Simon Cowell has no plans for the future career of X Factor finalist Christopher Maloney, according his former co-judge Louis Walsh. The Irish music manager spoke to The Mirror about a phone-chat he had with Cowell earlier this week.

"Simon is in America working his own show. I spoke to him this week and I know he loves James and Jahmene but I don't remember him talking about Chris, no." Walsh - who has made no secret of his desire to see Maloney voted off the show - added, "Chris, who is Chris? Oh he is still there, the Liverpool guy. He has got a nan there. He is a good singer, but I don't think he is a star. He is like Tony Christie. He is a great singer but he is not Tom Jones." At one stage in proceedings, Maloney was reportedly pulling in double the amount of X Factor votes as his rivals, and it would be no surprise should be beat James and Jahmene on Sunday. "Last week in the semi-final on his first song he was good, especially if you close your eyes. But then I opened them - and he was there! Then when he did the Michael Buble song he was back to Chris the karaoke singer or cruise ship singer," added Louis.

Nevertheless, the bookmakers have Jahmene and James joint-favourites to win the show, offering 5/4. Maloney is lagging behind with odds of 7/2, though has rejected he could be the new Steve Brookstein, "You're joking aren't you? He's got his own talent and does his own thing, but I'm completely different," he told The Sun.