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X Factor wild child Frankie Cocozza gave the family-friendly show an injection of drama when he appeared - and then was unceremoniously booted off - more than a decade ago. The star, now 32, was just a teenager when he first auditioned for the ITV programme and instantly caught the attention of Gary Barlow , earning his spot in the live rounds within the Boys category for young male soloists. He wasn't a run-of-the-mill star, with the names of no fewer than seven former conquests tattooed on his bum, and many still remember him wheeling about the X Factor stage in super-tight jeans and long shaggy hair - as well as for his, erm, expected exit from the show. The 18-year-old's journey was abruptly ended when Frankie departed the contest for rule violations, with him later admitting that his lifestyle had spiralled "out of control" whilst taking part in the programme. However, it didn't halt his reality TV career, with funtime Frankie going onto appear in the 2012 series of Celebrity Big Brother , where he was runner-up behind winner Denise Welch . While he hasn't appeared on UK telly for years, he remains active in music when his duties as a parent allow. Now aged 32, Frankie's left his hell-raising teenage antics behind him and is devoted to his young old son, also called Frankie, whom he shares with Bianca Murphy. The couple wed in a Brighton celebration in 2018 after initially meeting on Celebs Go Dating, though they separated four years afterwards. Frankie later discovered romance again with a woman named Emma, who frequently appears across his social media posts. However, it's arguably Frankie's dramatic transformation that has left fans most gobsmacked. The reality personality has been flaunting his extensive collection of tattoos on social platforms, alongside his impressively sculpted frame. To complete his makeover, Frankie has swapped his trademark curly locks for a sharper, more refined style. He is still followed by fans from his X Factor and UK telly days, with one remarking: "Bloody hell I thought you were Robbie Williams!" Another begged the star, whose singles include Catastrophic Casanova and She's Got a Motorcycle: "Frankie start singing again please mate." Numerous followers drew comparisons between him and ex-Take That frontman Robbie, with one saying: "Thought this was an old pic of @robbiewilliams." Frankie, who was studying at the time he appeared on The X Factor , performed Valerie by Amy Winehouse, after admitting he'd only auditioned to "get girls." He also shocked N-Dubz and I'm A Celeb star Tulisa Contostavlos by explaining he'd had seven girls' names inked on his bottom.
