A close buddy of X Factor star Danyl Johnson has thrown his support behind our campaign to keep the Arborfield singing sensation in the show.

Scott Jenkins, who spoke to Danyl immediately after he was saved from the chop on Sunday, has been great friends with the 27-year-old for 12 years.

The 23-year-old said he was flabbergasted Danyl was voted into the bottom two alongside girl group Miss Frank, who eventually went.

Scott, giving our Dial for Danyl campaign the thumbs up, said: “We were all so upset. Dan did not speak to me for long but said he was not shocked. He said it had taken him down a few levels.”

He said Danyl’s mentor Simon Cowell advised him to “keep on doing what he is doing”.

“People say Danyl is so cocky but it really isn’t true. But it is like Simon said, he is like Marmite – you either like him or you don’t,” said Scott.

Scott, from Shinfield, and Danyl met when they were both in Reading theatre school Starmaker.

“In the X Factor Danyl is doing what we were both taught at Starmaker. You get on the stage and you own it,” he said.

“That’s how Dan delivers. He wants it so much it’s unbelievable.”

He said Danyl got on well with all his X Factor mates but had a particular soft spot for Miss Frank. He added Jamie and Olly had become “like family” to Danyl and the singer also thought John and Edward “were the kindest people”.

But Scott said Danyl did not fancy any of his fellow contestants.

“He’s very professional,” he said.

“Dan is actually a really decent guy. I had problems when I was college and thanks to Dan I got my courage and confidence back. He came to see me in London when I needed friends because that’s just the kind of guy he is.

“At the moment he is trapped in the X Factor house so his housemate Mack and I bought him a Fifa XBox game. Now he is happy as Larry.

“But his true passion is singing.”

He recalled frightening ex-Highdown School pupil Danyl backstage at Starmaker but said there were not any truly embarrassing skeletons in his mate’s past.

“I can tell you he is very competitive,” he said. “But he is not a heavy drinker so doesn’t really do anything embarrassing.

“When we go out he is the responsible one of the group – he doesn’t do anything mad.

“He has had a few good relationships but finds it unfair to keep with them when his main passion is singing. He doesn’t feel he can offer people commitment.”

And if you want to see Danyl out and about around Reading after the X Factor Scott said Dogma, The Monk’s Retreat, Maiden Over and The Swan in Arborfield were favourite haunts: “You can often see him doing the pub quiz.”

aroberts@reading-epost.co.uk

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