From school chorister to Simon Cowell boy band

A 17-year-old teenager has gone from school chorister to a high-profile boy band created by pop mogul Simon Cowell.

John Fadare, a pupil in Rochester, Kent, was selected to be a member of new group December 10 in a rigorous audition process, documented in a Netflix TV series.

The band, made up of seven teenagers, released their debut single Run My Way on Friday.

Fadare said: "At school it's weird as people don't know how to act around me."

The teenager, who sang in his school choir for five years, said: "Even as a kid I used to sing to myself."

He added: "As I got older I wanted to sing pop music, that was more fun."

Thousands of teenagers auditioned to be in Simon Cowell's latest boy band.

Fadare said: "I actually wasn't going to audition, if not for my dad convincing me to go on the day.

"I was a bit hesitant but he was like 'you never know. Give it a shot'.

"If not for that support I don't think I'd be here."

The teenager was flown to Miami with 15 others for the final stages of the auditioning process.

He said: "When people watch the show they tell me 'your parents were amazing'.

And I'm like 'what about me?'."

Cowell said in Netflix series The Next Act: "He looked me in the eye and he said 'I completely understand where you're coming from'.

"And I just thought, in that moment, people are going to like him."

Despite his exciting new singing career, Fadare said he was staying on at school, where is is studying music, drama and English, to finish his A-levels.

He said: "One day I'm at school doing my work and the next day I'm on a plane going to New York or LA.

"It's madness but I'm just happy to be able to have those two different sides."

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