Simon Cowell has tipped Ben Haenow to win ‘The X Factor’.
The music mogul is so confident the hopeful, who is in his Over-25s category, is going to win the talent show this year he is encouraging fans of the series to place a £50 bet on him to triumph.
He said: "I’ve already got a winner and he’s one of mine.
"But it’s not who everyone is predicting. I’m guessing that Ben Haenow is going to surprise people – and I suggest you put £50 on him to win.
"But there are a handful of people who could take it.
"It’s down to how they develop throughout the live shows and that makes far more of an eventful series for me."
Simon admits he is delighted to have returned as a judge on the UK version of the talent show and insists this year’s panel – also made up of Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Mel B and Louis Walsh – is "perfect".
He added to HELLO! magazine: "I couldn’t be happier to be back on the British show. There’s something about it.
"Something I can’t quite put my finger on that I just love. The panel is perfect, too."