It has been revealed that Simon Cowell initially turned down X Factor winner Sam Bailey when she auditioned for him back in the 90s.

She performed for the X Factor boss in 1996 as part of a ska duo named Girls Next Door with friend Julie Nunney.

Nunney revealed: "We met aged 15. Sam was an amazing singer and we used to go to the local karaoke bars in South London. Cowell listened to the record we made and liked it.

"But he turned it down, saying he couldn't do anything with it because we weren't on the TV."

Nunney went on to reveal that even though the pair haven’t been close since they were 18, she still supported Sam during her time on the X Factor: "I saw her on the TV and screamed, ‘Oh my god, it’s Sam’.

“She has done so well. She has shown them all you can go out there and grab your dreams, no matter how old you are."

Sam has gone on to claim this year’s Christmas number one with her winner’s single “Skyscraper”.