BBC presenter Rylan Clark has recreated his iconic X Factor audition look ten years after he appeared on the talent show. 

In a flashback feature for The Guardian, the media personality, 33, paid tribute to his roots with a nod to his long blonde locks that we first saw in the singing contest. 

Rylan won our hearts back in the ninth series of the competition, coming in fifth place and launching his career. 

When was Rylan Clark on X factor?

Rylan appeared on X Factor a decade ago, back in 2012, where he performed in front of judges Tulisa Contostavlos, Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow and Rita Ora.

Speaking to The Guardian's Harriet Gibsone, the presenter reflected on the moment that made him: "Here I am at my X Factor audition, showing off all the hits: the teeth, the T-shirt, the hair. Everything was so surreal by the time I got on stage.

"The hopeful contestants had been standing outside the O2 for hours and it was a really hot day, so once I got inside it felt as if I had sunstroke.

"The next thing I know, it’s like: bish, bash, bosh, bam. Here’s Dermot! Here’s a mic! You’re on stage! I didn’t know what I was doing."

Once Rylan left the X-factor, he shot to fame on Celebrity Big Brother- where he was crowned the 2023 champion.

In the last decade, his career has grown from strength to strength with appearances with gigs on BBC Radio 2 and ITV's This Morning.

Watch Rylan Clark's X-factor audition from 2012

Viewers will also recognise him from Eurovision spin-off stints as well as Strictly Come Dancing's weekly night programme It Takes Two.

Reflecting on the last 10 years, Rylan noted in the interview:" Although my career started off as a joke, now everyone is laughing with me. It made me really proud that in spite of that shift, I didn’t change.

"People might look at me differently these days, but inside I’m the same bloke that walked on to The X Factor stage 10 years ago. Just slightly stronger and with better hair."

You can read the full interview via The Guardian website or you can also learn more in his new memoir, Ten: The Decade That Changed My Future which is out now.