Rhydian is X Factor favourite

Mid Wales singing star Rhydian Roberts has recorded his version of Mariah Carey's When You Believe, the X Factor's choice for the winner's single.Rhydian, from Trallong, near Brecon, said he enjoyed recording the single along with the three other semi-finalists, Same Difference, Leon Jackson and Niki Evans.

The 24-year-old has been slated and rated by X Factor fans and judges, but the former rugby mad youngster is now being widely tipped as favourite to be crowned the winner of the 2007 competition.

The vocal studies student, who has consistently wowed the judges with his operatic vocals and is being mentored on the show by Australian singer Dannii Minogue, said: "It actually works for me. If you strip it down to its bare minimum without the riffs, because Mariah and Whitney try to outriff each other.

"It's a beautiful song, with amazing lyrics and it was fantastic to work with Steve Mac, who's one of the world's best producers."

This week the remaining four contestants had a master class with Michael Buble, the 32-year-old Canadian jazz singer, who is due to perform on the show this weekend.

Brother and sister duo Same Difference are the bookies favourites to get kicked off this Saturday, as the 9/1 outsiders.

Sarah and Sean Smith, from Portsmouth, who have been constantly attacked by Irish judge Louis Walsh, seemed to accept their fate.

"I don't think we can win. We'll try our hardest, we don't want to be defeatist but having said that, obviously you've got Rhydian, who's an absolute legend, Niki, who's got an absolutely beautiful voice, and then Leon, who's loved by teenage girls everywhere," said Sarah.

The X Factor semi-final is on ITV1 on Saturday, at 7.10pm.

The final takes place on December 15 and the winner will secure a £1 million recording contract, as well as releasing their own version of When You Believe to compete for the Christmas No 1 spot.