'X Factor' runner-up Andy Abraham has returned to binman job

Andy Abraham, the singer who found fame as a runner-up on The X Factor, has returned to his pre-fame job as a binman.

The 56-year-old was in the refuse industry when he auditioned for the 2005 series, earning him the nickname the ‘Singing Binman'.

Abraham told Metro.co.uk that he made the decision in order to help the community and to keep himself busy amid the lack of live work available for those in the entertainment industry due to the pandemic.

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He shared with the publication: "I’m literally singing out there as I was during the X Factor show. I’m back to being the official singing binman, which is kind of cool. I’m just enjoying keeping my feet on the ground."

"People are very, very encouraging, they’re really, really happy to see us. I’ve even had people asking me to sing! I have been singing out there and that’s been fun. It kind of makes [people] realise the voice I had back in the day and why they supported me," Abraham added.

He narrowly lost out on winning Simon Cowell's series when he came in second to Shayne Ward.

Following his stint on the reality show, Abraham released four albums from 2006 to 2008, with his first album entering the UK charts at number two.

He also was the UK's entry into the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest, where he came in last place.

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Abraham was declared bankrupt in 2012 and battled depression for a number of years.

In recent years, he has performed in several pantomimes and continued to work as an event singer.

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