From the moment twelve‑year‑old Ellis Chick bounded onto the stage, you could tell this was no shy schoolboy audition. He carried himself with a self‑assured charisma that felt older than his years, flashing a grin and announcing that his life philosophy was “#YOLO” — You Only Live Once. It wasn’t an attempt at bravado so much as an honest summation of the way he presented himself: fearless, ready to entertain, and delightfully unbothered by the massive audience and the celebrity panel before him. He told the judges he sang and danced “all the time,” and he looked as if he meant it, moving with the casual polish of someone who’d clocked more stage minutes than most kids his age. That infectious confidence won the crowd fast; even before a note had been sung, the room had already warmed to him.
Choosing “You Make Me Feel So Young,” the jazzy standard associated with Michael Bublé, was a smart move. The song is a cheeky, upbeat number that calls for charm, swing, and timing — all things Ellis delivered in spades. From the opening bars, his voice was clear and pitch‑perfect, but it was the way he inhabited the song that made the performance memorable. He didn’t just reproduce the melody; he swung it, adding little rhythmic accents and a carefree bounce that had the audience tapping feet and smiling in sympathy. Small stage touches — a quick shoulder shimmy, a playful wink at the camera, a perfectly judged pause before a key line — gave the impression of a performer who understood the art of showmanship as much as the craft of singing.
There was an ease to his delivery that suggested thorough preparation but not overrehearsal. He moved across the stage fluidly, using the space rather than standing rooted to one spot. When he hit the higher notes, they came clean and confident, and his lower register had a warmth that rounded out the jazz‑club vibe he was channeling. The backing band and arrangement supported him without overshadowing him, leaving room for his personality to shine through. You could almost imagine him performing the same number at a family wedding or a school show — except here, he was doing it in front of millions, and he didn’t flinch.
The judges were visibly amused and impressed. Alesha Dixon called him a “complete showman,” praising not just his vocal ability but his stagecraft and timing. Amanda Holden declared the song choice “genius,” admitting she had “never been so relaxed watching someone so young perform.” That comment captured the paradox of Ellis’s appeal: his youthfulness made him endlessly charming, yet his competence made him unexpectedly reassuring. Even Simon Cowell, who often zeroes in on the finer points with razor focus, acknowledged Ellis’s confidence and musicality, though he offered a gentle warning to avoid the “corny habits” that can sometimes plague pub singers and revivalists. It was constructive rather than cutting, an attempt to help a promising young act refine his instincts rather than blunt them.
And then there was David Walliams. The resemblance was immediate and uncanny — Ellis’s cheeky grin, the way he cocked his head, even some mannerisms drew sharp comparisons to the judge sitting across from him. Walliams embraced it with good humor, dubbing the youngster his “mini‑me” and quipping that Ellis was “a little version of me if I had any talent.” The exchange felt warm and affectionate, the kind of banter that makes these moments both entertaining and human. For Ellis, the compliment from Walliams seemed to magnify the applause; he beamed at the comparison, clearly pleased to have won over that particular corner of the panel.
Beyond the jokes and the praise, the audition also hinted at a maturity in Ellis that suggested real potential. There are many young performers who arrive armed with ambition but lack the emotional intelligence to connect a song to an audience. Ellis, by contrast, seemed to intuitively understand that performance is a conversation: he gave energy, he invited response, and he rewarded the crowd with charisma and commitment. His phrasing showed a tasteful restraint when required and a playful exuberance when the song allowed it. That balance is rare in a performer so young.
When the votes were called, the result felt inevitable. The panel gave him four enthusiastic “yes”es, sending the cheerful crooner through to the next round. As he left the stage, shoulders relaxed and grin still in place, it was easy to imagine a bright future ahead — not necessarily as David Walliams’s literal son, of course, but as a young entertainer who could grow into a beloved performer in his own right. In a world that often takes itself too seriously, Ellis’s audition was a reminder of the simple joy of being delightfully and unapologetically yourself onstage.
