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Dad of Joe McElderry so proud of X Factor star

Dec 13 2009 by Gordon Barr, Sunday Sun

Joe, 18, has been coping admirably with the media attention and mixing with the stars - but dad Jim is still getting used to it.

“I was making toast on a Friday night in the house when he texted me and said `Dad I’ve just met Whitney Houston’. I nearly burnt the toast. I couldn’t believe it.

“There’s me in Newcastle making toast and there’s Joe singing to Whitney Houston. You cannot comprehend it.”

Jim, and Joe’s mum Eileen Joyce. have been overwhelmed by the public support for their son.

“I think the people in the North East are fabulous. I love living up here and being part of the North East with everybody rooting behind him and saying lovely things about him,” said Jim.

“It is great, and as a dad that is absolutely fabulous.

“I think this has been one of the most difficult weeks emotionally. From Monday night, seeing him at The Sage and seeing what all that meant - friends and family, everybody that we’ve known throughout our lives was in that room watching our son sing, by the Tyne in an iconic building like that, it was absolutely lovely.

“The whole thing was beautiful and all our friends came up to us and said it was a special night for them and their kids.

“The whole of the North East think they own him and that is a lovely feeling.”

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