Daryl Markham, a 40-year-old from East Sussex, made the entire X Factor crowd emotional during his 2008 appearance on The X Factor Series 5. After leaving school at age 16 and entering work, he decided to take a chance and show the world that he could also sing! He was due to compete on The X Factor the previous year but had to postpone so that he could attend his brother’s wedding. In a sad turn of events, his brother passed away shortly after his wedding due to lung cancer.
A cabinet maker by day, Daryl Markham wanted to pursue another passion of his – singing – by taking part in The X Factor and honoring his brother in the process. As we can see from this performance, he is a very talented individual and his brother would be proud! Performing Rod Stewart’s “I Don’t Want to Talk About It,” Daryl reduced the audience to tears and proved himself a worthy contestant in the competition. Watch his performance in the video below:
Before his performance, he explained that he and his brother were inseparable, and even ran a business together. After his passing, Daryl promised to look after his 9-year-old son, Cian, showing the strong familial bond that the two shared. With the determination to make his brother and Cian proud, Daryl collected his nerves and delivered a performance that took him to the next round of the competition. Afterward, he was met with a roar of applause and nothing but praise from the judges.
Rod Stewart’s “I Don’t Want to Talk About It” is a highly emotional ballad that seems to be about the end of a relationship, and the painful emotions that can follow a breakup. It may have been Rod Stewart who made this tear-jerking song popular, but it was originally written by Crazy Horse in 1971 for their self-titled record. Since then, Rod Stewart has released two other versions of “I Don’t Want to Talk About It”, one of which features a duet with Amy Belle, which was released in 2004.
After the audition, Daryl went on to the Boot Camp portion of the competition, where he decided to leave The X Factor. Despite this, he has continued to release music and has even been a part of a song for Children In Need, which reached the number one spot on the UK’s midweek charts.
Experience the heartfelt and emotional performances of Daryl Markham by subscribing to his YouTube Channel. Daryl, a cabinet maker by profession, stunned audiences with his touching audition in Series 5 of The X Factor, making his mark as a remarkably talented singer. His powerful performances stand as a tribute to his late brother in a heartfelt display of artistry and resilience.