There’s nothing much to joke about this time as the Canberra resident, singing artist, business owner and family man will feature tonight,  Wednesday, at  7.30pm on “The X Factor” with Ronan Keating, Kylie Minogue, Redfoo and Natalie Basinghthwaite.

McCallum completed a successful audition on this year’s “X Factor” before an audience and the all-star judging panel. David is now through to the “Boot Camp” series.

Back in 2011 McCallum was devastated when Keating told him to “get off the stage coz I can’t stand the sight of him”.

“When Ronan said those words to me I was devastated, but in hindsight, he has helped me become a better singer and performer because he was right – I was too much… too over the top,” McCallum now admits.

After two years of improving his performance through getting fit, singing practice, gigs, and psychological counselling, as well as playing  Jesus in “Jesus Christ Superstar”, for which he won a Canberra Critics Circle award, he returned to face the ferocious Keating and the judging panel, with a different outcome.

When he  walked on stage this time to sing Pink’s song “Try”,  McCallum tells  “CityNews”:  “I told him [Keating] he had changed my life, so I think he was keen for me to do well this time.”

“The X Factor,” Channel 7, 7.30pm tonight, Wednesday, July 31.