Young Shaheen Jafargholi’s performance may have felt a little staged on Saturday night but that hasn’t stopped punters from backing the 12-year-old to rival overnight sensation Susan Boyle for this year’s Britain’s Got Talent title.

The youngster has been installed as second favourite after week two at odds of 3/1 (Skybet, Ladbrokes) and the bookies think he could be in with a shout.

Ladbrokes spokesman Nick Weinberg, said: “We’d resigned ourselves to this year’s series being a one-horse race. But Shaheen has changed all of that and punters can’t get enough of him.

“He’s been backed to the hilt, especially in Wales, and if it continues Susan’s favouritism could come under threat.”

As if to back-up the accusations of a set-up Shaheen responded to the suggestions in the Daily Mirror saying: “I was told to bring a second choice with me so I had practised both songs really hard.”

Sounds well dodgy to me and it seems the public agree over at the Daily Contributor and the Daily Mirror. This can only count against him I think and Susan Boyle is still the one we’re backing here at BetDiva Towers even though her odds are now only 4/9 (Skybet - click here to open your account).