Teenager Chris Hide wants to be a Pop Idol - but he needs the people of Sussex to get behind him.

The 18-year-old faces his most gruelling challenge yet as he takes on the remaining 11 finalists in the hit ITV programme tomorrow.

Only ten will remain after the show and Chris needs as many people as possible to vote for him and keep him on the road to stardom.

Phone lines open at 7.50pm tomorrow when the number to ring to keep Chris in the running will be revealed.

The Lancing singer, dubbed "The vicar" in his initial audition by judge Neil Fox, has sung his way into the hearts of millions.

Five weeks ago, his rendition of Boyz II Men ballad End Of The Road earned him a place among the final 12 contestants.

Now he is hoping his choice of a song by his idol Elton John will be enough to get those phones ringing.

Each week the remaining wannabes will perform a new song and the person with the fewest votes will be booted off until only one is left.

Two people who certainly believe Chris has the ability to win are his old music and drama teachers at Boundstone College, Lancing, where this time last year he was studying for his A-levels.

They are backing him all the way.

Aedan Kerney, head of music at Boundstone, said: "Throughout his time here, Chris was totally involved in drama and music.

"He was a tenor in the choir, a saxophonist in the band and was always a star performer."

Head of drama Lisa Burgess said: "We wish Chris all the very best in Pop Idol. He is a superb performer and we're sure he will go a long way."

Last month Chris was odds-on favourite to win. He is now in joint fourth place at 8/1 alongside Brian Ormond, 23, from Tooting, London and Kirsty Crawford, 19, from Northants.

But bookies still believe he could walk away with the title.

Ladbrokes spokesman Warren Lush said: "I think Chris has a very good chance of winning. It says something that he's at joint fourth at the moment, even though it's been several weeks since he sang and some people might struggle to remember him.

"Roxanne, the favourite at the moment, performed more recently and Sam and Suzanne in second place at 6/1 appeared last Saturday.

"I don't think Chris did himself justice in his heat, even though he got through to the final 12.

"If he picks the right songs, he could be knocking on the door."

Chris was entered for the competition by friends.

"One of my friends said they'd sent the form off, and I thought, 'okay, great, I'll give it a go.' I loved the first Pop Idol and thought then it was something I'd enjoy doing."

The teenager admitted facing the notoriously vicious judging panel of Fox, Nicki Chapman, Pete Waterman and Simon Cowell was nerve-wracking.

He said: "It's just like it is on the telly, a bit daunting but you try to get your confidence across."

Chris has taken any criticisms in his stride.

He said: "They've always had something to pick on but you need that. It's always important to have something to work on for the next performance."

Chris was dubbed The Vicar, after he auditioned in his customary checked shirt and glasses. But he believes it helped.

He said: "Looking back, I'm glad if I looked different because it obviously made an impact. They remembered me and I think it went in my favour. To have an identity is important. I thought it was interesting."

Since the audition, Chris has made some changes to his image but he feels the Press has made too much out of it.

He said: "I've got contact lenses now instead of glasses and some new clothes. But I'm still me.

"The image versus talent thing is always an issue.

"I think everyone in the final 12 is very different but I think everyone has that package, a mix of the two.

"The standard is so high you don't know what will happen."

Chris said he had been busy practising, giving interviews and picking clothes for Saturday's performance.

But he has also been taking time out to spend with his family in Lancing.

He said: "It's going to be a lot of work, however far I go, so right now I'm getting back into a bit of reality."

A group of ten family and friends, including parents Brian and Penny, and sister Becky, 23, will be supporting him in the crowd.

Pop Idol with Ant and Dec is on ITV1 tomorrow at 7pm.