AN aspiring pop star was told by The X Factor judges on Saturday that she has the potential to be great.

Marie Clare Scott, who attended St Nicholas High School in Northwich, faced Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue when she sang Don’t Know Why by Nora Jones.

The 18-year-old’s performance was given the thumbs up by all four when it was broadcast to millions on The X Factor’s sister show The Xtra Factor on ITV2.

“It was a bit surreal,” said Marie Clare.

“It was bizarre seeing Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole and everyone. It was a privilege just to perform in front of them.”

The young singer, who lives in Middlewich, was compared to X Factor presenter Holly Willoughby, which became a running joke throughout the show.

“It was basically Holly singing” said Simon during the programme.

Marie Clare, whose dream is to be as big as Dusty Springfield and Duffy, is likely to appear on the show again.

Cameras followed her as she went to ‘boot camp’ at the Hammersmith Apollo in London where she had to rise at 6am and perform into the early hours.

She said: “Boot camp was so much hard work. They don’t call it that for nothing.”

Marie Clare, who did work experience with the Guardian last August, started her X Factor journey in April when she was one of 120 selected out of 15,000 in auditions at Old Trafford.

For another chance to see Marie Clare on The Xtra Factor, tune into ITV2 on Friday at 8pm or Saturday at 12pm.