"Published on Friday 22 August 2008 15:02 A chip shop worker is hoping for X Factor success to make her days behind the fryer a thing of the past. And Darley Dale singer Maria Theodoulou moved one step closer to her dream this week when her band Chaos qualified for the 'Boot Camp' stage of the television talent competition. Chaos have so far avoided the wrath of Simon Cowell and received glittering praise from Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole. Maria said: "Definitely it's been an amazing experience to have got through to Boot Camp. "We were shown on television last Saturday and the judges all liked us," she said. Maria, 22, has worked at her family's Darley Dale Fish Bar since she was a teenager and still does shifts when home from university. Maria said: "I hate working at the fish bar. I've worked there for years, but have never liked it." Proud mum Christine Theodoulou said Maria had always loved singing since she was at St Joseph's Primary School in Matlock. Christine was thrilled with the band's success so far and was willing Maria and her three band-mates to win. But she added her daughter would always be welcomed back to work in Darley Dale, regardless of what happened with the band. Christine said: "Maria doesn't like going in for work in the fish bar but once she gets in she likes it and gets on well with the customers. "She's away on holiday this week but could be back working next week," she said. It has been a nerve-wracking experience for the family, who have supported Maria from the early stages of the competition. Christine said: "We've sat outside the auditions and it's been very exciting – there are some very good groups in it this year. "Cheryl said they were fab, Louis said they were really talented and even Simon held back. He said they reminded him of Girl's Aloud." Former St Elphin's School student Maria is studying marketing and drama at Manchester Metropolitan University"
Reprinted by kind permission of Matlock Mercury |
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