Wagner reveals his X Factor secrets

?X Factor finalist Wagner Carrilho, who was booted out of the show on Sunday, today revealed what it's like to be in the media spotlight, the internet campaign - and who he tips to win.

The 54-year-old, from Pensnett, said he would be "forever grateful" to Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh for the opportunity to be on the show.

"I have special thankfulness to Louis as I was his wildcard, and Simon gave me so many complements," he said.

"I'm going on tour and going to do gigs with the show — I have achieved so much.

"I never dreamed I would come so far.

"It's crazy. Last time I went to Asda I couldn't even pick up some cheese off the shelves because everyone was coming up to me for autographs and photos.

"Even police are stopping me to get photos."

Wagner, who sang Nat King Cole's Unforgettable as his 'save me' song, rubbished claims that he had only been kept in the competition by internet campaigners. He said he had fewer

Facebook fans than other contestants and his were genuine fans — not out purely to thwart Simon.

The father-of-one first appeared on TV screens on audition show three, and received four yeses - including one from guest judge Natalie Imbruglia. He said he had applied to the show after failed operations on his shoulder made it difficult for him to find work.

"I didn't want to be a parasite on benefits. I spent the whole of 2009 applying for jobs, and at the time I was 53, and got nowhere.

"I have always had money and had Porsches and Jaguars. Then one day I found myself walking in the rain with my arm in a sling for miles just to save bus fare, and I thought 'God, please help me'. Being a celebrity is great as it opens so many doors to jobs, and that is all I wanted."

But being famous is a double-edged sword, as Wagner has discovered, having had allegations of benefit fraud, drug deals and sex-pest behaviour spread across the tabloids.

"I don't like what the tabloids did to me. They sell rubbish and they thought 'we can make him look rubbish'.They called me an 'oddball' and 'the Brazilian' — they forget that I am British-Brazilian."

So who does he think will win?

"Rebecca. She is lovely — she is such a pure soul. The thing with Rebecca is that she is absolutely immaculate and she has a heart of gold," he said. Nobody else has a voice like that. I always thought of her as the winner of X Factor."