Mary tunes up for showbiz career
Despite the judges’ verdict, she knows she is the people’s champion and is poised for stardom.
“I feel I triumphed, regardless of what happened,” she said yesterday.
Her loyal band of Irish fans were furious when show bosses introduced a sing-off to the semi-final for the first time in X Factor history. Some viewers accused X Factor chiefs of changing the voting format to save 17-year-old Cher.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Derek Mooney yesterday, Mary confirmed she had only been told about the sing-off on Sunday morning.
“They changed the format because there were five of us; normally there would only be three who would go through to the final,” she explained.
Mary, a Tesco worker, said she instinctively knew she would be in the bottom two with Cher.
Nevertheless, the 51-year-old mother-of-one decided to give it her best shot and was philosophical about checking out of the juggernaut show.
“I got a fantastic opportunity to appear in a phenomenal show. What happened happened,” she said.
“I know I have the support of all of Ireland. I know there are people out there who really, really care about me.”
Mary is hoping judge Simon Cowell, who gave her a big hug at the end of the show, will launch her career and is looking forward to touring with other X Factor stars.
She would have loved to have gone through to the final for her mentor, Louis Walsh.
“Four young people have gone through to the final and I hope they enjoy a lot of success, like I will myself,” she said.
Mary said she would love to see Rebecca Ferguson win the competition when she battles it out with Matt Cardle, Lloyd and One Direction on Saturday night. In any event, she will be there to congratulate the winner.
A spokesperson for Tesco said they were immensely proud of Mary, who works as a checkout operator in Ballyfermot, and sorry that she was out of the competition.
“We have held her position since she entered the competition last August and it remains open for her to go back to it, if she wants it,” said the spokesperson.
According to bookmaker Paddy Power Mary is unlikely to return to her job and is tipped at even-money to cash in on her success to the tune of €2 million by the end of next year.
She will perform her Irish homecoming show on Wednesday, December 29, at the Wright Venue in Swords, Co Dublin, with other X Factor finalists lined up for December 16, 23 and 29 and also in January.
Eirgrid said Ireland’s many X Factor fans caused a small but noticeable change in electricity demand when they switched on kettles and opened fridges at the end of the show on Sunday night. The rise in demand was the equivalent of the usage from appliances and lights of over 30,000 homes, or about 1.5% of the power being used at the time.
Meanwhile, a UPC survey found the X Factor is Ireland’s all-time favourite reality programme. TV3’s The Apprentice was ranked second with Channel 4’s Big Brother runner-up.
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