Steven Desmond Brookstein, born on November 10, 1968, in Dulwich, London, England, is a singer known for his work in jazz and jazz pop. His breakthrough moment came when he won the first series of The X Factor in 2004. Brookstein's journey on the show was marked by an initial lack of confidence that led to mixed reactions from judges Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh. However, Simon Cowell saw potential in him and helped him advance through the competition. He reached the grand final on December 11, 2004, alongside G4, and ultimately won despite mixing up words and lines in his winner's song. Following his victory, Brookstein was signed to Sony BMG and released his debut single "Against All Odds" on December 20, 2004. The song debuted at Number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and climbed to Number 1 on January 2, 2005, outperforming Phil Collins' original version. His debut album, Heart and Soul, was released on May 9, 2005, and achieved gold status in the UK. Brookstein continued his career with subsequent albums, including 40,000 Things (2006) and Forgotten Man (2014). He also ventured into musical theater, appearing in productions such as Our House.
