‘The worst experience of my life’: X Factor hopeful QUITS the show

Oct 14, 2015

Just days after making it through to the Judges' Houses, singer Tom Bleasby is leaving The X Factor.

The 19-year-old wowed the judges with his first audition back in August, and on Sunday was chosen to be one of Nick Grimshaw's final six contestants.

But after referring to Sunday's Six Chair Challenge as "the worst experience of my life," Tom took to Twitter last night to confirm he was leaving the show.

"Due to personal reasons I have decided to withdraw from The X Factor," he wrote.

Due to personal reasons I have decided to withdraw from The X Factor. Thank you to all the judges, especially Nick for his belief in me.

— Tom Bleasby (@TomBleasby) October 12, 2015

Make no mistake about it. I'm not stopping singing, the X Factor is just one path…one that wasn't right for me. I will make music

— Tom Bleasby (@TomBleasby) October 12, 2015

"Thank you to all the judges, especially Nick for his belief in me.

"I'm not stopping singing, the X Factor is just one path…one that wasn't right for me."

During Sunday's show, Tom eventually secured a place in the final six after being swapped out by Nick in the Six Chair Challenge and then brought back in.

Despite his shock exit, BBC host Nick offered his support to Tom via Twitter last night:

@TomBleasby well done Tom for handling the pressure of the circus that is 6chair! and best of luck for the future x

— nick grimshaw (@grimmers) October 12, 2015

In his exit interview with ITV, Tom said he simply wasn't ready for the intense pressure of the show.

The singer, who sang on The Ellen DeGeneres Show with Jessie J shortly before his first X Factor appearance, admitted his rise to stardom had happened extremely quickly.