SINGING star Ashford Campbell is gearing up for his second live performance this weekend with his new bandmates.
The Lowerhouses teenager was asked to rejoin the X Factor – two weeks after his group Nu Vibe were voted out of the competition.
The 19-year-old had just hours to rehearse with boyband The Risk after Ashley Baptiste dramatically quit.
But the new lineup sailed through to the next round of the singing contest after impressing the judges and viewers with their rendition of Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
Ashford’s mum Bernadette Baptiste said her son was settling into the competition after his shock return.
She said: “Ashford was on his way to do a gig in Hereford with Nu Vibe when he got the call from the X Factor.
“He and (Crosland Moor’s) Jordan Higo were in one car and the rest of the band were in another.
“Ashford didn’t want to say yes before speaking to the boys, but they gave him their blessing and he grabbed the opportunity.
“He then had to turn around and go straight to London on the Friday evening.
“Then he had to go into the studio on Saturday and rehearse for his part.
“In a day he’d had the shock of being back in the competition, out of Nu Vibe and having to learn a song.”
The Risk’s performance was given positive reviews by judges Tulisa Contostavlos, Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow and Alexandra Burke, who was standing in for Kelly Rowland.
Tulisa told the group: “You’ve made your decision, you’ve brought Ashford back and you’ve completely smashed it.”
Bernadette was in the London audience to watch the show at the weekend with family including Ashford’s brother, Sunderland striker Fraizer Campbell.
She said: “I felt so happy for Ashford when he got the chance to go back. He loves performing and music is in his head and his heart.
“He fitted in well with the group. I sat there watching and I thought he looked the part.
“He felt happy with his performance and he’s going to keep working his socks off.”
When Ashford rejoined the show he had completed three of six planned gigs in venues around the country with Nu Vibe.
But says Bernadette the group have been supportive of his difficult decision to leave, with one even going to watch Ashford’s debut with his new group.
She said: “He was overjoyed to be asked back, but sad because the group had all gelled together.
“But Ashford didn’t leave Nu Vibe, it was a case of they had been voted off the competition and after a couple of gigs they weren’t sure what was going to happen.
“He’s still thinking about them but he had to grab the opportunity with both hands. Anyone else would have done the same.
“The group are still texting and tweeting him and Stefan (Romer) went to watch him on the show.”
Ashford and The Risk are now rehearsing their performance for this week’s show.
The theme is club classics and Ashford is hoping for the opportunity to show off his dance moves.
Bernadette said: “Ashford’s really good at dancing so I hope we get to see some moves!
“He’s absolutely loving it. I told him that he’s been in the Examiner saying ‘our boy’s back’ and he said it was really lovely to have such positive support.”
