X Factor finalist Amelia Lily talks about her musical theatre debut in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Ahead of its visit to the Winding Wheel this month, fellow X Factor star Amelia Lily, who plays the Narrator, told us about her musical theatre debut:

Welcome to Joseph Amelia! How did you get involved?

Thank you, great to be a part of it! I auditioned on the Monday and got the job the same day. It’s been such a whirlwind.

Are you familiar with the musical?

I’m very familiar with the show, my brother played Joseph many moons back. It is a challenge for me, it’s totally different to what I normally do as a pop singer, but I love trying new things and challenging myself. And I love theatre, so to be a part of a big theatre production at the age of 20 is like a dream come true.

It’s your professional musical theatre debut – was this ever in your plans?

It definitely was. I didn’t expect it so soon but I think sometimes you’ve got to live life on the edge a little bit and for me this was so spontaneous, I thought, just go with it, you only live once, so just take every opportunity you can. I I always said I wanted to go down different paths in the industry, whether it was in acting, theatre, presenting, so I feel this is another thing I can tick off my list. This is very different for me as I’m in character for the whole show. I’m not performing as me, Amelia Lily, I’m be the Narrator, so that’ll be fun. And the costume’s great, I don’t mind a little waistcoat (laughs).

How are you feeling about it, nervous, excited?

I’m scared! (laughs) I’m just really nervous because I don’t want to mess up! But I am very driven and very determined as a person and as a performer.

Is it the same nervous feeling you had when you stepped out onto the X Factor stage?

No, totally different. The difference with being on the X Factor is it was going out every week, I had time to make sure I delivered the song in the best way I could and I could be me. But with Joseph, I’m in character, and I have to deliver these songs how they should be delivered.

Everyone knows you from X Factor – do you still wear the show’s badge with pride, do you still watch it?

Oh absolutely, I watch it every year. It’s mental when you tune in every year and think, I went through all of that. And to be honest, I don’t think I could go through it again. It was quite a stressful time, but it was an unforgettable experience and I felt like I was in this little bubble throughout the period of the show. But what an experience. And I wouldn’t be on this amazing tour, if it wasn’t for the X Factor.

It almost didn’t happen! You’re the ‘Comeback Kid’ - voted off by your mentor, voted back in again by the public – how did you deal with it?

I think everything happens for a reason and I actually think the fact I got chucked out and then voted back in, made me a stronger person and made me more determined to get to the final, which I think you could tell from my performances. I’d turned into a woman instead of Little Amelia, so I actually think the situation helped me as a person. Bear in mind, when I left the show the first time, while everyone was still performing every week in front of millions, I was out performing gigs, which helped me perfect my craft every week. So it was actually really beneficial because I got to build my confidence up before I went back on the show.

Are you still in touch with anyone from the show?

The only ones I still see are the Little Mix girls. I see them on the odd occasion and it’s great. It’s mad though because when you see them, if feels like a lifetime ago.

You toured with Girls Aloud on their Ten tour – what do you like about touring?

I am definitely a home girl, but I what I like about touring is going to different cities all the time and meeting new fans, new people. And I like hearing different accents as well, that’s always fun. For me, I like to get on the road to meet the cast, a whole new bunch of friends who I might stay friends with for a really long time. And as long as we’re having fun, we know it’s going well.