X Factor: How jiggling tot Micky Parsons became a teen star with District3 (Video)

Being in the spotlight is all part of the X Factor live shows – and to find out more about what's behind the cheeky smile of Cleethorpes-born contestant Micky Parsons, entertainment reporter LUCY GREENSMITH speaks to his biggest fan – his mum.

HE'S gone from doing a "jiggle" as a toddler to singing along to Westlife in the car to leading his boyband District3 in the X Factor live shows.

Cleethorpes-born Micky Parsons and bandmates Greg West and Dan Ferrari-Lane were the "revelation" of last week's Club Classics themed-show according to judge Gary Barlow.

Micky led the trio in a Mad Con/Chris Brown mash-up that impressed both the judges and the viewers as they sailed through to this week's live show just a week after being forced to sing for their place in the bottom two.

Most girls his age will see him as a heart-throb, but he is also "very organised" and a "technical whizz", according to mum Carol Parsons.

The family lives in a small flat in Windsor – Carol, dad Steve, 18-year-old Micky and his older brother Matthew, 21.

Carol said they were always supposed to be moving back to Cleethorpes, but never did because of Micky's pursuit of stardom.

She said: "Micky was a really, really cute baby and I am not surprised he is on stage now because I always knew there was a spark in him.

"When he was little he used to walk in the room and do a little 'jiggle' – I can't describe it, it was like a little salsa dance.

"He used to have a massive grin on his face and say 'helloooo' and walk back out of the room."

Carol said when Micky was about three, he would close the curtains at their bungalow in Cleethorpes and perform a dance with his brother.

Singing must run in the family, because his parents used to perform and Carol was part of an Abba tribute band.

"He is a perfectionist – when I used to perform on stage, Micky always used to sneak on and straighten my microphone wire – it used to make the audience laugh," she said.

"He used to sing along to Westlife songs, because we always played them in the car, and he loved it.

"I first realised he had a talent when we were at Butlin's in Skegness and there was a talent competition – his brother Matthew entered.

"But at last minute he bottled out and Micky took his place. I hid under the table, and didn't know what to expect because I didn't think he knew the words to any songs.

"He sang a Westlife song and knew all the words to it; he was absolutely amazing. He took control of the stage, and the judge said he had a very bright future ahead of him."

After making the discovery, Michael joined the Stagecoach Theatre group, which was based at Lindsey School, and he gained half a scholarship there to pursue acting and singing.

He also went to Napa dance school in Hull, and had tap lessons with Bev Wade.

Micky then went on to record Mariah Carey's song Hero at the Abbey Road studio in London and it was screened on Fox television.

Carol said: "When he attended Humberston Cloverfields his musical side came out – he played the role of Robin Hood there in a play.

"He was also into filming at that age. He got a video camera as a present and asked his grandmother, Patricia, if he could film her.

"She agreed and he told her to climb on her house roof and jump off – his grandmother obviously said 'no!'.

"He was really into action films and wanted to be a film director."

In 2006, he moved from his family home in Fairway Court, Cleethorpes, to Windsor after landing himself a role in The Sound Of Music, starring as Kurt Von Trapp at the London Palladium, as reported in the Grimsby Telegraph at the time.

Carol said: "We miss Cleethorpes, there is something about it and it is such a peaceful place.

"Our bungalow had more space compared to our flat in Windsor; it is like a rabbit warren.

"We have fewer bedrooms and Micky doesn't have his own room – he sleeps on a day bed."

Micky attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London, where he met bandmates Greg and Dan.

But due to financial reasons he moved to Windsor Boys' School.

"The boys knew each other really well, and two years ago they started the band.

"Micky had written his own songs and they were sitting on a bench outside Marylebone Station in London and he asked the boys what to do with them. That is where they decided to become a band.

"They had a sleep-over and it all went from there!"

District3 and 16-year-old Ella Henderson, of Tetney, will perform in tomorrow's live show on ITV1 at 8.20pm.

Visit www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk for updates over the weekend and after Sunday night's results show, and also see Monday's Grimsby Telegraph.

Keep checking your Telegraph for Ella's life story so far.

Send your messages of support to Ella and Micky by filling in the online form. A selection will be printed in the Grimsby Telegraph.

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