Lisburn teen chases his X Factor dream

But you won't be seeing Andrew Lawson appearing with Simon, Louis or Cheryl because he has achieved his dream thousands of miles away in the Australian version of the show.

While X-Factor fever is gripping Britain the show is having the same affect down under and Andrew Lawson, a former pupil of Ballymacash primary school, is now tantalisingly close to fame and fortune.

Following a gruelling trip to New York, where he had to audition in front of judge Kyle Sandilands and special guest mentor Kelly Rowland, Andrew made it through to the top 12. And just this week he won through to the final nine in the live show.

The news is still sinking in for the 18-year-old. "It's kind of a weird situation, because nothing like this has never happened to me before" he said. "It doesn't seem real yet."

Andrew was just six when he and sister Alex emigrated to New Zealand with their parents Julie and Harry who owned a Butcher's shop in Bridge Street with his late father William Lawson.

Five years later they settled in Australia where Andrew now studies music in Brisbane. His aunt Jenny Dunlop, who lives in England, says the family are all very proud, including Andrew's nanny Marlene Finch from Hillsborough.

Jenny said: "Mum says she remembers Andrew singing along to all the songs they would play in the car - John Denver, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra - back when he was only three years old.

"We are all just so proud of him - all Andrew has ever wanted to do is sing and this is his dream come true."

Andrew's X Factor performances have created a whirlwind of emotions for the Lawson family who now live in Noosa, Queensland.

Mum Julie said their weekends have changed dramatically as the family have been flying to Sydney every Sunday morning to show their support for Andrew in the hope that his dreams of stardom come true. "It's just one of those things that you can't afford to do but also can't afford to miss," Julie said.

Watching Andrew perform every Sunday night are Julie, Harry and Alex's favourite part - but the elimination shows were nerve-racking.

"Sundays we really enjoy - Mondays are just nail-biting," Julie said. "Every week we just hope he makes it through to the next show."

Since the show premiered in August Andrew has wowed judges with his renditions of Fly Me To The Moon and The Calling's Wherever You Will Go.

Julie said as long as he was doing what he loved, she was happy.

"He's happy and confident, that's the main thing" said his proud mum.