Talented singer Taliah Dalorto has breezed through the first stage of X Factor after stunning the judges with her version of an Aretha Franklin classic.

The 19-year-old, who lives in Brentwood and works in Canary Wharf, said she is "over the moon" with all the support she has received.

She said: "I have had so much support from the public.

"When I auditioned, I didn't think that I would have thousands and thousands of people supporting me. I have literally had so many phone calls".

Miss Dalorto cited some of the industry's most powerful female singers as her influences including Amy Winehouse, Dusty Springfield and Aretha Franklin.

Miss Dalorto was one of the last acts to appear in front of the judges, who she thought were "really nice", auditioning as late as 12:45am.

She said: "I thought they would be quite grouchy at that time, but they were really nice.

"It was worrying because when you are the last one to audition you think that the judges have seen so many good people before you."

But Miss Dalorto is through to the next round of X Factor and a step closer to fulfilling her goal.

She said: "I was a little bit nervous because it's something that I have always wanted, to make albums that people will buy and listen to in their car."