Simon slams 'X Factor' hopeful's "stupid" name

Simon Cowell has refused to call X Factor hopeful Storm Lee by his given name, telling him that it sounds "stupid".

Storm Lee Gardiner travelled from his current home in Los Angeles to appear at this year's Birmingham auditions.

"I have been trying to make it in this business for maybe 25 years," he says before his performance on tonight's X Factor. "Someone said lately, if you want to get hit by lightning, you have to stand in the rain. And I really believe that - I feel like I've been standing in the rain for 25 years."

After Storm tells the judges that he took "two planes, a bus and three taxis" to attend the try-outs, Simon asks: "What's your real name?" After giving his name again, Simon replies: "And that's your real name? The name you were born with? Seriously?"

"I changed it when I was 16," Storm explains. "Because I thought I wanted a stronger name that I picked, that had something to do with the character I wanted to be - which was a singer. So I thought a new name would help me do that."

As Storm performs 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' by U2, Simon sings along behind the desk. After he finishes, the judge says: "Cheryl's telling me off." Cheryl Cole chips in: "Well you can't call him Lee because you've decided you don't like his name."

Storm protests, saying: "[Lee]'s not my name - my legal name's Storm Lee Gardner." Unphased, Simon declares: "I'm not going to call you Storm anymore, because I think it's a stupid name."

"Would you say that to Elton John? That you wouldn't call him Elton because it's not his real name? Or Lady GaGa?" Storm Lee asks.

Simon frankly tells him: "I can't take you that seriously with calling you Storm and then trying to be a rock star, when it hasn't worked before and I don't think will work going forward."

The X Factor continues tonight at 7.30pm on ITV1.