'X Factor' bosses are worried Christopher Maloney is going to win the show.
The Liverpool-born singer has shocked many by making it so far in the competition - despite being branded a diva - and show boss Simon Cowell is now "panicking" they may end up with a dud-winner.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Chris is getting double the votes of everyone else.
"It's a shame because he's so sweet. They're determined to get him kicked off the show. It's crazy. The show is in a spin and Cowell is really panicking. They will be trying anything now to get people to not like this guy."
Simon is believed to be worried they may end up with a winner similar to the first series champion Steve Brookstein, who flopped as soon as his material was released and went on to berate the show and those involved with it.
Former contestants Kye Sones and MK1 have claimed Chris - who is mentored by Gary Barlow - is a different person behind the scenes to who he is on stage, with Kye branding him an "outsider".