Emma Johnson meets the X-Factor finalist who has his sights set firmly on global domination

Of course X-Factor was not Ray's first taste of fame.
 
When he was just 12, he reduced viewers to tears with his portrayal of Anthony Murray, a bullied schoolboy driven to murder in Brookside.
 
His performance even won him a Soap Award in 2002 for Best Dramatic Performance. That must seem like a million years ago now, though.
 
"It does," says Ray. "But the memory is still strong. I loved Brookside and that was a great stepping stone for me. It set me up for the future.
 
"It put my mindset right and I am proud to have been able to share in what a great programme that was."
 
Showbusiness, it seems, has long been in Ray's blood.
 
"I have always been the entertainer, dancing in front of the telly grabbing the comb and pretending I was Elvis."
 
Ray's mum Val (who queued up in the early hours for the first auditions at X-Factor with Ray's aunty) and dad, a retired carpet fitter also called Ray, have supported him on his journey to musical stardom.
 
"They are really excited about actually being able to go into a shop and purchase my album, which will be really weird," says Ray.

His girlfriend, 19-year-old Kirsty McInerney, who joined Ray for a few days in LA when Ray was recording, is also having to get used to being on the arm of a celebrity.