Budgie audition puts Mr Nasty in a flap

- 19 April 2007

AN ENTERTAINER who auditioned for X Factor Simon Cowell says TV's Mr Nasty must have a soft spot - because one of his performing budgies loved him.

Don Crown, known as Budgieman, has a cult following singing with his birds on London's south bank and has released a CD of his tunes. He has also been a hit on the internet.

Mr Crown, 53, was hoping to get his big break at the Britain's Got Talent auditions.

The event cost him more than he had anticipated. He had to pay £120 for a performing animal licence from Barking and Dagenham Council, but the audition went as well as could be expected with Cowell judging it.

Mr Crown, of Dagenham said: "Cowell wasn't giving anybody a chance, but he picked on the wrong person with Budgieman.

"He said 'get off', but I said 'give me a chance' and warned him the birds would mess on him.

"But one of the budgies sat on his finger. His name was David, but I've changed his name to Simon the Diamond now.

"That bird never likes to sit on anyone's finger, but he saw something in Simon that we don't see. I had a very good interview with Ant and Dec afterwards."

The show is due to be aired on ITV1 in the summer.