A teenage singing sensation is on the verge of stardom after impressing judges on TV’s X Factor.

Alejandro Fernandez-Holt, 17, from Burgess Hill, made it through to the ‘bootcamp’ stage of the ITV show at the weekend after charming the judges with his singing prowess and handsome looks.

The St Paul’s Catholic College student first hit our TV screens on Saturday night when he sang in front of judges Gary Barlow, Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger in the ‘room audition’ – the first stage of the singing competition.

After cruising through the audition, he was then shown taking to the stage in front of a 4,000-strong crowd at Wembley Arena on Sunday, dubbed the ‘arena audition’, and belted out a version of the Enrique Iglesias ballad Hero.

His sultry Latin lyrics proved a hit with thousands of screaming females in the crowd – and the judging panel too.

An impressed Sharon Osbourne told him: “Well, well, well. An unbelievable performance – you were really, really fantastic.”

Nicole Scherzinger said: “The last time I saw you, I thought you were charming and I just wanted to see all the girls screaming for you in the arena.”

Take That supremo Gary Barlow also sang Alejandro’s praises. He said: “Alejandro, although I don’t think you’re the strongest vocally, you have great charisma. Nicole’s right, the girl’s absolutely love you.”

Alejandro was set to start the final year of his four A-levels at college in September.

Rob Carter, headteacher St Paul’s Catholic College, said: “It was great to see him flourish and we will be supporting him every step of the way.”

If successful at the bootcamp stage of the show, Alejandro will then be whisked to the judge’s houses to perform an intimate number before, if successful, making it to the live Saturday night shows.