Jay James

Jay James (born Jay James Picton in 1983)[43] is a former Royal Navy fitness instructor from Saundersfoot, in Pembrokeshire.[43] He already had a record deal prior to the show and released his debut album Play It By Heart through Decca Records in 2012.[25] The same year, he featured on the song "Fly" by Cinematic, released on Black Butter Records (home to Rudimental, Gorgon City and Clean Bandit).[44] His dream duet would be Adele or Jay Z.[1]

James was in the bottom two of The X Factor with Paul Akister in week 5, but he was saved at deadlock by the public vote and Akister was eliminated as the contestant with fewest number of public votes.[4] However, in week 6, James was in the bottom two with Stevi Richie. Both went into deadlock, and James was voted out due to having the fewest number of public votes. He finished in 8th place. He was given a place in the X Factor Live Tour for coming in the top half, and anybody eliminated after him is in the X Factor Live Tour as well.[45]