Joe McElderry has hit back at claims he looked 'unrecognisable' on Steph's Packed Lunch, more than 12 years after his X Factor win, with fans and celebrities also condemning the articles.
Joe, who beat Olly Murs in the final of the ITV talent show at the end of 2009, joined fellow North East star Steph McGovern for the first show of a new week for her and her team.
Now 30-year-old Joe, who has not long finished a two month run in pantomime in Newcastle, with him already confirmed for this Christmas too and was on Packed Lunch to talk about his upcoming tour, Freedom, which honours late and great music legend George Michael.
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South Shields singer Joe famously did a duet with George, who died on Christmas Day in 2016, on his way to victory on The X Factor and, it was that same song - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me - that he sang after his interview on Monday.
In the interview Joe revealed that he actually first auditioned X Factor three years prior to his win, when he was just 14, but quit the show at the boot camp stage.
Following his appearance on Packed Lunch, Joe posted a picture of himself on set to his Instagram but, what he wasn't expecting was coverage elsewhere about him looking 'unrecognisable' from the 18-year-old who won X Factor.
Screen shotting one story about him, the Ambitions singer hit back by writing: "Picking an unflattering photo and posting pictures in comparison from when I was 18! 12 years ago! ITS BORING…. You have done this story over 20 times"
Joe's fans rushed to support him, with one responding: "yet again needless body shaming! You're a 30 year old healthy young man! What is wrong with them?"
A second reacted: "Absolutely ridiculous! I’m not the same as I was a year ago never mind 12 years ago!" with a another posting: "Pay them no mind Joe, you look great and sounded great, no-one looks like they did 12 years ago."
A number of celebrities have also backed him, with comedian Kate Robbins, recently in Afterlife, tweeting: "Oh ignore! You were fantastic today on @PackedLunchC4 and you looked amazing too."
Fellow X Factor winner Dalton Harris also replied: "You have nothing to be ashamed of bro. Chiselled or not you are an awesome guy and super talented."
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