THE X-Factor dream is over for Devon teenager Barclay Beales.
The 19-year-old from Bow, near, Crediton, and his Stereo Kicks band mates were eliminated from the popular ITV show on Sunday in dramatic fashion.
The eight-member band competed in a sing-off against Lauren Platt after ending up in the bottom two based on public votes.
But the result was a tie after judges Louis Walsh and Mel B backed the boy band, while Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole voted in favour of Lauren.
This took the show into 'deadlock', with the figures from the earlier public vote determining who would exit the show.
The group were visibly distraught at the news but have vowed to carry on singing as a group.
During their time on the show they have won an army of fans and have already been confirmed to take part in the X-Factor Tour next year.
Speaking earlier this week Barclay said this was only the beginning for the band and they were all grateful to all the team at the X-Factor and everyone who had supported them.
"X Factor is the start of our journey and we will keep going," he said. "Thank you so much to our fans.
"We have been through at lot and have achieved an amazing amount."
It was Barclay's second attempt at making it to the X-Factor finals. After wowing the celebrity judges last year with his yodelling skills, he failed to make it past the Boot Camp stage of the competition.
Refocusing his efforts, he decided to try his luck in the singing competition again this year, but said that it wasn't all plain sailing on his journey to the famous stage.
He failed to get through as a solo artist but was asked to join the eight-piece band formed for the show.
"I wasn't going to go but my dad said if I didn't I was to regret it," he said. "So I had to man up and just go for it. But it was kind of like fate. I wasn't going to go for my audition and look at the position I've ended up in. It's just unbelievable."
Barclay attended Queen Elizabeth's Academy in Crediton, going on to study at the Academy of Music and Sound in Exeter before applying to appear on the ITV talent show for the first time in 2013.
He said he had had a lot of support from his home town during the competition.
"It has been nice to have had that support ," Barclay said. "If you need support from anyone it's from people you actually know.
"Hopefully I'll be back at some point to show my appreciation. It would be incredible to bring the band to Mid Devon and show them what Devon's all about."
