Wagner is closer to the X Factor title as bookies slash his odds of winning to 10/1

By SARA NATHAN

The wildcard: Wagner Fiuza-Carrilho's odds of winning this year's X Factor have been slashed, while Matt Cardle is still favourite


X Factor wannabe Wagner Fiuza-Carrilho has seen his odds slashed as online campaigners step up their efforts to make him win.

The Brazilian hopeful, whose outlandish performances have helped him remain in the show while hotly tipped acts have tumbled out, is being championed by an anti-X Factor lobby.

And bookmakers William Hill has now slashed its odds once more to put Wagner at 10-1 to win the competition, from his starting price of 100-1, while Paddy Power have given him 9-1 odds.

The firm estimates that it faces paying out more than £250,000 if the 54-year-old triumphs.

The slashing of the odds also follows a newspaper claim that Wagner has been finishing in the top of the voting rather than simply scraping through.

The martial arts enthusiast moved out of the contestants' house last week and has been living in a hotel for the past few days. He has admitted he has clashed with some of the others.

Anti-X Factor campaigners are trying to co-ordinate the votes to make Wagner an unlikely winner of the contest.


Online support: Over 38,000 people have joined the 'Wagner to win X Factor' group on Facebook


A spokesman for one Facebook campaign, Rage Against The X Factor, said: 'We are fed up with Simon Cowell spoon-feeding us these karaoke pub singers every festive season, and basically filling the charts with these puppets who couldn't play an instrument between them.

'We have nothing against these people trying to etch out a career in the business, but they are given an unfair advantage against decent young bands - who actually can play instruments - by Cowell.'

Last year protesters mobilised to get rock band Rage Against The Machine to number one for Christmas, ahead of last year's X Factor winner Joe McElderry.


Feeling the love: Katie Waissel looks thrilled to be receiving a positive reception from some 'Waissel Warriors' as she calls her fans


A William Hill spokesman said of Wagner's chances: 'The X Factor version of Marmite is really dividing opinion among fans and judges.

'He is fourth favourite to win the show while also being the second favourite to be booted off. He is proving quite an anomaly and nobody quite knows what will happen each week.'

Matt Cardle is still the 13-8 favourite to win the show, he added.
The X Factor final will take place over the weekend of the 11-12 December.


Stylish: Rebecca Ferguson outside rehearsals yesterday









source: dailymail