WHEN a unknown talented singer walked through the doors of a Suffolk recording studio, little did anyone know that just over a year later he would adored by millions and be crowned the winner of X-Factor.

Richard Clark, owner of the The Shrubbery Recording Studio in Eastern Way, Bury St Edmunds, has been following the success of Matt Cardle since he popped up on the ITV show’s audition stage screened earlier this year.

Last week it was revealed he won the top spot after securing the public vote, and has also been given a recording contract.

Matt, from Little Maplestead, in north Essex, recorded a three-track demo at the studio with his band Darwyn, which wound down over a year ago.

Richard, 31, said: “He seemed like a very nice lad. The reason he came into the studio was we got chatting in a bar in the town – Bar 3 before it changed to The Gym – and we were introduced through a mutual acquaintance.

“And we got chatting and booked out the studio and came in for a day and did a demo. Little did I know.”

Richard, who lives in Eastgate Street, Bury, said he was very impressed with Matt’s singing and guitar playing.

He added: “You don’t think to yourself one day they will be massively known – winning the X-Factor. It’s nice for someone to win the X-Factor who is actually musically talented.” Richard, who voted for Matt to win, said he had never really watched the show until the last series, when he spotted Matt on TV during the auditions.

He added that talent contests like the X-Factor are helping his business as a few people have approached him about making demos for competitions.

“It is definitely a growing business because of the X-Factor, to be honest,” he said. “People watch the X-Factor and want to do things like that.”

Alistair McMillan, who was a band-mate in Darwyn, said: “He’s [Matt’s] a great friend and an amazing singer.

“I always knew that and even when we started with the band the reactions we got at our first gig at High Barn [at Great Bardfield, Essex] were great and everyone was going on about Matt’s vocals.” He added: “When Matt and I were doing covers everyone was saying ‘you should do the X-Factor’ and we said ‘no, it’s not the route we want to go down’.”

Alistair, who works as a performing arts technician at Sudbury Upper School, said Matt had not actually applied for the X-Factor himself – someone sent a video of him to the online auditions.

The 27-year-old, from Newton, near Sudbury, said he hoped him and Matt, who performed together at the opening of LP bar and club in Bury, would get back together in the future.

Darwyn’s myspace page is still available.