James Arthur wants Sam Lavery to win 'The X Factor'.
James Arthur
The 'Say You Won't Let Go' hitmaker - who won the singing competition in 2012 under the watchful eye of Nicole Scherzinger - is backing the 17-year-old contestant and Emily Middlemas, who are being mentored by Simon Cowell, to walk away with the crown next month because they're both from his neck of the woods.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz at the Daily Mirror newspaper's Pride of Britain Awards in London on Monday (31.10.16), he said: "Sam Lavery is from the North East so I'm supporting her and Emily Middlemas. I've got a lot of family there so I throw my hat in those rings, they're both really good. It's a good show this year."
Although he's supporting the two girls in this year's series, the 28-year-old singer can't call who will end up in the final but he would like to see Honey G land there.
He said of the controversial wannabe rapper: "I don't know who will be in the final. If Honey G is in the final, I bet everyone will be rooting for her, she's very entertaining."
And, despite the backlash she's received, James would like to have Honey - whose real name is Anna Guildford - feature on his next album because she's "gangster."
He said recently: "I'm a Honey G fan. She can spit some vibes on one of my songs, she's got rhymes for days! She's gangster, I love her. For all we'd like to find credible and amazing multi-platinum selling artists, most of us when we sit down on a Saturday night after a hard week at work the average person wants to be entertained and I think she's a perfect break from all the other stuff.
"I listened to her on a radio interview yesterday and she's hilarious as well."
Meanwhile, James appeared to be in his element at the event last night as he graced the red carpet with former mentor Nicole, Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh as well culinary queen Mary Berry and singing legend Sir Tom Jones.
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