'Gutted' Pop Idol failure Sam puts on a brave face

Pop Idol failure Sam Nixon today put a brave face on his shock defeat, but admitted he was “gutted” at being booted off the show.

The cute-faced 17-year-old from Barnsley was sensationally voted out in favour of Mark Rhodes and Michelle McManus.

He said said that contrary to thinking Glaswegian Michelle had the wrong look to be a Pop Idol, he fancied her.

“I think Michelle is stunning looking, I really do,” Sam said.

“When we were doing the video she looked wicked.

“She’s got the most infectious personality, she’s really, really funny, quick and witty, and her voice is just outstanding.”

He reiterated his admiration for teenage singing sensation Charlotte Church, who he also described as stunning.

Sam said of his defeat: “Of course there’s a part of me that’s gutted, its just bugging me that I didn’t get to the final, but I’m not as upset as I thought I would be.

“It’s weird because I wanted it so much. I’ve got mixed emotions. There’s just that bit in my mind thinking I was so close.”

But the teenager said he was “really chuffed” to have made it to the final three and still hopes to have a career in the music industry.

He said nobody had yet spoken to him about a record deal but that he took inspiration from former Pop Idol loser Darius, also place third, who has since gone on to be a successful performer.

Sam said he did not know whether Michelle or Mark would be triumphant, and refused to be drawn on who he would prefer to see take the crown.

“They both deserve it, they really do,” he said.

Sam had been the bookies’ favourite and was expected to breeze through last night’s vote to make it to the final and then emerge victorious.

But he was pipped to the post by Michelle, 22, and rank outsider Mark also 22 from Darlaston in the West Midlands.

Earlier in the competition judge Simon Cowell described Sam as “one of the most naturally talented people” the judges had seen.

But Sam said that hearing he would be going home had not come as a shock because he had not taken the prediction seriously.

“When people say you’re the favourite that doesn’t mean that you’re going through because everyone has been a favourite,” he said.

The youngster joked that being on the show had taught him how to wash his own clothes and said he would use any money he earned to pay off his mum’s mortgage, buy some deodorant, and a Renault Clio.

And he said he had no regrets about getting involved with the show.

“Its been a roller coaster ride and I have loved every minute of it,” he said.

Mark and Michelle will spend the next week on separate whirlwind campaigns touring the country on their own battle-buses, which they showed off to the media this morning.

All 12 Pop Idol finalists are bidding for the Christmas number one with a cover of the John Lennon and Yoko Ono hit Happy Xmas (War is Over).

Bookmakers Ladbrokes have made Michelle, once at 33-1, the new favourite to win at 1-2, with Mark at 6-4. He was once put at 50-1.