X Factor star unrecognisable as he tucks into massive pizza 18 years after he found fame on the show
THE X Factor singer Eoghan Quigg looks totally different 18 years on from starring on the show.
The 32-year-old finalist finished runner-up behind JLS and winner Alexandra Burke in 2008.
Working as a musician and digital Creator, the dad of four posted a new video on Instagram as he tucked into a massive pizza.
He asked: “Anyone else struggling to get on the January health kick?
“Putting ‘the diet starts tomorrow’ off for another day.”
Eoghan released one album in 2009 and then decided to quit showbiz altogether when he was just 18.
He recently told how he “counts his blessings” as he paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Liam Payne.
The pair auditioned together in 2008 when Liam, aged 14, first tried out for Simon Cowell‘s show.
Liam famously tried again in 2010 and became part of the world’s most successful boy band as a result.
Known as One Direction the band went on to enjoy four world tours, win more than 200 awards, sell more than 70 million records globally and amass over three billion YouTube views until they split in 2016.
Speaking to host Peter Cardwell on Talk, he said: “I first met Liam when he was 14 and I was 15.
“So we were quite young, two similar lads, who liked football, liked music, still at school.”
He said they clicked from the start: “Through Bootcamp, we got to know each other and then when we went to the judge’s houses we really, really bonded then.
He also told how Liam’s mother Karen was very motherly towards him.
“I was only 15, it was my third time out of Ireland. She took me under her wing and made sure I was ok,” he said.
TalkTV host Peter suggested they were two ordinary lads, who went on very different paths.
He said: “You had that early success, you stepped out of it and you have the contentment of family and community…
“Liam in contrast pushed ahead and experienced fame and fortune, but obviously drug and alcohol abuse, loneliness, despair and very sadly his death.”
He asked if Eoghan felt things might have been very different if he’d continued in the music industry like Liam, saying: “Do you maybe count your blessings a little bit?”
Eoghan replied: “A little bit I guess,” admitting it was a continual loop of shows, tour buses, planes and hotels.
He added: “It can get lonely so that’s why I made the decision when I was 18 to come home.
“It wasn’t really working out, and I was at peace with that but it’s very difficult to come back down to earth as well.
“I had a close-knit family and a community at home where it was easier for me.
“I’m one of the lucky ones.”