Lauren Platt is closing in on Andrea Faustini as the favourite to win The X Factor.

The 17-year-old wannabe - the youngest contestant - has been wowing the judges and viewers with her big voice on the ITV show and she is now second favourite to win with odds of 5/2 from bookmakers William Hill.

Charistmatic Italian Andrea is still favourite at 2/1, but Lauren's odds have been slashed to put her hot on his heels after a flurry of bets were placed on her to take the crown.

Last week Lauren impressed with her performance of Irene Cara's What A Feeling for 80s night.

Simon Cowell said: "Hands down the best performance tonight. It was in a different league. I'm really really impressed, congratulations."

And Noel Gallagher - who was seen watching the show with Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell for Celebrity Gogglebox in aid of Stand Up To Cancer last week - is tipping Lauren to be in the final with Andrea.

Meanwhile, the likelihood of Stereo Kicks shedding one of its eight members before or during Saturday night's live show now stand at 2/1.