X Factor: Alan Turner's tear-jerking sob story

The X Factor auditionees know they need a good sob story to get the attention of the producers. What chance is there of getting on screen or on the show if you can't get the viewers to release a few tears down their cheeks?

The best sob story last Saturday came from Alan Turner, 23, who told viewers he had been in foster care since he was four and added: "I want to get to know who my real family are. I'd just love it if they were to get in touch with me and to say they did want to see me.

"I know it sounds a bit corny but I just want a real family - to know my real mam and real dad and just for them to say we love you no matter what."

Unfortunately, for Alan his dad was watching last Saturday.

Alan Turner Snr said: "He has not been fostered. I have never signed any papers to have him fostered. I was sat watching The X Factor when my son came on. I was shocked because I'd no idea he was on the show.

"I was even more shocked when I heard him say he had been fostered and wanted to find out who his real mum and dad were. I only spoke to him five weeks ago.

"I don't want to make a big deal about this because I don't want to cause problems for him - but the fact is he has told a lie. He's made himself look a bit of a clot."

Once the deception was disclosed the story continued to run in the papers. Presumably, Alan Turner has got through boot camp and is awaiting a visit to one of the judges' houses. Otherwise it is unlikely X Factor executives would have made so much fuss once the story broke. An X Factor source said they would allow Turner to stay on the show. This presumably confirms he got through boot camp but ITV executives will probably have told X Factor producers by now that Turner must not appear on the live showdowns after this level of deception.

Assume he will be booted out in some exotic location overseas in the judges' houses week unless he is replaced before then.

Alan Turner now claims he got confused and had merely meant to say he did not know his parents as well as he would like as he spent part of childhood with his grandmother.

He said: "The emotion of the audition got to me. I didn't realise what I was saying would be taken that way. Please give me another chance. I'm not a bad person. I never meant to deceive anyone."

He told the show's producers: "Don't throw me off. I didn't mean to lie, honestly. I was a bit confused. I just want a proper relationship with my parents and didn't explain myself."

Alan Turner Snr explained that he split from his son's mother Debbie, when Alan Jnr was 18 months old, and that "gradually Alan began getting looked after more and more by his grandmother."

He added: "She was the lady on the TV with him, not his foster parent as it said."