X Factor's Steve Brookstein unrecognisable with grey beard and glasses - 20yrs since winning show

ok.co.uk:

Steve Brookstein won the first ever season of The X Factor 20 years ago, but has maintained a life mostly away from the spotlight, however he is still singing across the nation.The 56-year-old, who appeared on Simon Cowell ’s competition in 2004 alongside the likes of Rowetta Satchell and Tabby Callaghan, has recently been pictured performing alongside fellow X Factor star Andy Abraham, who finished as a runner up in 2005.

Steve and Andy performed a night of classic music including swing, soul and ballads at Restaurante Los Cucalos in October with Rewind Spain.The two singers first met at one of Rewind's charity events in October 2019, and they've since created their own show following the "rat-pack" style.

But Steve looks worlds away from his time on The X Factor, when he was in his 30s, as he sported a grey beard, glasses and a flat cap and the singer looked vastly different when compared to his pop star heyday.

He opted for a jazzy shirt for the performance while Andy chose a striped short-sleeved shirt for the occasion. After winning the talent show over two decades ago, Steve was signed to Sony BMG record label, but left Simon Cowell’s label after a string of hits a year later.