AN 18-YEAR-OLD Zimbabwean singing sensation is tipped to be the star of the new X-Factor season when she makes her UK TV debut on Saturday night.
Gamuchirai Nhengu, who moved from Zimbabwe to Scotland five years ago, showed up to audition for the judges of the hit ITV show in Glasgow this June.
Viewers of Britain’s most watched television show will see her tell presenter Dermot O’Leary that she wants to be able to change her families’ life and help her single parent mum.
She goes on to tell the judges Louis Walsh, Simon Cowell, Geri Halliwell amd Cheryl Cole: “I want to be someone. I want to be somebody that people talk about.”
Gamu then embarks on a modernised version of KC and the Sunshine Band’s ‘Walking On Sunshine.’
Although visibly nervous and quite tense at the beginning, Gamu has an amazing voice and the judges seem to enjoy her funky rendition of the classic track.
After her performance, Walsh told Gamu: “I liked your energy. You have something soulful and very likeable.”
Cowell added: “That was one of my worst songs ever but you did something different with it. I really, really, really like you! You are very talented.”
Cheryl Cole, ex-wife of football star Ashley, said: “You have a lovely little spirit. You made me really excited. I really enjoyed your performance.”
Former Spice girl Geri concluded: “Your mum will feel really proud of you. If you were my daughter I would.”
So four yeses later and Gamu had sang her way through to bootcamp.
British newspapers are already predicting she will go a long way when the live shows kick off in October after screening of the auditions is complete.
Watch Gamu’s audition on X-Factor by tuning in to ITV 1 at 7.30PM on Saturday, August 21, 2010, repeated on ITV 2 at 9PM on the same day