Simon Cowell reportedly ‘regrets’ picking ‘Forever Young’ as this year’s ‘X-Factor’ winner’s single. The Bob Dylan cover was released by 2015 winner Louisa Johnson last week and became the lowest charting winner’s single in the show’s 11-year history, only reaching number nine.

Simon CowellSimon Cowell is said to ‘regret’ his song choice for Louisa Johnson.

A source told The Sun: "It’s an embarrassing result for Syco (Cowell’s record label). Even though Louisa had two fewer days of sales, they expected the single to fare much better. On reflection, they feel picking a more up-tempo, anthemic song would have been a better idea.”

“But they are fully behind Louisa and insist the poor chart position was down to the song, not the performer.” Johnson was crowned the winner of this year’s ‘X-Factor’ on December 10th, beating duo Reggie and Bollie. At just 17, she is the show’s youngest ever winner.

More: Louisa Johnson's 'Forever Young' Is The Lowest Performing 'X-Factor' Winner's Single In 11 Years

But ‘Forever Young’ only managed to shift 39,000 copies in its first week of release. It does however seem to be fairing better this week and according to the Official Charts Company it’s currently sitting at number seven in the Christmas' charts.

Still it is now one of only three ‘X-Factor’ winner’s singles not to reach the number one spot in its first week of release, joining Steve Brookstein and Joe McElderry. Johnson has also failed to match the chart success of the show’s previous two winners, Sam Bailey and Ben Haenow, who both took the Christmas number one spot.

More: 'X-Factor' Winner Louisa Johnson Reportedly Has 'Music Industry Past'

The race for this year’s Christmas number one spot has seen Justin Bieber take on the NHS Choir. As of today (December 22nd) Bieber’s 'Love Yourself 'is just narrowly ahead of The Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir's ‘A Bridge Over You’, with the two songs separated by less than 7,000 combined sales. 

The full Christmas chart will be revealed on December 25th during BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart with Greg James between 10am and 1pm. It will also be announced during BBC One's Top of the Pops Christmas special.