Judges moved to tears by X Factor auditionees

X Factor judges Simon Cowell, Rita Ora and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini lost their composure as they watched aspiring singers audition in the second episode of the show on Sunday night.

Simon Cowell appeared visibly affected by 21-year-old Josh Daniel's emotional rendition of Jealous by Labrinth, which also moved Fernandez-Versini to tears.

Daniel, a car mechanic from Durham, said: "I lost my best friend a couple of years ago and I interpret the lyrics in a completely different way."

Cowell bit his lip and appeared to wipe away a tear during Daniel's performance which got a standing ovation and a unanimous yes from the judging panel.

The Manchester auditions had been postponed after the death of Cowell's mother Julie Brett, 89, on 5 July. Friends said he was "completely heartbroken".

Cowell didn't comment after the performance but Nick Grimshaw said: "That really got me right in the heart."

Fernandez-Versini added: "That was the most captivated I've been in all the auditions so far," before she asked to give Daniel a hug. As the 32-year-old headed to the stage, she gently placed a hand of support on Cowell.

Tears also flowed at the SSE Arena in Wembley during 24-year-old Sean Miley Moore's audition.

The Australian, now living in London, hit all the right notes with his version of Queen's The Show Must Go On.

He sobbed as a tearful Ora told him: "There is nothing I can say to you apart from I am so happy you came on this show!"

Other aspiring singers through to the next round of the ITV show included 21-year-old Brighton market trader Chloe Paige, who impressed with her version of Katy B's Crying For No Reason, and London boy band The First Kings.

The five members wowed with a professionally-packaged audition to Mark Ronson's Uptown Funk featuring Bruno Mars that incorporated their own introduction VT and choreographed backing dancers.

The third episode of The X Factor will air at 8.15pm on Saturday 5 September.