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Gerard, 82, set to take on Mr ‘Nasty’ Cowell
 
 

by Marianne Taylor

HE may be over 80, but he's certainly got the X-Factor.

And now Gerard Darroch looks likely to get the chance to prove it to Simon Cowell when "Mr Nasty" comes to Glasgow next month.

The 82-year-old, from Newton Mearns, wowed producers of the ITV show earlier this week at the pre-show auditions at Hampden Park.

His rousing rendition of Robert Burns' My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose - performed in full highland regalia - got Gerard successfully through two rounds, beating off hundreds of other hopefuls in the process.

But now the father of six and grandfather of 10 faces an anxious wait for a letter which will confirm whether or not he has made it to the next round - in front of tough-talking Cowell and fellow judges Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh.

As reported in the Evening Times last month, Gerard, a former tax inspector married to wife Moira for 57 years, just wanted to spread a little happiness.

Delighted Gerard said: "I'm over the moon to have come this far. But I'd love to sing in front of the judges."

And it seems Gerard wouldn't be fazed by Cowell's sharp tongue.

He said: "Simon Cowell doesn't scare me.

"While I was in the army in the 1940s I sang in the Far East, North Africa and all over Europe - including to a leper colony in Singapore.

"Singing in front of Simon will be a breeze."

If he gets a letter confirming he's through, Gerard will go back in June.

He said "Who knows, maybe I'll win the £1million record contract - we'd get a big fish supper with that."

Publication date 09/05/08

Posted by: weegielady, glasgow on 3:50pm Fri 9 May 08
hehe good for him

Looks fit as a fiddle , and braver than me (more than half his age) Simon is portrayed as this nasty guy, he really comes over (to me)as someone straight talking who knows what he's talking about and doesnt mince his words.

Some maybe are just jealous of his succcess .I think he will smile and thank Gerard for his fine Scottish effort, there won't be an invite to record an album , someones granda will get some recognition .Simon has Scottish roots.

But,I am glad ,as all you get are these young lassies who can't hold a tune, who think cos they look nice and slender in a miniskirt, and sometimes sing at karaoke, make up a wee sob story, shimmy in wi their diddies hangin out, the world owes them a living!

for example the talentless but nonetheless, thin and sexy ,girls aloud *except the Irish one she CAN sing.

Go for it !!

am just jealous of Girls Aloud anyway lolw sih i ahd their tiny appetites and big money lol
Posted by: trench, possilpark on 9:24pm Fri 9 May 08
yeh weegie, there is a saying that goes, you dont need to be all that good just have guts!!haha.its funny some of the glasgow boys like to sing coming out the pub....."i..a left a myeya heaaarta in a fran a san sis caoaw a.!" then into the fish and chip shop for.....eh hen goanny gees a ppish hic, suuper( i can visualize right now and its still funny!
Posted by: weegielady, glasgow on 11:43am Sat 10 May 08
The thing is Billy Connelly noted this many years back, said of this dying breed years ago, a wee affable quite gent, of mature years, sitting quietly in the corner of every party with his wee whiskey would all of a sudden start singing' tarra vooo... arahh veeeee' and other words that everyone else seemed to know and sing along to!

You still hear this in some pubs when an oldie gets a mic at karaoke, walk by and hear 'taarar vuuu ararahhh veeeeee' (etc)lol (mainly east end pubs)
harmless funny wee drunk men who drink ,sing big long notes, and get a fish supper and irn bru,lol

I was in a pub dedicated to JUST karaoke a couple of years back in Blackpool and the best singers, I have to say, are the wee affable granpas and the overweight women! they could seem to belt out a tune and you can tell someones a good singer at a karaoke , as folk stop talking amongst themselves and listen.

*if yer crap at singing, folk have to look away, roll their eyes and carry on talking amongst themselves ,it is not that we are all ignorant, severly bad singers are kind of background drawl that you canny stand*
Posted by: trench, possilpark on 7:20pm Sat 10 May 08
it must be quite enjoyable to just sit in a pub and watch...we were in a pub somewhere in mallaig and a wee quiet man sitting there by himself,i asked if this was his local he answered "aye" i bought him a pint and he informed me he only drinks whiskey! which i obliged then after a while he gave the barmaid a nod and she put on her coat and helped him up on his feet....i asked her if she drove all the boozers home? she answered,,,no, he owns the pub!
Posted by: Edna Bucket, Interweb on 6:51pm Mon 12 May 08
pawoarh Gerard. Pity you are happily married to Moira, or I'd be right in there, you sexy wee handsome thing you! ooh its the kilt, does funny things to us post menopausal women! lol
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