X Factor finalist Luke Friend plans to visit his old stage school in Shipley in the New Year, when he returns to Yorkshire on a mini tour.
The singer, who came third in X Factor, has been enjoying a Christmas break with his family in Devon following a hectic few months which ended with him reaching the final of the ITV show.
Luke, 17, who attended the Debut Theatre School of Performing Arts in Shipley as a child, sent a mesage of thanks to the Telegraph & Argus and all the Bradford people who supported him through the show.
His father, Steve Friend, told the T&A: “We want to say a huge thank you to the T&A and to everyone who voted for Luke. He is thrilled with all the support from Bradford.
“In the end he was really pleased to come third.
“For the type of performer he is – a singer/songwriter with his own style – it was the best result because it means he won’t be moulded into something he isn’t.
“He’s going to keep on writing songs and singing, we’ve been looking at various record contracts.”
Mr Friend said Luke was embarking on a mini tour with X Factor winner Sam Bailey, which will come to Harrogate in January prior to the X Factor arena tour later in the month.
“He wants to go back to Debut in Shipley and meet up with his old friends there, to thank them for all their support,” added Mr Friend.
Luke, a former pupil of Beckfoot School in Bingley, moved with his family to Devon four years ago.
He was a pupil at Debut Theatre School of Performing Arts for several years.
Principal Jacqui Drake said: “Everyone at Debut is so proud of him. He really has the ‘X factor’ because he stands out.
“He's a singer-songwriter with his own style."