Matt Cardle actually told a major porky when he first appeared on the X Factor

No way.

If you've followed X Factor from the very beginning, you might remember Matt Cardle, winner of the 2010 series. From Matt's first audition, we were told that while he was trying to make it as a musician, he worked as a painter and decorator to pay the bills. However, it turns out that particular tale was a stretch of the imagination... In conversation with Digital Spy recently, Matt said:

"The painting and decorating story wasn't entirely true. "I was doing anything for cash when I auditioned for that show but that sounded the best, haha!"

In case you need a reminder of when the X Factor audience were first introduced to fans, the below audition might remind you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF10KBDEVGs Matt spoke about how getting a break would help him to leave the life of a painter behind.

"This opportunity would mean the end of magnolia all over my face and hands, the end of brushes, the end of hotel rooms and the break I need."

So while he did a bit of a painting here and there, it wasn't really a day-to-day job. The Essex native was crowned winner that year and six years on, he's set to release his fourth album soon in addition to performing in Broadway on Stage later this year. Clip via YouTube:  X Factor