“I NEVER thought I would get another chance. It's taken me four years to get over it.”

Jonny Lloyd believed his dreams of making it as a pop star were over when he was disqualified from the X-Factor in 2006.

The Whalley singer's band Avenue were booted off the ITV reality show in a controversial row over a management deal.

But now he is back in the competition with new group Princes and Rogues, and they have made it through to the judging stage at Simon Cowell's house in Spain.

Jonny, 28, said: “We were gutted last time. We made it to the live show but we were disqualified because we had a manager.

“It was big news at the time, they made out we cheated because you're not allowed a manager or a record deal, but we didn't.

“We signed a management contract and they told us go in for X-Factor. We did everything the same as everyone else, interviewed and auditioned, and they only made out it was a big deal afterwards.”

Jonny, a Blackburn Rovers fan and former choirboy at his local church in Waddington, now lives in London.

The former Clitheroe Royal Grammar School pupil has been working as a backing dancer for the likes of Girls Aloud, and recruited his new band by putting an advert on Facebook and holding his own auditions.

He said: “I feel like because I've had so much experience of it I know what the judges like.

“There are five of us, covering the UK, one of the lads is from Scotland, one Ireland, so that could boost our chances if it comes to voting!”

Princes and Rogues have certainly already impressed the judges, and Jonny was impressed by guest judge Nicole Scherzinger.

He said: “I was so starstruck. I said ‘I love you’ and she said ‘I love you too’.

“We know we can sing really well but you have to be willing to let them mould you.

Jonny said 18-hour days of dancing and singing training were now the norm, but described his time in Spain as 'amazing'.

And he said he is determined to seize this opportunity with the support of his band mates and friends and family, especially his mum and dad Anne and Ian, who live in Whalley.

He said: “Our performances couldn't have gone better so far, but I know this is my last chance with the X-Factor.”