A FORMER supermarket shelf stacker has his sights set on a career in the music industry after wowing the X Factor judges.

Che Chesterman is hard at work rehearsing for the boot camp stage of the ITV competition after his soulful rendition of Jessie J’s Who You Are won him a standing ovation from straight-talking Simon Cowell.

The 18-year-old admits he has been “floating on cloud nine” since his audition was aired, but is now focusing on progressing in the competition.

Che, from Laindon, said: “It’s been crazy, but in a good way.

“Going out on to that stage, I didn't know what to expect. It was so overwhelming, but it was an amazing experience.

“I started singing at a very early age, but I’d say I took it up properly when I was about 11.”

He vividly remembers performing Dance With My Father, by Luther Vandross, in an end of Year 7 assembly when he was a pupil at Woodlands School, Basildon.

Che quit his job at Tesco, in Mandeville Way, Langdon Hills, earlier in the year to focus on music and has been performing in pubs and clubs across Essex.

More than 100 friends and family gathered in the Quays pub, at Basildon’s Festival Leisure Park, to watch the screening of his X Factor audition.

Che, who describes Stevie Wonder as one of his musical heroes, added: “Everyone has been so supportive, and it was so hard not telling them how I had got on at the show’s recording. With boot camp coming up I need to really focus and start to get over my excitement.

“I’ve done smaller competitions, but nothing on the scale of X Factor.

I just felt like it was the right time this year, and everything I’ve been doing has led to this moment. No one has the perfect voice when they start on X Factor, so I want to work hard to be the best I can be.”

Simon Cowell described Che's voice as “beautiful” and “stunning”, and said he was a “rare little find.”