Andrew on the up...
19 Aug 09
Viewers to Saturday night's show saw 35 year-old Andrew Bridge from Birmingham jumping for joy in the arms of his family as he celebrated getting through to bootcamp.
But for dad-of-three Andrew, this is a moment of celebration he thought would never enjoy.
He told us, "I have applied to The X Factor to fulfil a dream I have had for a very long time".
In fact, the fact that Andrew even applied to The X Factor this shows how toward his goals he's already come, overcoming illness and depression to come face to face with his dream.
Just a couple of years ago, Andrew, who suffers from manic depression, found it difficult to leave his home as he battled with his illness.
He explains, "It just hit me for six. My body shut down and my speech went and my whole characteristics went. I was distant; I just stared into thin air and I didn't go out."
Andrew praises his wife who stood by him, and he says is "his rock."
He says, "A lot of people think my manic depression was destined to happen".
In fact Andrew had to grow up very overnight when his security guard father was murdered at work on the day Andrew turned thirteen.
"I remember I was at a church congregational meeting and there were people attending from all over Britain. They called me up to the front in front of all of those people and told me that my father had been in an accident".
"I later found out he was dead and he had been murdered, but I don't know the whole story of what happened when".
The newly teenage Andrew then set about being strong for his mum and sisters, and he put his dream of music aside to concentrate on being a family man.
He ponders, "I am here to see if my friends and family are telling a lie when they say I have a voice I can take further".
"Music is 1000% what I want to do. That's why I'm scared."
"It's been a long time since I've wanted anything this much. And I know how it feels to strive for things... and then never quite manage to get there."