IF Laura White can’t win The X Factor I really hope Londoner Alexandra Burke does.

The 20 year-old — like Laura from Atherton who was voted off far too early for such a good performer — Alexandra actually has an amazing voice and knows how to use it.

She has no professional vocal training, but was taught to sing by her mum who was in the group Soul II Soul and has been singing since she was five. She got through to the judges’ house section of The X Factor in 2005, but mentor Louis Walsh thought she was too young and she was sent home.

She has continued her performing since then, singing more recently with Young Voices, a charity raising money for children with leukaemia which has appeared at a variety of prestigious venues, including the Royal Albert Hall and the MEN Arena.

When Leona Lewis won she not only showed the wealth of undiscovered talent in the UK, but gave the programme extra validity as a showcase for real singing.

If Alexandra, now in the semi-finals, did actually win, it would show the nation’s hopefuls that it’s not enough to go on a huge talent show like this with a so-so voice and expect stardom. It takes something special as well as good vocals to rock the rafters — and Alex has it all.