THE first winner of The X Factor is heading to Cumbria.

Steve Brookstein will be performing an intimate acoustic set in Egremont in June.

He will be showcasing classic soul standards and rarities with a voice which won him the first series of The X Factor at the Florence Arts Centre.

Steve’s road to fame began with singing in pubs and clubs before he auditioned for the TV talent show in 2004.

He was so popular with the viewing audience that he topped the weekly phone votes every week for the series’ run and eventually won with a record-breaking six million+ votes.

He went on to have a public spat with judge Sharon Osborne and later with his own mentor Simon Cowell.

But with a number single and top selling debut album under his belt Steve has gone on to forge his own path and has built up followers on the soul and jazz circuit and celebrity fans such as Tom Jones.

Steve is married to jazz singer Elaine Hunter and they regularly duet together.

He has appeared with the likes BeBe Winans, Maxi Priest and jazz award-winners Lianne Carroll and Ian Shaw.

His latest album, Forgotten Man, is a selection of tracks celebrating the great soul singers such as Marvin Gaye and Luther Vandross.

Steve will be appearing on June 23 alongside his guitarist.

Tickets, priced £13, are available from the arts centre box office, online at www.florenceartscentre.com or by phone on 01946 824946.