He was last years hopeful on the X Factor but Frankie Cocozza has talked out about the time when his best friend died.

Frankie is now said to be turning his life around after he the death of his best friend that gave him a wake up call and a pep talk with X Factor judge Gary Barlow.

In an interview with  Reveal magazine, Frankie said:

‘I was in Scotland and woke up to find 175 missed calls on my phone. It was 8am and I was still pissed from the night before.

‘I knew he wasn’t going to make it and travelled straight back to Brighton, but didn’t manage to see Connor before he passed away.’

‘After he died, I went mental. I blew £28,000 in one month buying bottles upon bottles of booze for my mates.

‘We were all in a bad way and didn’t know how else to deal with it.

‘Four weeks later my Auntie Toni – who looks after my finances – told me my bank statement was just a list of clubs.

‘I’d spent £4,000 a night, and she asked: ‘What are you doing to yourself?’ I realised I’d end up on the dole if I didn’t sort it out.’

Frankie got some wise words from Gary Barlow who got him to change his ways after his best friend died:

‘He came round for a cup of tea and told me to focus on the music,’