Bishop Auckland College in County Durham are to offer a £95 crash-course in preparing for x factor auditions. The 17-week course teaches students how to sing, perform and prepare for the nervy auditions in front of Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow and company. "I've watched X Factor auditions and thought, 'you could have done well but you just weren't prepared for it,'" said the college's Mike Jinks.

The idea for the course came about after the college put on a successful music festival last summer, which featured X Factor winner James Arthur, then a little known musician. "We will be giving them some home truths," said Mr Jinks, the college's head of art, music and performing arts. "This is not just about saying, 'go on X Factor and you will be famous.' We expect them to work hard. We expect them to understand that most people who go on X Factor put a lot of hard work and preparation into it." The course will also give students the skills required to get through a job interview, which Mr Jinks describes as similar to those needed for the famous auditions. 

As of January 11, 2013, James Arthur's winning single Impossible - a cover of Shontelle's 2010 song - has sold over one million copies. His debut album is expected to hit shelves later this year.

Watch James Arthur's Impossible Video: