Danyl Johnson has told how he struggled to live up to expectations after Simon Cowell hailed his first audition as the best he had ever seen. (Story taken from The Press Association)

The 27-year-old drama teacher from Reading - who was voted off the show on Sunday - was tipped to win before it had even aired on ITV after the high praise and audience standing ovation he received for his rendition of The Beatles With A Little Help From My Friends in his audition, and compared the hype surrounding him to that of Britain's Got Talent superstar and current chart-topper Susan Boyle.

Danyl said: "It was only a disadvantage towards me - I had to beat that performance."

He went on: "It was a bit like when Susan (Boyle) - and I'm not comparing it in any way - but it's a bit like when Susan did her audition. The first time it's easier to wow.

"You're always going to be up against that performance, it's just so over-hyped."

Danyl admitted he was "really gutted" to have got as far as the semi-final and not win the show, but insisted he was looking on the positive side.

He said: "I'm obviously really gutted because we get this far in the competition and you're one space away from being in the final and then you've got to go home.

"But it's nothing to be ashamed of being fourth place and I've really had a really good time, I've had a bad time as well, but I've had more good times. And Diana Vickers came fourth last year and she's doing really good right now so you've got to be happy with that."

And speaking to the Daily Mail, Danyl said he would be voting for 'underdog' Olly Murs in this weekend's final. (Following story taken from http://www.dailymail.co.uk)

He added said that he was happy dating men or women and insisted that he did not have a relationship with a fellow contestant, despite internet rumours.

There was also speculation he and Stacey Solomon had a huge argument during their time in the X Factor contestants’ house in Barnet, North London, with Mr Johnson accused of bullying the single mother from Dagenham, Essex.

But, yesterday, Mr Johnson insisted: 'There might have been speculation about fights but it just wasn’t true. Stacey and I would laugh about it. It was funny.

'And if I had been a bully or anything like that I would have been kicked out by X Factor bosses because they certainly wouldn’t have stood for it.'

Rumour-mongers have speculated for weeks that some people in the X Factor house may have been involved in romances.

There were also allegations about pornography being viewed.

But Mr Johnson – a drama teacher from Arborfield, Berkshire -  said that was not the case and insisted there were not any intimate relations in the house.

He said: 'There were no romances in the house. Everyone just got on really well. We were all like brothers and sisters.'

'We got on, so, so well. Jamie Archer was one of my best friends and, obviously, I knew Olly from Boot Camp.'

'Lucie Evans just phoned me and said she was really upset that I’d been voted off. And everyone got on with Lloyd Daniels. He was a really nice guy.'

Mr Johnson, 27, controversially, faced jibes over his sexuality from judge Dannii Minogue early on in the series. And some TV observers felt his sexuality may have harmed his chances of winning the series.

But Mr Johnson said: 'I’m not ashamed about it [his bisexuality] at all. I don’t think anyone should be ashamed about their sexuality.'

Explaining his bisexuality, Mr Johnson insisted he does not have a particular preference for either gender, saying:  'You fall in love with the soul – and that’s it.'

He continued: 'I’m single at the moment. I’ve got no time for a relationship. At the moment, I’m just going to focus on my career. After all I’ve just been kicked out of a show.'

Mr Johnson was the early favourite for this year’s X Factor crown but, despite his disappointment, was still pleased to have come fourth.

He said: 'I’m lucky to have come fourth.  Each week’s someone’s got to go and unfortunately this week it was me.
'Of course, no one wants to go out in the semi-final but I’m really glad that Olly got the chance to go through to the final because he burst into tears and he really wanted to be there.

'So I’ll be voting Olly next weekend – and  I think he will win.
'He’s the underdog and while everyone’s giving the title to Joe at the moment I just think either Olly – or Stacey - could pip him to the post. That’s what’s so great about this year’s competition. It’s so open.'

Mr Johnson attracted extreme reactions when he was in the show. Many observers thought he had the best voice – but others felt he was too arrogant.

As a result, the public’s attitude to him switched one way and then the other. Yesterday, he admitted he was like Marmite which, as the slogan explains, people either love or hate.

He said: 'I had a really good press at the beginning of the series and then a lot of bad press so I’m kind of one of those characters you either love or you hate. I am quite like Marmite like that.'

I know myself and I’m confident. I’m a teacher so I have to appear confident when I go into a classroom.

'But I’m in no way arrogant – you can like me or hate me. And that’s how the public saw me.'

Now Mr Johnson is preparing for the X Factor tour in the New Year and, he hopes, a record deal in the future - although he has to wait for up to three months before he finds out from X Factor Svengali Simon Cowell.

He said: 'I just want to go out there and sing. I’d make a record if I get the chance – but I don’t have a deal lined up at the moment. And nobody should have a deal before the winner.

'But, for now, I’m just looking forward to getting out on the tour because we’ve sold 54 dates.'

He also gave his verdict on why the show has been such a success this year, with audience figures topping 16 million viewers on occasion during the series.

He believes, the huge ratings are the result of  X Factor Svengali Simon Cowell’s decision to replace the ‘closed’ early audition with live-audience first rounds.

According to Mr Johnson, this  resulted in more fans building up an early loyalty to contestants – because they had seen them live.

He said: 'I had loads of people from the beginning saying they saw my first audition live – and had been backing me since. And I wasn’t the only contestant. It really built up loyalty towards us.

'So I think it’s down to Simon’s idea to introduce the open audition. As a result, thousands of people bought into us from the beginning because it was the public choosing as well as the judges.

Finally, in another story taken from The Sun (http://www.thesun.co.uk), we now hear that Simon Cowell is eager to sign him up for a record deal.

And other labels are also taking a keen interest in the drama teacher - comparing him to Jamiroquai.

Show judge and Syco music label guru Simon admitted: "Singers like him do not disappear. I would just say, 'Watch this space'."

Danyl, 27 - who is also set to cash in to the tune of £150,000 with personal appearances and the X Factor tour - hopes to have an album out next year.

He said: "I want to have a record out there - that's my dream. I just want to go into the recording studio and work with some great producers, make a good album.

"Because I think that's what we need out there - a really, really, really good album."

You heard it here first. Tonight on X-Factor Danyl Johnson will only be singing another classic female song!

Talking about tonights choice of song, Danyl said "This is divas week and it's gonna be hard. And I think it'll be the fifth time I've sung a girl's song." - "But I'm looking forward to it. I have a ballad and there'll be a big note in there somewhere, if Simon Cowell has his way. I can't wait."

Lets hope he pulls it off again!

Also on tonights live show, Olly Murs will is ready to impress the audience with his dancing skills...

Olly said: "Dancewise, anything I've ever done is off the cuff. I have never rehearsed anything in my life. The stuff you have seen is from me watching Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake and just putting my own thing on it."

Danyl, who is still the favourite to win, is currently at 3/1, with Lucie Jones close behind, followed by Joseph McElderry and Stacey Solomon. Olly Murs is currently 6th favourite behind Jamie Archer.

After Saturday nights fantastic perfomance from Danyl Johnson, the odds have now been shortened on Danyl winning this years X-Factor. Betfair no make him 7/2 to win, quite probably due to him winning some sympathy from the public after Danii's comments on Saturday night.

Performing a Jennifer Hudson track - "I'm telling you", (which you might have seen performed at bootcamp by a few other contestants, Danyl got a huge cheer from the audience but the response he received from Danii was not what he expected. Danii made a sly dig about his sexuality, though she later said nothing bad was meant - and that it was just an off-the-cuff remark. Danyl seemed quite upset by the comment though, and this may have been the turning point in his competition future as the public were firmly on his side.

Lucie Jones and Stacey Soloman are second and third favourites behind Danyl (9/2 and 5/1 respectively), with both putting in well received performances.

What will Danyl be singing this weekend? We expect he'll sing a strong traditionally male vocal, and don't be surprised if he's made an even stronger favourite to win the competition.