Not many people can draw comparisons between themselves and Simon Cowell, let alone anyone not yet a teenager.

But a St Albans schoolboy now has reason to compare himself to the media mogul after playing a 12-year-old version of him in new stage smash I Can’t Sing: The X Factor Musical at the London Palladium.

Fin Banks wowed a star-studded audience on the opening night of the Harry Hill-written musical, including Jennifer Saunders, Andrew Lloyd Webber and the X-Factor creator himself.

His opening number, called If That’s Not Entertainment, tells of how a young Simon plots to take over the world of entertainment with his idea for a now infamous talent show.

The fledgling star, of Verulam secondary school, said: “This is an amazing show and I can’t believe I am a part of it.

“Harry Hill is brilliant and really friendly and so are the cast.

“The show is the funniest thing I have seen.

“My opening number is pretty cool too. The audiences have loved it so far and I am really enjoying every minute.”

Warren Bacci, director of Fin’s St Albans-based talent agency Top Talent said: “The show has got fantastic reviews and we are very proud of his achievements and cannot wait to see him in it.”