'X Factor' Matt plays down favourite tag

Matt Cardle has tried to play down reports that he is the bookmakers' favourite to win The X Factor.

The ex-painter and decorator, who currently has odds of 11/4 to win the series, said that he is trying to ignore talk of him winning the competition, but admitted to being grateful for the support.

"It's nice to hear a bit of positivity from the bookies or whoever but I'm not taking it to heart," he told The Mirror.

Talking about fears that he may suffer the same fate as last year's early favourite Danyl Johnson, he told Metro: "The Danyl comparison has crossed my mind. There were certain other factors in what happened to Danyl. Whether that will happen to me I don’t know. I just have to do my best every week."

X Factor airs on Saturday at 7.40pm on ITV1.