UNLIKELY X-Factor favourite Johnny Robinson has told how he has already been mobbed in his favourite Harrow Primark store following his appearance on the hit TV show.

Speaking to the Observer the 45 year-old told of the amazing reaction he has had in the streets just a week after he wowed the panel of celebrity judges on the show with what he describes as 'an unusual blokes voice'.

The modest Mr Robinson who has lived in West Harrow for the last seven years said: "The reaction has been completely unexpected, it's quite surreal really.

"I'm still unemployed and can't afford Armani or anything so I got mobbed in my favourite store, Primark, a couple of days after the show.

"I was more than happy to sign autographs and speak to people, it was quite strange though.

"How great would it be if I got to the part in the show where you perform in front of a home crowd - I could bring the X-Factor to the St George's Centre."

Mr Robinson says he has been singing for as long as he can remember and moved to London around 17 years ago from Oxfordshire to pursue a career in singing.

He finally decided to audition for the hit ITV show following his dad's death three years ago.

He added: "I didn't think I would stand a chance but I have always wanted to give it a go.

"I have been looking for work and when you want to perform and sing it is not as if you can go into the job centre and see if they have any singing jobs going so I thought I would just give it a go - I still can't believe it.

"I was very close to my father who had lung cancer and two brain tumours and he would always tell me to go for it, I think partly made me go for it this time.

"I didn't watch the show back because I thought it would be like when I was a kid and you would record your voice on a tape C60 and listen back and cringe.

"When you are standing in front of thousands singing at the 02 it all seems to go a bit quickly, but as far as I can remember it wasn't a great performance, it was okay.

"I hope it was a bit different and I was just myself.

"I can't turn up and pretend I'm Arnold Schwarzenegger or Justin Bieber or anything like that I'm never going to be a male model but I think I just have a bit of an unusual blokes voice really."

With so much hype around his performance however has come revelations that he performed as a drag queen but Mr Robinson added: "There has been a lot of stuff about me being a drag artist which has been a bit unfair.

"I used to help out every now and again as a female impersonator, because of my high pitched voice, but if I was touring or doing regular shows as a drag act or had made a career out of it I wouldn't be trying for the X-Factor, would I?"