X Factor star Anthony Russell feared he would die if he was paid in full for tour

A singer who started his X Factor journey aged just 17 has opened up about his road to recovery from addiction ahead of releasing a new album.

Anthony Russell, known as "Tighto", first appeared on season four of the hit ITV singing show in 2007, aged just 17, with a two minute audition packed with iconic moments, as he explained the origins of his nickname and responded to Simon Cowell's criticisms with a simple: "Nice one, Si." Although he was eliminated when the singers got to boot-camp, Mr Russell came back to the show in 2017 as a more accomplished performer.

Unfortunately, his time on the show was once again cut short, after personal issues led to him withdrawing from the competition to spend four months in rehab. The year after he was back again, and it really was third time lucky for the now-32-year-old, who finished third after a run of outstanding performances that captured viewers and made them fall in love with his music.

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Tragically, the Bootle musician still had a difficult road ahead after his drink and drug addiction re-surfaced during the X Factor tour. He was forced to quit the tour in scandal after being found in a hotel room in Hull, and has now spoken to our sister paper the Liverpool Echo about how he channelled that lowest point to transform himself and put his life back on track.

He said: "I used that to get sober because the news came out about me and my family were devastated. If I did stay on the wagon and stay on the tour and came home with the full pay check, the way I was going, I could have been dead with the money I was getting.

"If I never got caught and come off that with