It’s a big “good luck” from youngsters at the Shipley theatre school where X Factor finalist Luke Friend learned to sing.

The singer-songwriter, who lived in Shipley until moving to Devon with his family four years ago, reached tomorrow night’s final after a viewers’ vote last Sunday.

The 17-year-old sang Beyonce track Best Thing I’ve Never Had and Sir Elton John’s Something About The Way You Look Tonight in the semi-final and ended up in the bottom two, competing in a sing-off against Rough Copy.

With Sharon Osborne, who had the deciding vote, choosing to take it to ‘deadlock’, Luke was saved by the public vote.

He competes against Sam Bailey and Nicholas McDonald tomorrow – the top two go through to Sunday’s grand final.

Luke, who attended Beckfoot School in Bingley, joined Shipley’s Debut Theatre School of Performing Arts aged ten.

Principal Jacqui Drake spotted his talent early on.

“He was playing big roles at the age of 11, including Angel Gabriel in Rock Nativity. I could see he had talent,” she said.

“He fitted in straight away and got on with everyone. He went on to land a scholarship for the Italia Conti theatre school. He’s a very talented musician.

“He’s always kept in touch. We miss him, but it’s tremendous that he’s in the final and everyone at Debut is so proud of him. We’re all behind him.

“He really has the ‘x factor’ because he stands out. He’s a singer-songwriter with his own style.”

Luke was one of the first acts to appear on the current series of X Factor, when his audition was screened on the first show early in the summer. “My phone was going mad with calls and texts,” said Jacqui.

“Every week I watch it and think ‘is he going to be okay?’ because you never know what will happen on this show.

“For somebody so young, he’s showing a lot of maturity. It must all feel very surreal for him but he works hard and he has a good family behind him.”