BARNSLEY singer Jake EB has already impressed music mogul Simon Cowell once but he’s now been given a second opportunity after flying out to Miami to take part in Netflix’s latest boyband show.

Many locals will have seen the 18-year-old performing across the town but his stock is set to rise even higher after being named as one of the top 16 boys to appear on the show ‘Simon Cowell: The Next Act’.

The man behind The X Factor has launched the careers of numerous chart-topping bands from One Direction to Little Mix and Jake is hoping to be the next man to take that step.

He told the Chronicle: “Me and my mum scour the internet for pubs where I can potentially get some bookings.

“As she was doing that she just happened to fall on an advert that said Simon was putting a boy band together.

“The actual audition was two years ago and there was a lot of waiting, a lot of holding my water about it, but we flew out to Miami in February.”

It’s not the first time Jake has performed in front of Simon after Barnsley Youth Choir were put through to the next round of Britain’s Got Talent in 2022.

He added: “It was a different experience on Britain’s Got Talent because even though I was front row you couldn’t see him face-to-face.

“But in Miami I was sat shoulder-to-shoulder with him on several occasions.

“He’s such a lovely guy and I had the best experience.”

Contestants in the show hail from across Europe but Jake says he flew the Barnsley flag loud and proud.

“When they reveal who’s going to Miami I introduce myself and go ‘my name’s Jake and I’m a proud Barnsley lad’.

“I’m flying the Barnsley flag high.”