HE may already be Swindon’s favourite but now X Factor starlet Jahmene Douglas is becoming the bookies’ favourite to win the TV talent show.

The 21-year-old’s fame reached new heights after he made it through to the live finals but his stock has always been high in his home town of Wroughton.

This week youngsters at Wroughton Junior School donned cut-out Jahmene masks and sang gospel songs during a singing assembly to show their unwavering support for the star.

Deputy head Andrew Beadnell said: “The kids are really excited about the fact he is from Wroughton and there is a buzz about it.

“Some of the parents had the idea to do something for Jahmene and so we printed out pictures of his face and made them into masks for the kids.

“He’s clearly very talented and we all think he should win.”

The latest odds, on odds comparison site Oddschecker.com, show the Swindon Talent 2010 winner started as a outside chance but now is rated among the favourites to win the sought-after recording deal.

After his first audition, Jahmene was rated 12/1, and following his confirmation as one of three in Nicole Scherzinger’s boys category his odds shortened to 13/2.

Impressive performances in the live shows meant Jahmene’s odds were cut again and he was installed as joint-favourite with Ella Henderson at 7/2 ahead of last week’s show. Now, ahead of week four, he is rated second favourite at 6/1 with the bookmakers.

But the former New College student said he was not completely happy with his latest live performance, in which he was visibly nervous and broke down in tears shortly afterwards.

“I thought I could’ve done a lot better. In fact, I thought I was awful,” he told X-Factor.com.

This week he also said he has performed for Hollywood superstar Samuel L Jackson at a charity event and revealed what he would do on a first date.

Jahmene said: “I’m going to start calling him Uncle Samuel. He came over and offered me his seat. He was very down-to-earth and it was an honour to perform for him. It was in aid of a charity he supports called Shooting Stars.

“It would be nice [to start dating]. I’m shy though. If I were to meet that special somebody, I’d whisk them away for a weekend travelling.

“We’d dine out, go for long walks, sight-see and talk for hours. I’d want to really build on a friendship first before thinking of anything else.”

  • See Jahmene on the ITV show from 8.20pm tomorrow.