Daniel Evans - exit interview
16 Nov 08
Hi Daniel, how you feeling this morning?
D: You know what I’m feeling absolutely fine. I’m happy, and buzzing, I haven’t had much sleep so that might have something to do with it but overall I’m doing good.
Is there a sense of shock that you’re out the competition now?
D: Not really! It had to happen at some point, I knew it was unlikely that I was ever going to win the thing, but I’ve upset the bookies and I’ve just had a fantastic time, I wouldn’t swap it for the world.
So last night you sang a Tom Jones number, how do you think it went?
D: I think it went brilliantly, I loved every minute of it! The dancers, the car – even though it was originally meant to be an Aston Martin, but what with the credit crunch and all it ended up being a Mini! It was one of my favourite performances even though the judges hated it.
Do you think you were at a disadvantage last night because you opened the show?
D: Yeah definitely it’s always tough to open the show - I call it the curse of being first, and if you look back over the weeks the people who open the show generally end up in the bottom two. But I tried not to let it affect my performance and I don’t think it did, I’m proud of what I did last night.
What will you miss most about being in The X Factor?
D: I’ll miss the Sunday mornings most because that was when we would start to work on our new song for the following Saturday. I loved the whole musical process of working on a song with Dannii and the rest of the team, and rearranging a track to suit my voice, that’s what I’ll miss the most.
What will you miss the least?
D: Probably the press. It was difficult at times to cope with some of the things that get written about you. You have to try and not let it affect you otherwise it can really get you down. You have to make sure it doesn’t change you as a person, like I always say: you’ve got to stay positive.
How did you find Dannii as a mentor?
D: The best. The very best. If I could do my time all over again and have a pick of the mentors, I would go for Dannii, every time. She was always on the end of the phone, or texting me asking me how I was doing, I couldn’t have asked for anyone better. She’s great!
Was it emotional moving out of the house this morning?
D: No not really because I’ve been feeling so positive since the minute I got up. Everyone was saying goodbye, but I just said to them, this isn’t goodbye – it’s just see ya later.
Who would you like to win the show?
D: Everyone is so talented and it could be any of the remaining acts, but I’d have to say JLS. I shared a room with those guys and they are some of the nicest people you could wish to meet. I’ve spent so much time with them and they are such a great bunch that I would have to say them.
Do you have any bad feeling towards the judges for the stick they gave you week in week out?
D: None what-so-ever! The judges were just doing what they had to do, that’s their job. It was the public who kept me in the competition so long anyway, but I hold no bad feelings for the judges, I think they’re great!
What’s next for Daniel Evans?
D: Hopefully I can do something with my music, start taking it really seriously. You know I play keyboard, I write songs, I’d just love to get out there and perform at some gigs. Sing the type of music that I want to sing, which would have more of a soul vibe, and just generally kick-off from this platform that The X Factor has given me.
Well good luck with everything Dan, we’ll miss you!
D: Thanks very much! But I should be on the Live Tour so you’ll be able to see me on that!