Nicole Scherzinger has insisted that James Arthur doesn’t always have to sing his own songs to succeed on the X Factor.

The 23 year old impressed during his first audition, after he mixed a well known track with a tune of his own creation and ever since, people have been asking for him to perform one of his own compositions on the live shows.

Two weeks in and his mentor Nicole Scherzinger is keeping him on the covers for now, and she admitted tonight on The Xtra Factor that she hopes he lasts long enough in the competition to be able to showcase his own music.

The brunette beauty said:

“I believe so much in James. I hope and pray that people vote for him and he lasts in this competition. This is very early in the game, he is not a one trick pony. He doesn’t need to just do his own stuff.”

However it sounds as though James himself is chomping at the bit, wanting to perform some original songs and Scherzinger added:

“He is in the background saying ‘when am I going to be able to do my own music.’ But he is killing it and making all the other songs his own, as if he wrote it. I respect him for that. Then when the time comes for him to do his own songs, it’s going to blow everybody away.”

Do you agree with Nicole? Is she right to save his unique material until later in the series? Leave your comments below.

James won the judges over totally and completely tonight with his version of ‘No More Drama’ on the main show.

After his performance, Tulisa Contostavlos raved:

“James man you’ve got this pain in your voice, it’s like anything negative you’ve felt in your whole life built up until that moment. I believe every single word you are saying. You are my favourite boy by far!”

Meanwhile, see where we ranked James and his fellow contestants in our X Factor week 2 chart here.