Wagner Carrilho was today adjusting to life outside the X Factor after being given the boot from the competition, despite a huge internet following and bookies slashing his odds to win.

Simon Cowell was becoming genuinely worried that the 54-year-old from Pensnett, Dudley, was going to win the £1 million record deal as X Factor haters tried to derail the show.

And Simon’s relief was obvious last night after all four judges waved goodbye to Wagner and put Mary Byrne through to the next round. “Why I am happy with the decision is because there were people out there trying to derail this show for different reasons,” Simon said. “And what has happened tonight is that we have put this show back in the hands of the public.”

But what next for Wagner? Is there really a market for out-of-tune, long-haired karate instructors with an eye for the ladies?

His X Factor eviction has already been different to most. There was no appearance on ITV’s Daybreak today alongside fellow loser Katie Waissel (Woo-hoo! She’s gone!) and he barely gets a look-in on the show’s charity single. He’s also been dogged by some pretty negative press in recent weeks and was removed from the X Factor house after persistent arguments with fellow contestants.

Even Wagner himself seems a bit unsure of his next step. His most pressing concern? Being reunited with his beloved cat at his bungalow in the Black Country.

But his supporters are optimistic all is not lost. Friend Ian Fleming, a Rowley Regis vet who met Wagner when he was teaching a karate class at the Village Hotel in Dudley, said:

“Wagner has had an amazing run. He is going on the X Factor tour so 2011 is going to be bigger and better.”

Despite tormenting the eyes and ears of the nation for weeks, former Leasowes Community College teacherWagner was becoming a strong favourite to win the show thanks to an X Factor backlash.

A Facebook group called Rage Against the X Factor had more than 20,000 supporters and bookies had slashed his odds from 100-1 to 6-1 to win — and give Simon Cowell a heart attack. But he was sent packing after battling against checkout crooner Mary Byrne in the sing-off.