A SOUTHEND vocalist stole the hearts of TV viewers across the country with his appearance in the first audition stage of this year’s X Factor.

Matt Linnen, 28, a musician from Southend, stunned the judges in his first X Factor audition with a soulful cover of American folk singer Ray LaMontagne’s title track from his debut album, Trouble.

Linnen, who has been writing and performing music since he was 18, stepped in front of X Factor judges Louis Walsh, Sharon Osborne, Nicole Scherzinger and Simon Cowell alone with only a guitar in hand on Saturday night’s show, and left with the coveted four nods of approval.

Speaking about why he chose to step in front of the judges this year, Matt said: “I have been involved with music and worked really hard with various bands I have been in.

“I feel like now is the time to come on the show and show you guys what I got.”

Matt stood strong under scrutiny from Simon who raised concerns about his ability to stand out in this year’s competition.

Concerns were also raised about the 28-year-old soul man’s nerves after his performance, with Sharon Osbourne, the wife of legendary Black Sabbath frontman, Ozzy Osbourne asking the question directly.

Nicole encouraged Matt to have more confidence in not just his talent.

She said: “If you just open that face and those eyeballs more, you could make any girl just melt if you just really mean it.”

After a tense wait and a clean sweep from the judges, Matt has booked his place in bootcamp on the show with an opportunity to go on and be crowned X Factor champ and be guaranteed a hit at Christmas, as is custom with all X Factor winners.

Matt has been a strong presence in Southend and Leigh’s music scene for many years now.

His place among the top talents in the seaside town was solidified last year by a spot in the line-up at Village Green Festival in Chalkwell Park.

Matt also became well known in the town’s music scene for playing the role of host at many open mic nights.

In July last year, Matt teased the release of his EP titled ‘Linnen’, the name which he performed under for a number of years in Southend.

During that time Matt has worked as a plasterer in his home town to make the money to keep his dream of playing music professionally alive.

He told the judges: “The job is not very exciting - it is basically slapping plaster on walls.

“It is very mundane, boring, hot and sweaty - kind of what I’m like now. It is definitely not what I want to do at all.”

Matt’s life could be set to change very quickly in the future thanks to his audition.

However, the auditions are now in their fourth week and the competition to be pitted against Matt is still being discovered by the star-studded cast of judges.