HULL'S undiscovered talent was given a boost when the X Factor came to the city and gave singers the thumbs up.
Hundreds of hopefuls queued at the Prospect Shopping Centre in Hull as the talent show's mobile auditions were set up.
Wannabe pop stars waited near the atrium yesterday afternoon biting their nails before facing Simon Cowell's tough team of talent scouts.
Although there was no sign of Gary Barlow or Louis Walsh, there were plenty of hopefuls singing their hearts out.
Serena Hammadeh, 24, of west Hull, was one of the first to stun the X Factor team and go through to the next round.
The barmaid, who was turned away at auditions in Manchester aged 16, said she had built up enough confidence to have another shot at TV fame.
She said: "I was still really nervous when I sang my first song and I was shaking but I got through it.
"I chose to perform Over The Rainbow and Toni Braxton's How Could An Angel Break My Heart.
"It was in front of just one young female judge who said I could now go on to further auditions in Manchester. I'm so pleased.
"I've been singing all of my life and although I was a bit shocked, I'm over the moon that I'm through.
"My mum Mandy was a single parent and has done everything for my sister and I.
"I wanted to make my family proud of me."
The mobile auditions were first introduced during last year's series and eventual winner James Arthur tried out when it visited his hometown of Middlesbrough.
Show bosses hope visiting smaller towns and cities will help to unearth more of Britain's hidden talent.
Ebony Mercedes, 17, of north Hull sang Clown by Scottish songbird Emeli Sande at the auditions.
She had been queuing for three hours since 11.30am.
Ebony said: "I'm studying beauty therapy at Hull College and thought I would give it a go because I've been singing since I was a little kid.
"I've wanted to apply in the past but it's been difficult to get to the likes of Manchester and Newcastle for the first auditions."
Extra staff were pulled in to help at the centre on the day and manager Lee Appleton said it had been an overwhelming success.
He said: "I've got a cold so, unfortunately, I couldn't audition but the lead up to the day and the turn out had been amazing."
The city has had past success in the show with acts including Twilight in 2005 reaching the boot camp stages of the competition.
Last year's contestant Ella Henderson was also from just over the Humber Bridge in Grimsby and soon after the show signed a contract with Sony.
Lauren Smith, 17, who went to the same dance school as Ella, travelled over to Hull to audition yesterday.
She said: "I've been in a lot of singing competitions and had lessons but gave it up for a while to concentrate on school work.
"It was so weird to see someone I knew in the X Factor last year and the team have ask me to go through to the next auditions.
"My mum said I should give it a shot and I sang Paloma Faith."
Hopefuls should also look out for the Mail's Star Search competition, which launches next week and offers a cash prize for the winner.
