glasgow, Sam made one fan's day when he visited her in hospital. Sam visited Yorkhill Children's Hospital and was "inspired" by nine-year-old Mackenzie who suffers from Neuroblastoma. Mackenzie wasn't well enough for Sam to be able to properly meet her, so he took to his guitar and played a song for her outside of her hospital room window (left). Sam says he "can't wait to meet Mackenzie" when she is better.

Mackenzie's Miracle is in the process of raising £350,000 in order for her to be able to have lifesaving surgery in Germany and donations can be made through her JustGiving page.

As well as visiting Glasgow, Sam has also performed gigs in nightclubs across England, including The Viper Rooms in Harrogate, Bushwackers in Swindon and more. Details of some of Sam's gigs and images from the events can be seen on the map below.

View Sam Callahan's post X Factor tour in a larger map

Making music: Sam has been spending time in Boombox
studios where he has been working on an album
Image courtesy of Instagram/Sam Callahan

Sam is enjoying touring and says that "it's brilliant. It's a whole different ball game compared to being in the show but it's been great fun... The downside is I'm always tired, but I'm tired doing something I love every single day so it's alright!" Between gigs, Sam has also been spending hours in the studio (right) making an album and is looking forward to his fans being able to hear what he's been working so hard on. Sam has been writing his own songs since the age of 13, some of which can be heard on his YouTube channel, along with covers he did before entering the competition.

Throughout his time on the X Factor, Sam received criticism both online and from judge Gary Barlow, but he always came back fighting. Sam says if he "falls down seven times, [he will] get back up eight", and it's this determination combined with his passion for music that predicts a bright future for the teenager. Louis Walsh mentioned numerous times that Sam was "the most hard-working contestant" he has ever had on the show. It is evident with his persona both on and off stage that this music runs through his veins; he even has the quote "when words fail, music speaks" tattooed on his arm.

Since leaving the show in seventh place, Sam has promised "this isn't the end, it's just the beginning" and this series of gigs is definitely that. Sam will join seven other X Factor finalists for the X Factor Tour early next year. The news of this was delivered by Simon Cowell, via videolink, whilst Sam was still a contestant on the show. Sam says he was "gob-smacked" about being given the opportunity to perform on the X Factor tour (dates of which can be found here): "I couldn't stop smiling and cheering... then we had a good old classic X Factor pile on!" 

"Not all heroes wear capes": Sam (right) with one of his
idols, and previous X Factor success story, Olly Murs (left)
Image courtesy of Instagram/Sam Callahan 

There's no need to panic about Sam's exit from the show though, simply because he worked so hard before the X Factor, and has continued to do so since. One Direction were contestants on the show in 2010, and they didn't take the winners title but have become one of the biggest boy bands in the world. In the same survey mentioned above, of 303 people asked, 72% couldn't even name the first ever winner of the X Factor; showing that it's not success on the show that matters but hard work. Additionally, 63% of people said they believe the One Direction boys are the most successful act to come from the X Factor (represented on the infographic below), with a further 15% favouring Olly Murs - another non-winner of the show - and due to their similar work ethic, we can definitely predict that there is success in store for Sam.

And that success starts right here. The few gigs that Sam has done since leaving the show have been followed by hundreds of tweets from fans congratulating the cheeky chap and telling him how proud they are. Sam has also trended on Twitter both in the UK and Worldwide numerous times since leaving the show; showing that he clearly will not be forgotten about any time soon. This boy is determined to have a career within the music industry and with his, and his fans', dedication - it is looking more likely than ever.

Sam Callahan performs Iris at his gig in London

Whilst he has been on tour, a special song has made its way onto the set list: Sam performs the same song he sang in his 'save me performance' before leaving the contest. He really puts on a show with his emotional rendition of the Goo Goo Dolls classic 'Iris' (above). He belts the line: "I just want you to know who I am". I think I can safely say that we know Sam, we know!

"This is just the beginning!"

I just want you to know who I am: Sam sings Iris
at London's G-A-Y nightclub
Image courtesy of Instagram/Natalie Bell

• The X Factor is on ITV1 on Saturdays and Sundays at 8pm and has just been renewed for three more series'
• You can see what Sam is up to by following him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or by viewing his website
• Sophie Callahan specialises in equine and children's photography; you can view her website to see more of her pictures
• Donate to Mackenzie's JustGiving page here, and read more about her story on her on her Facebook page 
• You can view all of the questions and responses from the survey here