FORMER West Devon resident Max Stone wishes he ’picked stronger songs’ during his time on The X-Factor, which came to a dramatic end on Sunday night.

Max Pahlsson, stage name Stone, who attended Tavistock College, had a shaky start to the competition particularly during the ’brutal’ six chair challenge when his mentor, Simon Cowell, was not shy in voicing his opinion.

However, after much audience encouragement, Simon eventually returned Max to the final line-up which would see him move onto live shows.

Now, despite losing the public vote, Max remains positive about his experience and hopes to get working.

He said: ’It is a bit of a shame that I’m out of the competition but you never know from week to week. I’m more disappointed with how the week went – I had my heart set on singing Prince’s Purple Rain, but we were struggling with the licensing, so Simon offered me another option. I love Bruce Springsteen but that song is more about tone. I didn’t think much of it and did have my heart set on singing purple rain.

’I am still really ill too so it wasn’t the best circumstance – at the end of the day it is a case that Simon suggested the song. The team come up with the choices it’s not that they get the final say, in hindsight I went for the wrong song.

’Getting this far does open doors. On stage Simon was really supportive and afterwards I met up with him and we had a chat, he told me to stay grounded. He did hint that he would give me some advice and he hinted that the label might want to pick me up.’

In contrast to the start of their relationship, Max said that Simon has given him a lot of praise. He said: ’Simon said he understood me and that he likes my voice.

’I have met some amazing people and Liam Payne from One Direction has already written me a song! I think it will be key to look back at the competition and create a strategic plan.’

Simon had also announced that the finalists who made it through on Sunday would be included in the X-Factor Tour, Max said it was a bit of a blow as during past years the final ten/elleven were included.

He added: ’If I were on the tour I wouldn’t be allowed to do anything for six months so at least now I can do gigs and get working.

’My after thoughts are that I was going in the right direction with Gangsters Paradise at judges houses but at live shows there is such an intense schedule so I just sort of went with it a bit too much. I wish I had maybe picked stronger songs but I want people to know about my mistakes.’

As for the rest of the competition, Max said: ’I would like Anton to win, we became really good friends but he has received really negative media and the press have branded him a liar but he is the most honest person I’ve ever met. I hope people warm to him a bit more. I would like Che to win too, he is also lovely.’