Freddy Parker thought he was going to pass out while he was waiting to find out his fate on last night's The X Factor.

The dream came to an end for the Kent hopeful, who was voted off following a tense sing-off.

This morning he told Kent Online he'd had the time of his life on the show, but struggled with nerves.

Previously the teenager, who lives near Headcorn, had only ever sung in front of an audience of a few hundred during performances when he was a student at Sutton Valence School.

On being watched by nearly 7m people on the ITV1 show, he said: "The nerves were awful.

"I thought I was going to pass out while I was waiting backstage on the results show. It was hell.

"I'm so gutted to be leaving the show but I'm so grateful to have got this far and have no regrets. I literally gave it everything and I've had the best time of my life."

Freddy was booted off in week two of the live shows after singing for survival against Saara Aalto.

He sang Stay by Rihanna, while Saara performed Leona Lewis's cover of Run by Snow Patrol.

Mentor Nicole Scherzinger and mogul Simon Cowell voted to save the 18-year-old, but fellow judges Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh opted for Saara, taking the vote to deadlock.

Unfortunately for Freddy, Saara received more public votes, sending the former favourite-to-win home.

He told Kent Online: "Since I could speak I've been singing. Going on the show has given me so much confidence so now I'm going to do some gigging and work hard.

"I don't want to let this opportunity I've been given slip away."