[Red Moon]

Eoghan a favourite to win as he makes X Factor final

Dungiven teenager Eoghan Quigg is one of the bookies’ favourites to win this year’s X Factor after winning a place in the competition’s final five.

The 16-year-old wowed the show’s judges on Saturday night with his version of Take That’s Never Forget. Thousands of viewers were also impressed with his show-closing number and voted him straight into next week’s show without having to face a sing-off.

Supporters in Dungiven watched with pride as he was seen working on his arrangement of the song with Take That stars Gary Barlow and Mark Owen. Both urged him to tackle the song’s high notes which he had previously been reluctant to.

He took their advice and hit the notes to great praise from the judges.

Young Eoghan jumped in the air and hugged his mentor Simon Cowell as his name was called out by X Factor host Dermot O’Leary during Saturday night’s results show.

The Co Londonderry lad is now second favourite with the bookies to win the show at 9-4, after Diana Vickers who is getting odds of 6-4.

Alexandra Burke was third favourite at 7-2, followed by JLS (6-1) and Ruth Lorenzo (12-1).

Rachel Hylton ended up being voted off by the judges on Saturday night after ending up in the bottom two with group JLS.

She later broke down in tears as she hit out at negative media coverage for cutting short her X Factor experience.

The 26-year-old soul singer said she felt “numb” about being kicked off the show.

Rachel, a former drug addict, said: “I really think it didn't matter about my performance. Bottom line is I feel I've been judged on my past the whole way through this competition. I wasn't given a chance.”

The mother-of-five from London burst into tears as she blamed the media for victimising her by digging up her criminal past, which had led to three of her children being taken into care.

She said: “I've been given a lot of negative press coverage. I just feel it was really unfair. I know I've taken drugs, I know I've committed crimes and I am sorry.

“I didn't mean to do them things. I've lost three kids and I'm nearly 27,” she added, sobbing.

“I'm sorry to cry, but I've got to live with that every single day of my life. My oldest son is 13 and I don't even know what his favourite colour is, that's embarrassing. It's not something I'm proud of.”

Rachel said she had no regrets about taking part in the ITV talent show, saying that it has helped her to sort her life out.

“Even if I never do anything again, at least I stood up, I sorted myself out. At least I've got two of my kids and I was brave enough to follow my dream no matter what anyone thinks.”

The singer said she felt sorry for her mentor Dannii Minogue on the Take That themed show after fellow judge Louis Walsh accused her of stealing a song from his group JLS.

She also apologised for making a gun gesture on last week's show, which sparked complaints to ITV and Ofcom.

Source: Belfast Telegraph