Stacey goes back to college

27 November 2009

Stacey is reunited with her friends

X FACTOR singing sensation Stacey Solomon went back to her roots to visit her friends and tutors at Havering College with a television crew in tow - and a snippet of it was shown on Saturday's show.

The 20-year-old, who is now in the final five and just two steps away from reaching the final of the ITV1 talent contest, stopped by at the Ardleigh Green campus for a surprise reunion with her classmates and teachers on Wednesday, November 18.

Her visit had to be kept under wraps until after it was screened on Saturday's X Factor and Xtra Factor for security reasons.

Stacey, who is studying for a National Diploma in Performing Arts (Musical Theatre) at Havering FHE College, spent the afternoon with the X Factor crew in her singing and dancing lessons where she received an ecstatic reception from her classmates.

Supporting words were screened on Saturday's live final from Sasha and Dayo.

Sasha Jadeja, 17, said: "It's the nicest feeling seeing your friend up there doing so well."

Dayo Olatunji, 17, said: "We're all hoping and praying and waiting for her to win."

Stacey also had the time to chill out and chat with her best friends in the student common room.

Stacey, who lives in Dagenham, said: "Coming back to college and seeing all my friends and teachers has been fantastic. I am having an amazing time on X Factor and am enjoying every minute. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

"The support I am getting from everyone is giving me a real boost. I am going to go out there and do my very best."

Since mum-of-one Stacey began her X Factor journey in the summer she has received plaudits from the likes of Robbie Williams and Queen greats Brian May and Roger Taylor who have all been won over by her amazing vocal talent and bubbly personality.

Plus she already has a number one single under her belt now the X Factor finalists' charity song You Are Not Alone has claimed the top spot in the charts.

Following Stacey's performance for George Michael Week on Saturday's show, judge Louis Walsh said: "I think you're definitely going to be in the final three."

Cheryl Cole agreed and said: "You just need to believe you can win. You need to start believing you're the winner. That's all you need to do because you can do it."

Stacey's mentor Dannii Minogue also said: "This show is all about dreams and making people's dreams come true. Cheryl's right - you have to believe this could all come true for you because...they (the audience) all do."

In tomorrow's show Stacey and the rest of the contestants will for the first time be asked to perform two songs in the live final and will continue to do so each week and the result will be purely down to the public - not the judges.

So support our Stacey. Pick up your phone and vote!