Wagner set for £1m book deal windfall

Wagner Fiuza-Carrilho could be set to pocket a £1m (€1.2m) book deal following his elimination from 'The X Factor'.

The eccentric Brazilian - who was banned for making TV appearances after his departure from the ITV1 competition on Sunday night - has reportedly got a host of publishing firms locked in a bidding war in the hope of persuading the 54-year-old former teacher to spill the show's secrets.

A source explained: "There is a lot of interest in exactly what Wagner would say. Especially as he's effectively been gagged from talking about the show this week. He lived and breathed that show for months. He's bound to know a lot about the other contestants.

"And he spent a lot of time with people like Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole, so who knows what else he could reveal?"

It is believed the book deal secured by Top Gear's secret character Stig - real name Ben Collins - earlier in the year could make publishers more willing to "throw money" at the famously outspoken 54-year-old.

Danuta Kean, a publishing expert at Brunel University, told the Daily Star newspaper: "Publishers will throw money at this. But it all depends on what Wagner can say. The recent Stig book and court case has changed the playing field.

"Publishers now feel emboldened that they can take on these confidentiality agreement contracts people are forced to sign so they can't speak out.

"If he really can reveal new things, and the publisher's legal team thinks it can be dealt with, it could go for big money. We're talking seven figures potentially."