The Chase star Jenny Ryan was pushed to take part on The X Factor : Celebrity by Bradley Walsh, she has revealed.
Jenny, also known as The Vixen on the ITV game show, is set to wow viewers with her soaring vocals at the weekend.
And it looks like fans have Brad to thank for that!
Speaking ahead of her appearance on the programme, she said: "Bradley is very proud. From the time I joined The Chase he's always encouraged me to push myself and to explore whatever opportunities I am given.
"That's one of the reasons I accepted the invitation to audition in the first place. I've held myself back a lot for a lack of confidence. And that situation you push yourself forward to take the challenge. It’s a learning experience whatever happens.
"Brad has a record deal, he’s got albums out, he’s got Doctor Who, and he presents every other programme sometimes when you’re watching of a weekend.
"I’m sure he won’t mind me saying he’s got a couple of decades on me. I’m sure I’ve got the energy to keep that going."
Asked whether she knew she could sing before, Jenny said: "I always enjoyed singing but I was never convinced that I had a big voice like that, that was distinctive, I just thought I can sing in the choir, bits of AmDram, Gilbert & Sullivan society and nerdy things like that.
"Someone who gave me a lot of confidence was my friend Martin Taylor, he’s the most famous man in Bolton.
"He is a pianist and used to play in one of the local pubs. He would sing everything from classical to rock to pop. He was amazing.
"He encouraged me to get up and sing and actually my first song in the audition is the first one he made me get up and sing.
"It was one that people would put their pint glasses down in the pub to listen to me. And I think that was the moment I realised this was something a little bit different."
*The X Factor: Celebrity airs Saturday on ITV
