The Spice Girls’ Mel B called X Factor star Mitchell Callaway ‘so sexy’ in a gushing TV appearance – years before he was charged with the murder of a nine-month-old baby girl.
The TV show contestant, 37, remains behind bars, bail has been denied, after he was arrested in Bowraville on the NSW north coast in early June for the alleged murder of the baby girl he about five years ago.
Now footage has surfaced of Callaway auditioning for the reality TV series’ third series in 2011, where Scary Spice served as a judge alongside Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Ronan Keating.
Callaway, then a 25-year-old country music singer, took the stage to perform Keith Urban’s hit Tonight I Want to Cry.
Timidly keeping his head down, the concreter admitted he was ‘nervous’ before impressing the crowd and the jury with the melody.
Mitchell Callaway is pictured performing on X Factor Australia in 2011
Mel B described Callaway’s ‘shy’ demeanor and song choice as ‘sexy’
After lowering the microphone, Mel B said Callaway’s behavior caught the attention of every woman in the room.
‘Wow. You’re shy, which is really sexy. You sing about crying, which is even sexier – and you can sing!’ she says.
‘From me and every woman in this room, that’s a big yes!’
Meanwhile, Bassingthwaighte described Callaway as ‘raw talent’ while Keating said ‘the world needs a tattooed country star’ and the ‘connection of the performer to the song’ was such a thing. “so hard to find”.
The singer was mentored by Bassingthwaighte and placed 7th in the competition after being kicked out in week six after failing to outperform compatriot Johnny Ruffo.
Callaway was arrested earlier this month after a five-year investigation into the baby girl’s death.
Callaway, 37, is pictured being arrested at a home in Bowraville, central west NSW, at around 9.45am on June 8.
Police will allege Callaway murdered the little girl (pictured) in 2018
On July 23, 2018, emergency services were called to a home in Binnaway following reports that the infant was unresponsive.
The little girl was rushed to Coonabarabran Hospital where she died shortly after despite the efforts of staff and paramedics.
After receiving new information, officers investigating the baby’s death executed a search warrant at a home in Binnaway, in the state’s midwest, on May 31.
After further investigations, detectives working under Strike Force King arrested and charged Callaway.
He was denied bail at Coffs Harbor Local Court earlier this month and the case is still in court.
Mel B was brought in to judge X Factor Australia in 2011, replacing Kyle Sandilands. She is pictured at the Men Pride of Manchester Awards in May 2022
In footage taken from his audition, Callaway described himself as a “country boy” who grew up on a bike farm.
He revealed that a near-death experience was the motivation behind his decision to pursue a singing career.
“July last year (2010) I was playing football. In a tackle I broke my place in three places and almost died and had to wake up a lot,” he said. he declares.
‘When I was lying there in bed, [and] couldn’t move, I started thinking about what I wanted to do with my life and I like to sing and I didn’t really try or try very hard.
‘So here I am.’
Callaway is due to appear in Dubbo Local Court on August 17.