“That was just the way he was.

“He is very hard-working and very competitive, but that is normal in this business. He just wanted to be the best.

“I hope he wins because I think he is fantastic."

Gaynor Owen, principal of Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre, taught Ray for two years before he left to appear on The X Factor.

She said: “He was a typical boy – a little bit mad sometimes, so we had to keep him in tow, but we wish him all the best.”

Ray has sailed through to this weekend’s final, having never been in the bottom two.

Tony McKee, head teacher of Rudston junior school, in Childwall, believes his success is down to his positive attitude and bubbly personality.

He said: “All the staff remember him fondly. Whether or not he wins, and I think he will, he is destined for great things.

“Everyone at the school is behind him.”

The West End performer has been the hot favourite to win since he picked up five straight sixes from the judges five weeks ago, a first in the series.

Partnered by Bulgarian skater Maria Filippov, Ray is 2/7 to win the final and 4/11 to get his second perfect score of the competition tomorrow night with the bookies.