X Factor heart-throb George Shelley showed star promise from an early age his proud mum said today – as she revealed these adorable baby photos of the budding star.
George, 19 – one quarter of boy band Union J – used to ask mum Toni Harris to fill up bottles with rice so he could join in with family singing sessions.
Now the teen is getting national attention as his band battle it out for the X Factor crown on the hit ITV show.
Toni, a former nurse, said: “We have a musical family and his granddad Dave was a real rock and roller.
“George, even as a young boy, always wanted to join in and used to pretend he was playing on the drums, using a saucepan and a wooden spoon.
“We also used to make instruments by filling up washing up bottles with rice. He has always loved singing, dancing and playing instruments and enjoyed drama and being in plays.
Toni, a former nurse, said: “We have a musical family and his granddad Dave was a real rock and roller.
“George, even as a young boy, always wanted to join in and used to pretend he was playing on the drums, using a saucepan and a wooden spoon.
“We also used to make instruments by filling up washing up bottles with rice. He has always loved singing, dancing and playing instruments and enjoyed drama and being in plays.”
George’s granddad Dave, a retired policeman, played in many bands and still, at the age of 75, takes his accordion to old people’s homes to perform there.
His Uncle Tim and brother Tom are both drummers, his uncle John is a singer/songwriter and mum Toni plays the guitar and used to perform regularly at pubs, clubs and festivals.
George was encouraged to audition for the X Factor by friend Emily Tollner but kept his auditions secret from his family during the early stages.
It was only when he made it to the final audition that his told his mum and she accompanied him to London where he was told he had made it to the show’s boot camp stage.
He was then placed in a boy band after he impressed the judges by performing with his guitar.
Unfortunately, the original band did not get through the boot camp, but George was given a life-line by mentor Louis Walsh.
Toni, who is currently unemployed after suffering a stroke last year, said: “The phone rang and George mouthed to me ‘It’s the X Factor on the phone’.
“Someone from the show had rung up asking him back. His face was so taut – he was so tense.
“He turned to me and said he had an hour to call them back and if he agreed he had to be in London the next morning.”
Since accepting the offer George has been working constantly after his new band, Union J, made it through to the live shows.
“It’s been really hard work,” added Toni, of Clevedon, Somerset. “They work very hard and get very tired, but he’s loving every minute of it. He loves the judges and says they are all really supportive.
“But the one thing he does want is a home-cooked roast dinner.”
Toni added that dozens of posters she had put up around Clevedon encouraging people to vote for George had been stolen by his adoring female fans.
One crowd of girls were even captured on CCTV removing a poster from the town centre supermarket.
Before auditioning for the show George, who is named after an elderly gentleman his mum used to care for when she worked as a nurse, was studying graphic design at Bath University.
He had planned to qualify and travel to America to work in a leading graphic design house.
Toni split from George’s dad Dominic when George was just three.
George has two brothers and a sister.
His brother Tom, 29, lives in Australia and is a drummer in a band who have just recorded his first single.
William, 23, is a royal marine based in Cardiff and Harriet, 16, is studying for her A-levels at Weston College, Somerset.
Toni proudly watches her son on the TV at home each Saturday night before making the drive to Wembley studios in London each Sunday for the results.
She said: “It’s weird sitting at home on a Saturday night watching my son on television.
“When I go up there I’m always like, ‘are you eating? Have you lost weight, are you OK?’ But he’s loving every minute of it.”
So far George, who has already become a pinup for millions of female fans, has refused to undergo the re-styling which other contestants have enjoyed.
Toni added: “He’s had facials but so far he has refused for them to cut his hair.”
his mom has done a good job making george like what he is
George never cut your hair your georgeous
How cute is he????? I can’t tell if he is gorgeous now or as a baby. So damn adorable.