X Factor’s Aiden Grimshaw looked completely unrecognisable 15 years after starring on the ITV singing compeтιтion.

The star, who is now 33, appeared on the show back in 2010 which was the same year One Direction took part – but now looks worlds away from his fresh-faced days on TV. 

Aiden has continued a career in music and regularly posts singing videos, covers, and updates on Instagram to his 19,000 followers.

The Blackpool-born musician has released music under the alias ʙuттerjack and his most recent cover was of French musician Kavinsky’s track Nightcall.

When on The X Factor, he competed as a solo artist on the same season as 1D, which was eventually won by Matt Cardle.

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That’s right, it’s Aiden Grimshaw! Aiden looks completely recognisable from his X Factor days and is now sporting a bushy moustache

The star, who is now 33, appeared on the show back in 2010 which was the same year One Direction took part – but now looks worlds away from his fresh-faced days on TV

He made it all the way to the live shows and was the the eighth contestant eliminated, earning a record deal with RCA Records after he was voted out in week six.

In his audition, he impressed judges with a rendition of Kanye West’s Gold Digger, with no backing track.

Aiden looks completely unrecognisable from his X Factor days and is now sporting a bushy moustache.

He also swapped his quiff for a floppy, long hairstyle and has upgraded his wardrobe to include more retro fashion.

After being eliminated from The X Factor, two years later in 2012 Aiden released his debut single Is This Love which debuted at number 35 on then UK Singles Chart.

He continued to find success with his first album Misty Eye, which was also released in 2012 and reached number 19 on the UK Albums Chart.

Following a few more projects, he took a break from music before returning in 2015 and then taking on the name ʙuттerjack in 2018. 

Aiden’s departure from The X Factor was a shock one, after he competed against Katie Waissel in the bottom two and the judges vote went do ᴅᴇᴀᴅlock before going to the public vote.

He is now sporting a bushy moustache. He also swapped his quiff for a floppy, long hairstyle and has upgraded his wardrobe to include more retro fashion

Aiden has continued a career in music and regularly posts singing videos, covers and updates on Instagram to his 19,000 followers

Aiden’s departure from The X Factor was a shock one, after he competed against Katie Waissel in the bottom two and the judges vote went do ᴅᴇᴀᴅlock before going to the public vote

The seventh series was won by Matt Cardle, with Rebecca Ferguson runner-up and One Direction third.

It comes after Sir Elton John claimed earlier this year that gaining fame from shows like X Factor is ‘the worst thing that can happen to you in the music industry’.

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Instead, the legendary musician suggested new artists ‘go and play in a pub’ to ‘take risks’ and get a ‘backbone’.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, he stressed how important playing live is for musicians.

The star admitted then when he played in Musicology, they would sometimes perform to tiny audiences, and no matter how small the crowd, it always helped him improve.

He recalled: ‘That experience stood me in great stead for when I became Elton John because I had backbone.

‘And backbone is so important, because the worst thing that can happen to you in the industry are things like X Factor and instant fame on television where you have no experience of playing live.’

Elton said: ‘You get put on stage, you go, and you can’t do it. That’s the worst thing. American Idol – just the worst. Take risks. Go and play in a pub.’

However, despite his distaste for musical talent shows, Elton appeared on The X Factor back in 2013 to perform a duet with judge Gary Barlow.