UK Edition
Feeds
How are you feeling today?
"I'm just coming to terms with it all. I'm really happy about where I came in the competition, and it took a lot to get that far, so I just feel really lucky."
Do you think singing first on Saturday put you at a disadvantage?
"I don't think it's anything to do with that. Obviously if you're first you're going to be forgotten as the performances go along, so you have to pull off something pretty special, but I preferred going first because you get it over and done with."
Dannii said the song's lyrics were "too old" for you. Were you happy with the song choice?
"Yeah, I was very happy with my song choice. Simon's delivered really good song choices over the last two weeks following the fiasco that was 'Yeh Yeh'."
How did you feel about 'Yeh Yeh' at the time?
"I felt like Simon had let me down as a mentor but I still had to put all of my trust into him and he really delivered for me the last two weeks. At least I've come out of The X Factor with two great performances, and I was happy with my survival song too, so I've got no regrets."
What's Simon like as a mentor?
"He's a really, really good bloke and a really good mentor. He'd always talk me through the song and advise me how to sing it. He gave me some really valuable advice after I got voted off on Saturday too. He said, 'Just keep going and get your face out there. This isn't the end for you, it's the beginning'."
There have been rumours in the papers that you don't get on with Austin. Is there any truth to that?
"It's all rumours. The journalist wrote that me and Austin had a fight over who got to wear a suit but then neither of us wore one on that week's live show. As far as me and him having to be held back because we were going to punch holes out of each other, it's just not true. Me and Austin are really good friends actually. We had a clash at Boot Camp but it lasted for all of five minutes."
What happened at Boot Camp?
"I misunderstood him. I thought he was taking the mick out of one of my friends at Boot Camp. I went up to him, asked him about it, he explained and that was it. I think he's a really nice bloke."
You've also been the subject of a couple of "kiss and tell" stories. How do you feel about that?
"Some of the things that were said about me proper shocked me - those girls have got no shame. After the first story came out, I was absolutely devastated and it really got me down. Just as I was getting used to the story being out there, another ex capitalised on the first story that was sold and decided to sell one herself. She got money for it and she's taking her family to Florida next month - thanks very much."
You quit your job as a Pontin's Bluecoat to appear on The X Factor. What are your plans now?
"I've got a couple of gigs lined up and some TV appearances and radio interviews. I'm just going to try and stay focused now. I didn't enter The X Factor to become rich and famous, I entered it for a music career, and as long as I'm up on stage singing every week I'll be happy."
Would you ever go back to Pontin's?
"Oooh... only if I got a big pay rise!"
The X Factor continues Saturday at 7.30pm on ITV1.
