Danyl favourite for 'X Factor'

Danyl Johnson is favourite to win ‘X Factor’.

The 27-year-old teacher is being tipped to take first place in this year’s competition after his mentor Simon Cowell – along with helper Sinitta – put him through to the live shows.

Simon’s final selections are Danyl, energy advisor Olly Murs, 25, and musician Jamie ‘Afro’ Archer, 34. Bookies have installed Cowell as evens-favourite judge to be mentoring the winning act.

Despite early predictions, Simon’s fellow panellists have warned him not to get too confident.

Dannii Minogue – who was assisted by her pop singer sister, Kylie, in selecting her final contestants – chose Stacey Soloman, 19, Rachel Adedeji, 17, and Lucie Jones, 18, for her Girls category.

She said: "Simon is already getting ready to win before the live shows have even begun, but Kylie and I have put together the star team. I'm confident I have the team to go all the way.”

Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole struggled to select her three finalists in the Boys category.

After putting through 21-year-old Scot Rikki Loney and 16-year-old student Lloyd Daniels, the judge was forced to halt her conversation with Daniel Fox to speak to producers.

Breaking up their chat, she headed to tell bosses: “This doesn’t feel right.”

However, she then returned to tell operatic singer Daniel he was “too specific” for her to help him and opted not to put him through, making Joseph McElderry, 18, her third finalist.

Louis Walsh ignored expert advice from Ronan Keating to put through twins John and Edward – with whom Simon Cowell had previously voiced his unhappiness at their progression to the third stage – in his Groups category.

The brothers were promptly installed by bookmakers as favourites to be first voted off when the live shows start on Saturday.

A spokesperson for bookmakers William Hill said: "The twins are all but certain to be the first out, or at least I hope they are.”

Joining them in Louis’ Groups category are Miss Frank – who were put together by the judges after the three individual members failed to make it past boot camp as solo stars – and former strippers Kandy Rain.