X FACTOR heart-throb Sam Callahan will switch on the Christmas lights in Greenock’s shopping centre, the Tele can reveal.

The 20-year-old from Essex, who reached the live shows of last year’s competition, will do the honours in the Oak Mall on Saturday 8 November.

Sam, who was mentored by Louis Walsh, made it to week six of the show before being voted off by judges Gary Barlow, Nicole Scherzinger and Sharon Osbourne.

Since leaving the X Factor tour Sam has been performing non-stop to packed venues across the country and been in the studio to complete his debut album, which is planned for release next year.

Now his Inverclyde ‘Callafans’ will be hoping for a sneak preview of his new material when he performs live next month to kick-off the festive season with a Christmas cracker.

Thrilled Mall manager Claire Jefcoate told the Tele: “The Oak Mall is now preparing for Christmas, which kicks off on 8 November, and we are delighted to announce that Sam is switching on our lights.

“He will be supported by the Echo Girl Band — one member is from Greenock — and Santa will arrive on Saturday 15 November pulled by huskies in a sleigh.” Sam is the latest in a long line of X Factor stars to visit Inverclyde.

Previous contestants Lucie Jones, Melanie Masson and Lloyd Daniels have all made appearances town.

Exactly 12 months ago, contestant Jade Richards, who is from Fife and narrowly missed out on making it into the final 12 of the 2013 competition, visited the Mall to perform in front of a packed crowd.

And earlier this year, fellow Scot Nicholas McDonald, the 2013 X Factor runner-up, was the star attraction at a concert to celebrate the visit of the Queen’s Baton Relay to the area ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

Nicky was back in town again a short time later, raising the roof off Greenock Town Hall in front of more than 500 excited youngsters during a charity event.