THE X-FACTOR judges are coming to Glasgow next month to look for their latest reality TV star.

Simon Cowell and his colleagues are holding auditions at Hampden on Monday, May 5.

And one of the first in the queue of thousands will be 82-year-old Gerard Darroch, from Newton Mearns.

Gerard will be donning his kilt and hoping to impress the judges with his rendition of Robert Burns' classic My Love is Like a Red Red Rose.

The former accounts inspector has little hope of progressing to the knock-out rounds - all he wants is to create awareness of Burns, as well as the charity work he is doing.

The father-of-six and grandfather of 10 said: "When you get to 82 life's not over and you can still spread happiness.

"When I was younger I wanted to sing but back then lessons were expensive and I didn't have the money so I went to different choirs instead."

He has worked closely with Cosgrove Care, an organisation that supports people with learning disabilities - including his son John - and he hopes his potential TV time will help with his charity work.

He said: "My family says don't do it but it's good fun and I enjoy singing. Two of my children Mary and Paul will hopefully be coming along, maybe we can go in the group category."

He did not reveal which of the judges he was most looking forward to meeting, but he assured the Evening Times he could look after himself if subjected to the sharper edge of Simon's tongue.

"You expect to get shouted down by the judges but that doesn't worry me. I can still carry a tune and I'm sure Rabbie Burns will not let me down."

His wife of 57 years, Moira, added: "I just hope Simon doesn't give him a hard time, but he said he could take it.

"I don't suppose he'll get very far, but he loves singing and he'll try anything - I don't think he'll ever feel old."