Axed Daniel accuses 'X Factor' of conspiracy

Axed hopeful Daniel De Bourg has claimed that he is the victim of an X Factor conspiracy after his song choice was changed just 18 hours before Saturday's live show.

De Bourg, who was eliminated from the ITV1 singing contest after failing to impress the viewers with his version of The Foundations' 'Build Me Up Buttercup', revealed that he had originally intended to sing Prince's 'When Doves Cry' on Saturday.

"Brian Friedman had my whole 'When Doves Cry' routine choreographed - he'd hired the dancers and I was going to close the show this week, and then suddenly at 12am on Saturday I was given a CD of bloody 'Build Me Up Buttercup'," he told DS.

De Bourg admitted that he's unsure who instructed him to sing 'Build Me Up Buttercup', a song that failed to capitalise on the soulful tone of his voice, but he speculated that Simon Cowell might have played a role in his downfall.

"I don't trust Simon because it's his show. I think he may have had something to do with that song choice," he alleged. "I think he's out there to protect his acts and I know that he's seen me as a threat before. Who knows where that song choice came from? But it's Simon's show - remember that. I'm not saying Simon chose it, because I don't know."