X FACTOR star Jahmene Douglas might have thought he 'messed up' his performance on Saturday night’s show – but it seems the public didn’t agree as they voted him through to the next round of the competition.

The 21-year-old, who was working at Swindon’s Asda Walmart until July, rounded off the show, whose theme this week was guilty pleasures, with an uptempo R&B/disco classic, Don’t Leave Me This Way.

It seems nerves and possibly being the last of the six remaining acts to perform might have got the better of him as he admitted afterwards that he had 'messed up' when presenter Dermot O’Leary remarked he did not look over the moon.

However, the judges were again very complimentary, and the former New College student was all smiles on Sunday night’s results show when he realised his X Factor dream was still alive.

Judge Louie Walsh told him: “Jahmene Douglas, every week you do it. You are my favourite contestant by a mile in this competition.

"You have got to make the final, you have got so much soul. I’m hearing bits of Marvin Gaye, Al Green and Ray Charles. You are a born recording star, star quality, you’ve got it all.”

Fellow judge Tulisa said: “I noticed something new tonight to tell you about and that’s a change in you as a performer. The man standing in front of me isn’t the same person as auditions – in a good way, a brilliant way. I think you’ve found yourself in this competition as a human being.”

And his mentor Nicole Scherzinger told him: “I know that you were sick this week and you fought through it like you fight every week. I’m so proud of you.”

Earlier in the show Jahmene, who as a child suffered cruelty at the hands of his father, spoke to Nicole about the level of public support for him.

He said: “Since I have been on the show, people have been writing to me just telling me they get something from my strength, like I did from you and Jennifer [Hudson] and my mother. Hopefully, in time, with people believing in me, I will slowly start to believe in myself.”

Jahmene is now odds-on favourite to win the show following the shock departure of Ella Henderson last night.