A 20-YEAR-OLD Lancashire lad has won the final of Little Mix’s talent show with his band.

Patrick Ralphson, from Trawden, and his Since September bandmates —Jacob Fowler, Harry Holles and Matthew Nolan — are celebrating winning the BBC1 show Little Mix The Search where the girlband look for new talent to join them on tour.

The band were in the bottom two on Friday’s semi-final with New Priority, but were saved from leaving the show.

All votes on Sunday were made by the public, with Little Mix having no say on who would win the competition for the first time.

Lancashire Telegraph: Patrick, Molly, Dean and SallyPatrick, Molly, Dean and Sally

Patrick’s proud mum Molly said: “I knew that they would win, I just did not expect anything else when they were about to call the name.

“They were so amazing on Saturday and when they won, I did not stop screaming for ages.

“The phone has been going mental since with messages, comments and even neighbours have been ringing the bell and leaving bottles of Prosecco.”

Patrick, who has been studying German and Politics at the University of Manchester, learnt how to play a guitar with his dad in Burnley - who he says is his biggest influence.

He has been in a few other bands in the past, including his dad’s covers band, playing various styles of music.

His dad Dean, a software engineer, said: “I started playing the guitar when I was younger and hoped that having musical instruments lying around would inspire him.
“I like to play in cover bands on weekends playing classic rock and hoped he would feel inspired, and he did.

“We never had to ask him to practice because he wanted to do that anyway and if anything, we would tell him to stop sometimes.”

Patrick’s sister, Sally, age 21, did not pick up the music bug and studies psychology at Nottingham University but loves singing along to Taylor Swift songs.

Mrs Ralphson works at a local community hospice but, when she was younger, ran a business in musical instruments for children.

Patrick prefers being in a band to being solo and when he is not playing his guitar, he can be found playing and coaching hockey.

Since September have been busy with television interviews and are set to go home to their families for some well-earned rest after the show win.

The show’s host Chris Ramsey said: “Huge congrats to the lads.

“You’ll not meet a nicer bunch of boys in your life. Very well done!”
Missing from Saturday night's live final was Little Mix’s Jesy Nelson, who was unwell.