Mr Charisma, Olly Murs, has the backing of his old school.

The whole of Witham is behind the town’s X Factor star, who gave yet another confident performance at the weekend.

As odds on the 25-year-old being crowned the eventual winner of the show continue to shorten, bookies seem to think Geordie Joe McElderry is all that stands between Essex charmer Olly and the title.

Mary-Anne Dauti, deputy headteacher at Howbridge Church of England Junior School, Witham, where Olly was a pupil, said he could go all the way. She said: “We are supporting him and he is doing a good job.

“The kids are all very excited by it.

“We expect him to visit and give us a song next time he is in town.”