It is safe to assume it will be the first and last time most will perform at the national stadium.

From the genuinely talented to the exhibitionist extroverts and the downright deluded, thousands of celebrity hopefuls packed Hampden Park yesterday for their shot at stardom as the television phenomenon that is the X Factor rolled into Glasgow.

In the bank holiday sun, blond and spiky-haired teenage boys in crisp white shirts and earrings belted out You Raise Me Up, latex and leather-clad 30-somethings warbled like wannabe Bonnie Tylers, and the old timer propping up the 10,000-strong queue with his bow tie and straw-boater was undecided whether to impress the judges with Arthur Askey or Frank Sinatra.

Some had queued from Sunday afternoon; others had travelled from the north of England. Most arrived several hours before the auditions got under way.

But many of those queuing in the hope of scooping the £1m recording contract and emulating the success of previous winners, including West Lothian's Leon Jackson or Leona Lewis, had a more pressing matter - today's Standard Grade English exam.

The X Factor's production team has come in for heavy criticism from some quarters of the teaching profession for scheduling the auditions at the start of the exam season.

Yesterday, many confessed to having other priorities this week. Among them were students from St Andrew's Academy in Paisley.

Cammie-Anne Harvey, 16, said: "I've got some exams but none tomorrow so I'm not too worried. And you could win." Friend Kevin, 15, said: "I've my English exam tomorrow but it's too nice a day. I wouldn't be studying anyhow."

Don't their parents mind? "No," said Lorna, 15. "My mum's up the front of the queue auditioning as well."

As they waited outside in Hampden's car park, many were polishing their karaoke standards: anything by LeAnn Rimes, Mariah Carey's Hero, and Black Velvet by Alannah Myles.

Almost everyone had a retort prepared for any put-down by the inimitable Mr Nasty, judge Simon Cowell.

Cowell and fellow judges Sharon Osbourne, Danni Minogue, and Louis Walsh, however, were not in town as show producers and A&R people from Sony BMG sifted through the first round of auditions in 14 black booths on Hampden's edges.

"You only get one shot at this," the producer charged with both instructing and whipping up the crowd warned once everyone had taken their seats inside the stadium. "And you may only get to sing a few bars. Please take it seriously."

Nadine Heltberg, 20, from Cumbernauld, came with a support team who certainly believed she had enough to impress the judges. "She's going to sing I'm Too Sexy 'cause that's what she is," said friend - and number one fan - Simona Sideri.

Nadine added: "I've definitely got a chance. I do karaoke in some of the bars in Cumbernauld and everyone loves it. There's a lot of competition, but someone has to get through."

Travel agent Lorna McColm had travelled from Girvan with her sister and two nieces. The 44-year-old said: "I'm going to do The Rose by Bette Middler. If Simon asks me why I'm doing this, I'll tell the truth: I've had just too many bottles of wine over the years."

Fellow hopeful James McGill, 22, said: "I think the judges know the world's waiting on another superstar coming from Cumbernauld. The Fratellis have done it, so it could be me next."

Emma Wright, from Edinburgh, chose Man Wanted from the musical Copacabana. She said: "I'm not too sure about the song. I'd normally do something a bit rockier. But if Simon says I'm through I'd drop my support analyst career like a hot potato." Best friend Robbie Hamilton added: "She'll make an impact. I can't be any more diplomatic than that."