Singer says reaction to parody song tops X Factor

Leon Mallett is back with a new parody song, this time related to Suffolk

A singer who went viral with a parody song dedicated to his hometown said the reaction had been more positive than his stint on The X Factor.

Leon Mallett, 30, from Lingwood, near Norwich, became known as East Anglian Boy when his song based on Estelle's American Boy was viewed millions of times last year.

Mallett is now releasing a new Suffolk-based song in celebration of Beccles Carnival, a parody this time of TLC's song, No Scrubs.

Mallett said he had enjoyed expanding his knowledge of the region, and he had mainly received positive feedback.

Mallett appeared on The X Factor in 2017 and said he had learnt a lot from the experience

"Ninety-nine per cent [of the reaction] is amazing," he explained.

"Compared to when I was on The X Factor seven years ago, it was more like 50/50 then.

"There were a lot of things being said online, good and bad, but now it's completely the other way; it's so positive.

"Sometimes it's a lot to get your head around... but in terms of how much I appreciate it and how amazing it is, it's really special."

He continued: "I'm not Ed Sheeran, but it is at the point now where everywhere I go, people stop me and talk to me about my songs.

"It's blown my mind that that even happens."

Mallett appeared on ITV's The X Factor in 2017 and got as far as the live shows.

He said since then his career had gone from "strength to strength".

Mallett's parody cover of American Boy has been viewed online millions of times

The singer said across all his platforms, he was now sitting at slightly over 50 million views.

"There are people, when I look at my analytics online, it's more than just even England, there are people worldwide listening to some things now," he continued.

"I'm proud of the area I'm from, and people are quite fast to put it down when you're from here, but when you go around the rest of the country, you do realise how special this place is."

The singer was approached by Beccles Carnival and paid to create a new parody song related to the event and town.

Mallett will perform the song during the event on Saturday and will be filming a music video over the weekend around the town.

He said he would potentially look at doing one other Suffolk-based song and maybe look at writing some for Essex in the future.