A Sussex teenager hoping to snatch the next Pop Idol crown is a step closer to his dreams.

Chris Hide, from Lancing, was chosen as one of the 50 finalists in the ITV1 contest.

After performing live on Saturday night, he was voted by the public to go through to the final ten.

The 18-year-old won 19.3 per cent of the vote with his rendition of the Boyz II Men ballad End Of The Road.

Chris broke down as he thanked viewers for voting for him.

He had been mocked in his audition, where he sung From The Heart, by Another Level, for looking like a nerd.

The other winner on Saturday was Glaswegian Michelle McManus, 23.