Pop star Olly Murs treated 300 screaming fans to a show at a Black Country shopping centre – then gave his take on who could succeed him as an X Factor success.

The 2009 runner-up, who presents the companion show Xtra Factor, revealed he has abandoned his former favourites in the ‘girls’ category in favour of the groups.

Following the success of One Direction last year, this year’s judges have compiled a number of manufactured groups they believe can win over the British public.
“The category I’m keeping my eye on has changed a lot since I started,” he said.

“I thought the girls had a lot of potential, but in the next couple of weeks audiences will start to see how the groups develop and I’m rooting for that category. I think they have some real promise.”

While he remained tight-lipped about who makes it through to the final 16 in the live shows – due to air in two weeks’ time – he hinted that bizarre Japanese act Goldie would become this year’s Jedward/Wagner character. “Doing The Xtra Factor has been brilliant – a completely different thing to what I’m used to doing though,” he said.

Olly is following X Factor’s running history of runners-up having more success than the winners, having far eclipsed the winner in the 2009 series Joe McElderry. His first self-titled album went double platinum, and his single Heart Skips a Beat – done in conjunction with  hip hop outfit Rizzle Kicks – hit the top spot straight away and has been in the Top 10 for more than a month.

Screaming pre-teens, teenagers and not a few middle-aged women crowded into the Merry Hill Shopping Centre’s Fountain Square for the intimate show yesterday.