5 Shocking Secrets Revealed In Harry Styles' Unseen X Factor Audition Footage

The X Factor audition of a 16-year-old Harry Styles in 2010 is one of the most iconic moments in music history, yet for over a decade, fans only saw a carefully edited snippet. The version that launched One Direction and, eventually, a global solo superstar, was just the tip of the iceberg. As of today, December 12, 2025, the full, "extended cut" of the audition has been released by The X Factor UK, offering a fresh and fascinating look at the pivotal moment that nearly didn't happen, revealing two different song choices and the critical hesitation of the judges. This previously unseen footage, released years after the original broadcast, provides a crucial new perspective on the origin story of the biggest boyband of the decade and the trajectory of a future Grammy-winning artist. It’s a masterclass in how a single, nervous teenager from Cheshire managed to pivot under pressure and secure his spot in pop culture history.

Harry Styles: A Brief Biography and Career Profile (2010-2025)

Harry Edward Styles is an English singer, songwriter, and actor who rose to global fame as a member of the boy band One Direction before establishing himself as a critically acclaimed solo artist and fashion icon.

• Full Name: Harry Edward Styles
• Date of Birth: February 1, 1994
• Birthplace: Redditch, Worcestershire, England
• Early Life: Raised in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire. Before his audition, he worked part-time at a local bakery, W. Mandeville Bakery.
• The X Factor Audition: Auditioned for the seventh series of The X Factor UK in 2010 at age 16. Eliminated before the final stage but was brought back and grouped with four other contestants (Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik) to form One Direction.
• One Direction (2010–2016): The group finished third in the competition but became one of the best-selling boy bands of all time, releasing five studio albums.
• Solo Career (2017–Present): Launched his solo career with his self-titled debut album, Harry Styles (2017). His second album, Fine Line (2019), included the global hit "Watermelon Sugar," which earned him a Grammy Award. His third album, Harry's House (2022), was a massive critical and commercial success, winning Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards.
• Acting Career: Has appeared in films such as Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk (2017), Eternals (2021), and the lead role in Don’t Worry Darling (2022).
• Notable Awards: Multiple Brit Awards, Grammy Awards (including Album of the Year), and an American Music Award.

The Two Songs That Defined Harry Styles’ X Factor Audition

The original broadcast of Harry Styles' audition was brief and memorable, featuring the charming, floppy-haired teenager discussing his bakery job and singing a snippet of a Stevie Wonder classic. However, the extended cut fundamentally changes the narrative of his initial performance, revealing a shaky start that required a second chance from the judges.

1. The Disastrous First Song: "Hey, Soul Sister"

The most significant revelation in the newly released footage is that Harry’s first song choice was not "Isn't She Lovely." Instead, he performed Train's popular 2009 hit, "Hey, Soul Sister."

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The performance was not well-received. Styles sang the track with a backing instrumental, which was common for auditions, but the judges—Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, and guest judge Nicole Scherzinger—were immediately hesitant. Simon Cowell, the most influential judge, stopped the performance almost immediately.

Cowell's critique centered on the song choice and the way Harry was performing it. The backing track reportedly drowned out his voice, and the performance lacked the raw, natural talent the judges were looking for. This initial failure is a crucial piece of the puzzle, showing that the future global superstar was not an instant, undeniable success.

2. The Pivotal Second Chance: "Isn't She Lovely" (A Cappella)

After the failure of the first song, Simon Cowell gave the young Styles a lifeline—a second chance. He asked Harry to sing another song, this time without any backing track, to hear the purity of his voice.

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Harry chose Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely." This a cappella performance was the moment everything changed. Without the distraction of the music, his natural vocal quality and charisma shone through. The judges, who had looked doubtful just moments before, began to smile and nod in approval. This raw, stripped-back rendition is what secured his "yes" votes and cemented his place in the competition.

The Untold Backstage Drama: How Styles Nearly Missed One Direction

The extended audition footage, combined with other recent revelations, highlights how close Harry Styles came to being sent home. His journey was a series of near-misses and crucial interventions that underscore the chaotic, yet brilliant, process of forming One Direction.

3. Simon Cowell's Critical Intervention

The entire trajectory of Harry's career hinged on Simon Cowell's decision to stop the first performance. Cowell is known for his blunt honesty, but in this case, his intervention was a sign of belief, not dismissal. He saw potential in the 16-year-old’s presence but knew the song choice was wrong.

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By demanding an a cappella performance, Cowell forced Harry to showcase his raw talent, bypassing the poor song arrangement. This moment is a testament to Cowell's instinct for spotting stars, as it was his direct action that saved Harry from an early exit from the competition.

4. Nicole Scherzinger’s Underrated Influence on the Formation

While Simon Cowell saved Harry's audition, the formation of One Direction itself is heavily credited to guest judge Nicole Scherzinger. Unseen footage released separately showed the judges—Scherzinger, Cowell, and Walsh—deliberating on which solo contestants to group together.

Scherzinger can be seen actively grouping the five boys—Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik—on a piece of paper, advocating for them to be a boyband. She recognized their individual strengths and the potential synergy, famously saying, "They’re too good to let go." This demonstrates that the decision to form the group was not solely Cowell's, but a collaborative effort, with Scherzinger playing a critical, previously uncredited role in selecting the final five members.

5. The Real Timeline of Events at Bootcamp

After his successful audition, Harry, like the other four future members of One Direction, failed to progress as a solo artist during the "Bootcamp" stage of the competition. The boys were all eliminated from the solo category.

The final, world-changing decision was made not on the main stage, but during a tense deliberation at the judges' table. It was here that the judges, spearheaded by Scherzinger, decided to bring the five rejected solo singers back and combine them into a group. This last-minute decision, revealed in extended behind-the-scenes footage, underscores the serendipitous nature of One Direction’s creation. The formation of the band was truly an eleventh-hour save, making Harry Styles' entire X Factor journey a story of second chances and pivotal interventions that led to global stardom.