CROYDON'S fine tradition of producing X Factor finalists has continued tonight, as viewers saw Ben Haenow make it through to the live shows.
The 29-year-old van driver, from Shirley, was one of three acts chosen by Simon Cowell to progress from the Overs category, after an impressive and typically powerful rendition of A Little Help From My Friends in the judges houses stage of the ITV1 contest.
Haenow closed Saturday night's show with his performance poolside in Los Angeles, before learning his fate on Sunday night's show, where music mogul Cowell told him his latest performance had once again shown his quality.
Cowell has previously suggested Ben, currently fourth favourite with the bookies to win the show, is "one to watch" in the contest.
Ben will now join 11 other acts selected by the four judges in next week's first X Factor live show and will be hoping to at least emulate the success of Croydon acts Hannah Barrett and Rough Copy, who made it through to the final five in 2013.
