OUR X Factor hopeful Lauren Platt has vowed to prove her critics wrong after losing favour with the bookies.

The 17-year-old from Billericay is determined to remain focused after a rollercoaster of a week which saw judge Simon Cowell criticise her – only to apologise days later.

Cowell described parts of Lauren’s performance of Nat King Cole’s Smile on Saturday’s edition of the ITV talent show as “boring”, but later apologised, saying he had been “really grumpy” on the night.

Speaking about the apology, which was printed in a national newspaper, Lauren said: “It was so shocking.

“I only found out when Andrea (bookies’ favourite Andrea Faustini) rang up saying, ‘Oh my God, you got an apology’. It was dead sweet that it was Simon Cowell, he doesn’t need to apologise.

“It did feel pretty good.

“Inaway, the criticism was good so I can come back this week having taken on the criticism – and trust me, this week is going to be completely different.

“This week, I am going to prove a lot of people wrong.”

As well as practising for tomorrow’s show, Lauren was picked this week to perform at the Royal Albert Hall at the Disney Sing Along of Frozen.

She refused to be drawn on whether she would sing an Elton John or Whitney Houston song, the subjects of this week’s theme, but her comments suggest we may see the former Billericay School pupil step out of her comfort zone to incorporate more choreography into the routine.

Since the beginning of the live shows, she had been second favourite to Andrea, but this week she has been overtaken by Ben Haenow and Fleur East.

Lauren shrugged it off, saying: “The odds will change every five minutes of every day, and that is the main reason I don’t look at them, as it can put you in a very bad mindset as soon as someone is ahead of you.

“The competition is heating up and I need to do everything I can to stay in the show. It is at the place where I need to start taking risks.

“I just want to say to people, please keep voting. I wouldn’t be here without any of you, so thank you so much.”