Nevermind the awesome ITV programme that keeps us royally entertained. Lichfield's blessed alehouse THE KING'S HEAD played host to an engrossing competition each Monday night for over three months in 2004. The contest was known as the Lichfield X-Factor.
Tony Edwards and Sue Carradice were the comperes and the judges panel was the magnificent trio of King's Head locals: Brian, Gordon, and yours truly Steven. Steven would conclude each evening with what he termed the 'show autopsy' or 'post mortem' in a Simoncowellesque tone of voice. That brought a bit of extra spice to the show and it earned many a laughter and cordial boos alike. Why not?
Who could ever forget judges Brian and Steven performing on the night of the final show? Imagine Simon C and Louis W. doing that on the live X-Factor shows? Would that not be a scream? Brian, a seasoned musician who was a member of a good band in the 'SEXTIES' (oh, and he attracted a lot of fanny for his troubles too, he proudly admits) sang an Everly Brothers classic and Steven did a politically-charged version of Lennon's 'Revolution' which kept the crowd roaring along. Steven initially wanted to do either 'Give Me Some Truth' by Lennon or 'Anarchy For The UK" by The Sex Pistols but Tony Edwards had neither on his KARAOKE catalogue. Ah, well!
At first there were twelve contestants. Initially, Tony Edwards and Sue Carradice gave the competitors a free hand as far as song choices were concerned, however, as the latter stages loomed, Judge Steven recommended Themed Evenings. It was Songs from Films, Sixties et al on the agenda as the final phases passed by. The final two that fought it out neck in neck were Gemma and Paul. Paul edged Gemma out on the very last Lichfield X-Factor 2004 evening but in the end this was a competition that was enriched by every brave trooper who stood up in front of an adoring audience and gave their all.
Gemma really won her audience's hearts and mesmerised their minds alike with her performance of Lulu's immortal 'To Sir With Love' on one of the Themed Nights. The song was recommended to Gemma by Judge Steven. Gemma had never even heard of it so she had to seek help from her mum who recorded a copy for her and Gemma practised with unparallelled diligence and determination prior to her performance. It was all the more phenomenal an effort on her part in those circumstances.
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Gemma Massey has since won a local radio show contest which was staged at THE CROWN (formerly Hogshead) in 2006. She had the privilege of switching on the Christmas Lights in Burton-upon-Trent as part of her reward.
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