BEN Haenow's school PE teacher remembers the X Factor finalist as a "dreamer" who always had a passion for music.
And David Webb, who taught Ben at Edenham High School in Shirley, said Ben was one of the "funniest kids I ever taught".
"He was a great lad," said Mr Webb. "He was just so funny and I think on the show he hasn't quite come over as funny as he genuinely is. He was one of the funniest kids I've ever taught.
"He was very cheeky, he pushed his luck when he knew he could."
Mr Webb, now Edenham deputy head, went to see Ben and brother Alex perform with their band Lost Audio when they were starting out.
"I always thought he'd do well there because he knows his craft and that comes through," said Mr Webb. "They paid their dues, it's been ten years of slogging it round South London."
Ben was a regular in Edenham school plays and Mr Webb said he was "always the showman".
He said: "He was very popular and a bit of a joker in the class, people turned to him to be entertained. He was always the entertainer.
"He wasn't the shy and retiring type but he was nice with it. He wasn't over bearing he was always very measured.
"Alex was much more focused than Ben. He got his head down and worked whereas Ben was a dreamer."
Mr Webb shared Ben's passion for music and said the youngster liked hearing his teachers stories of going to festivals and to see Nirvana.
"He was a pretty good all-rounder when it came to sport but his love and passion was always music," said Mr Webb.
"He would always willingly stop to talk to you about music, he always wanted me to tell him stories and I used to tease him about the bands he liked."
The school have been backing Ben with assemblies and posters encouraging everyone to vote.
Mr Webb said: "The kids have been really supportive. They don't know him but we've told them he's one of ours so they've taken to that.
"A couple of weeks before I did an assembly to the year 11's saying look you need to knuckle down to work because you're probably not going to be a professional footballer or win X Factor - he's sort of blown that out of the water!"
Mr Webb said he thinks Ben has what it takes to win the competition.
He said: "I think he has what it takes to win it, we're all rooting for him. He'll give it his best go he won't leave it wondering."
