Simon Cowell has reportedly been encouraging his fellow X Factor judges to big up young Joe McElderry, as he believes he should win this year’s series of the show.

This weekend saw the judges give Joe his second standing ovation, after he sang Elton John’s ‘Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word’. Dannii Minogue gushed:

“There hasn’t been a song sung in this competition with more passion than that.

“I have to see you in the final. Please vote for Joe.”

The 18 year old has never been in the bottom two and insiders are reporting that Mr Cowell hopes to capitalise on this by pushing him into the final and beyond.

An insider told The Sun: “Joe is the winner in Simon’s eyes.

“He’s been bigging up Joe when the judges are around.

“The others are not happy. But the bottom line with Simon is, ‘Who will sell records?’”