[Arneldo]

Mirror

DISTRAUGHT X-Factor hopeful Shayne Ward is losing his voice - and is terrified it will lead to him getting the boot tonight.

The 21-year-old singer has spent the week battling a chest infection which has prevented him from practising his two songs properly.

He will attempt to perform Queen's Don't Stop Me Now and Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers.

But insiders have revealed he is devastated at the prospect of his bad throat wrecking his chances of making it through to the final.

One source said: "Shayne's song choices weren't finalised until Monday night and he's had a tough time trying to sing since then because his voice keeps letting him down.

"Anybody could go this week. He knows that it's all down to the songs and the performance on the night."

With his head in his hands, he said: "I can tell I'm straining. It's not too clever. My voice is really bad at the moment.


"I'm really worrying for Saturday because I really want to go out there and do the best I can with songs.


"I feel like pressure is coming upon me now.


"All I want to do is give my all and hope my throat is good in time." The Mancunian is competing for a place in next week's grand final with Andy Abraham, Brenda Edwards and Journey South.


Simon Cowell's duo Journey South will tonight perform Let It Be by The Beatles and Rod Stewart's You're In My Heart.


Binman Andy, Sharon Osbourne's act, will perform Bryan Adams' Everything I Do (I Do It For You) and Lately by Stevie Wonder.


Sharon's other singer Brenda Edwards will do Aretha Franklin's Respect and Mariah Carey's cover hit Without You, complete with a choir. Brenda said: "I can only imagine what Shayne is going through. I hope he gets his voice back."


But Shayne vowed he won't resort to getting his kit off like X Factor flop Chico to win votes.


He admitted: "I'm not going to start taking off my shirt until I go to the gym. Also, I don't like stripping off because I have tattoos on my arms."


Shayne said that he wishes the shamrock and leprechaun tattoos, which he had done a year ago, were somewhere else on his body.


Despite his illness, bookies Paddy Power yesterday had him in pole position to win the series at 4/6, with Andy as the favourite to leave tonight at 4/5.