Shaun Smith is second favourite to win Britain's Got Talent

The 17-year-old is second favourite to win the reality TV show after impressing the judges with his version of Bill Withers’ hit Ain’t No Sunshine.

But he said he considered entering the X Factor, but decided against it as he felt he would not have had no chance against singers like Leona Lewis.

“I’d end up being one of the average ones. There’s no way I would have beaten people like Leona Lewis or Alexandra Burke.”

Instead Mr Smith, from Lichfield, Staffs, said he chose Britain’s Got Talent as “a pop star has never won it”.

He told The Sun newspaper: “As a pop singer on Got Talent you sort of stand out a bit more than if you went on the X Factor.

“You might come on when the judges have just had to sit through a load of dancers or a magic act.

He continued: “People have always told me that I’m good but I wasn’t 100 per cent sure. To have Simon Cowell say I was great is a massive achievement.”

He also said he felt rival Susan Boyle might go on to win the contest, adding: “Susan is amazing. I met her a couple of times and she’s really sweet, and really funny.”