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| At-a-glance: X Factor finalists | At-a-glance: X Factor finalists |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Clockwise from top left: JLS, Alexandra Burke, Eoghan Quigg By Mark Savage BBC News entertainment reporter Three acts have made it through to the final round of this year's X Factor - Alexandra Burke, Eoghan Quigg and boyband JLS. | Clockwise from top left: JLS, Alexandra Burke, Eoghan Quigg By Mark Savage BBC News entertainment reporter Three acts have made it through to the final round of this year's X Factor - Alexandra Burke, Eoghan Quigg and boyband JLS. |
| The winner, to be decided by public vote on Saturday night, is a sure bet to score the Christmas number one. | The winner, to be decided by public vote on Saturday night, is a sure bet to score the Christmas number one. |
| All three acts have already recorded the song - a cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah - so it can be on shop shelves as soon as possible. | All three acts have already recorded the song - a cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah - so it can be on shop shelves as soon as possible. |
| According to Simon Cowell, 500,000 pre-orders have already been placed for the single. | According to Simon Cowell, 500,000 pre-orders have already been placed for the single. |
| Here is a guide to the contenders, and how they got to the final. | Here is a guide to the contenders, and how they got to the final. |
| ALEXANDRA BURKE | ALEXANDRA BURKE |
| Stevie Wonder offered Alexandra a record deal when she was 12Age: 20. | Stevie Wonder offered Alexandra a record deal when she was 12Age: 20. |
| Location: North London. | Location: North London. |
| Category: Girls 14-24. | Category: Girls 14-24. |
| Mentor: Cheryl Cole. | Mentor: Cheryl Cole. |
| Audition song: Saving All My Love For You - Whitney Houston. | Audition song: Saving All My Love For You - Whitney Houston. |
| Recognisable feature: Big smile, even bigger voice. | Recognisable feature: Big smile, even bigger voice. |
| Which successful act is she most like: Whitney Houston. | Which successful act is she most like: Whitney Houston. |
| Best performance so far: Listen - Beyonce. [Watch on the X Factor website] | Best performance so far: Listen - Beyonce. [Watch on the X Factor website] |
| Judge's pearl of wisdom: "This is a British competition and you make me very proud to be British. You've really got to me" - Simon Cowell. | Judge's pearl of wisdom: "This is a British competition and you make me very proud to be British. You've really got to me" - Simon Cowell. |
| Superstar advice: "I think Alexandra can belt her voice too much. I noticed she was getting a bit raspy. She really needs to have lots of lessons and make sure she doesn't lose that voice" - Will Young. | Superstar advice: "I think Alexandra can belt her voice too much. I noticed she was getting a bit raspy. She really needs to have lots of lessons and make sure she doesn't lose that voice" - Will Young. |
| Alexandra has sung songs by divas like Christina Aguilera and Donna SummerHas she ever been in the bottom two: No. | Alexandra has sung songs by divas like Christina Aguilera and Donna SummerHas she ever been in the bottom two: No. |
| Trivia: Alexandra nearly made it through to the competitive stages of X Factor in 2005, but Louis Walsh turned her down, saying she was too young. | Trivia: Alexandra nearly made it through to the competitive stages of X Factor in 2005, but Louis Walsh turned her down, saying she was too young. |
| Tabloid "scandal": Ex-boyfriend D'Andre West is trying to sell a "graphic 10-minute video" which will "shatter beautiful Alex's dreams of superstardom". [News Of The World] | Tabloid "scandal": Ex-boyfriend D'Andre West is trying to sell a "graphic 10-minute video" which will "shatter beautiful Alex's dreams of superstardom". [News Of The World] |
| Favourite X Factor moment: Meeting Take That - "When I was younger I was such a big fan! I had Take That pillow cases, Take That bed sheets, Take That wallpaper - everything!" | Favourite X Factor moment: Meeting Take That - "When I was younger I was such a big fan! I had Take That pillow cases, Take That bed sheets, Take That wallpaper - everything!" |
| On the final: "Whatever way the voting goes on Saturday night, I'm going to leave with my head held high knowing: 'Oh my God, I've actually made it to the finals' and that's an achievement in itself." | On the final: "Whatever way the voting goes on Saturday night, I'm going to leave with my head held high knowing: 'Oh my God, I've actually made it to the finals' and that's an achievement in itself." |
| Bookmakers' odds: 8/13 | Bookmakers' odds: 8/13 |
| JLS | JLS |
| Singer Marvin Humes was in boyband VS, who toured with BlueMembers: Marvin Humes, 23; Jonathan "JB" Gill, 21; Ortise Williams, 21; Aston Merrygold, 20. | Singer Marvin Humes was in boyband VS, who toured with BlueMembers: Marvin Humes, 23; Jonathan "JB" Gill, 21; Ortise Williams, 21; Aston Merrygold, 20. |
| Location: London and Peterborough. | Location: London and Peterborough. |
| Category: Groups. | Category: Groups. |
| Mentor: Louis Walsh. | Mentor: Louis Walsh. |
| Audition song: If You Ever - Shai, made famous by East 17 and Gabrielle. | Audition song: If You Ever - Shai, made famous by East 17 and Gabrielle. |
| Recognisable feature: Each member has a "signature colour". Marvin is green; JB is yellow; Ortise is red; Aston is blue. | Recognisable feature: Each member has a "signature colour". Marvin is green; JB is yellow; Ortise is red; Aston is blue. |
| Which successful act are they most like: 3T, the briefly-successful 1990s boyband formed by Michael Jackson's nephews. | Which successful act are they most like: 3T, the briefly-successful 1990s boyband formed by Michael Jackson's nephews. |
| Best performance so far: Umbrella - Rihanna [Watch on the X Factor website] | Best performance so far: Umbrella - Rihanna [Watch on the X Factor website] |
| Judge's pearl of wisdom: "It's official: I am in the JLS fan club. I will join tomorrow" - Cheryl Cole. | Judge's pearl of wisdom: "It's official: I am in the JLS fan club. I will join tomorrow" - Cheryl Cole. |
| Superstar advice: "You must always keep the friendship. That's the bond with us, and that's what's kept us together... And you've got to work your butts off" - Howard Donald from Take That. | Superstar advice: "You must always keep the friendship. That's the bond with us, and that's what's kept us together... And you've got to work your butts off" - Howard Donald from Take That. |
| The band have covered Frankie Vali, The Beatles and Take ThatHave they ever been in the bottom two: Yes, against Rachel Hylton in week seven. | The band have covered Frankie Vali, The Beatles and Take ThatHave they ever been in the bottom two: Yes, against Rachel Hylton in week seven. |
| Trivia: JLS is also the brand name of a Chinese gas bolt action sniper rifle. | Trivia: JLS is also the brand name of a Chinese gas bolt action sniper rifle. |
| Tabloid "scandal": Louis Walsh has ordered JLS to hit on the female competitors to put them off. "He told us to do our worst," said lead singer Aston. [Daily Star] | Tabloid "scandal": Louis Walsh has ordered JLS to hit on the female competitors to put them off. "He told us to do our worst," said lead singer Aston. [Daily Star] |
| Favourite X Factor moment: When Ortise got the chance to tell Mariah Carey he'd had a crush on her since he "was a little kid". The diva said she "thought it was cute". | Favourite X Factor moment: When Ortise got the chance to tell Mariah Carey he'd had a crush on her since he "was a little kid". The diva said she "thought it was cute". |
| On the final: "It's the biggest moment of our lives. We would like to, hopefully, make X Factor history and be the first group to ever win the show" - Ortise. | On the final: "It's the biggest moment of our lives. We would like to, hopefully, make X Factor history and be the first group to ever win the show" - Ortise. |
| Bookmakers' odds: 5/2 | Bookmakers' odds: 5/2 |
| EOGHAN QUIGG | EOGHAN QUIGG |
| Eoghan discovered his voice while singing in the school choir.Age: 16. | Eoghan discovered his voice while singing in the school choir.Age: 16. |
| Location: Dungiven, Northern Ireland. | Location: Dungiven, Northern Ireland. |
| Category: Boys 14-24. | Category: Boys 14-24. |
| Mentor: Simon Cowell. | Mentor: Simon Cowell. |
| Audition song: Home - Michael Buble. | Audition song: Home - Michael Buble. |
| Recognisable feature: Surplus hair. | Recognisable feature: Surplus hair. |
| Which successful act is he most like: Little Jimmy Osmond. | Which successful act is he most like: Little Jimmy Osmond. |
| Best performance so far: Ben - Michael Jackson. [Watch on the X Factor website] | Best performance so far: Ben - Michael Jackson. [Watch on the X Factor website] |
| Judge's pearl of wisdom: "Eoghan Quigg - the Quiggler! To me, you're like FedEx. You always deliver" - Louis Walsh. | Judge's pearl of wisdom: "Eoghan Quigg - the Quiggler! To me, you're like FedEx. You always deliver" - Louis Walsh. |
| Superstar thoughts: "You have such a pretty voice on the high breathy stuff. That's your gem" - Mariah Carey. | Superstar thoughts: "You have such a pretty voice on the high breathy stuff. That's your gem" - Mariah Carey. |
| The teenager's songs have included Never Forget and Year 3000Has he ever been in the bottom two: No. | |
| Trivia: Eoghan's name is worth 26 points in Scrabble, and uses up all three "g" tiles. | Trivia: Eoghan's name is worth 26 points in Scrabble, and uses up all three "g" tiles. |
| Tabloid "scandal": Eoghan is dating fellow X Factor contestant Diana Vickers and, at the same tame, "cosying up to Kate Moss" (borrowing her coat). [The Sun] | Tabloid "scandal": Eoghan is dating fellow X Factor contestant Diana Vickers and, at the same tame, "cosying up to Kate Moss" (borrowing her coat). [The Sun] |
| Favourite X Factor moment: The moment when, after he performed Take That's Never Forget, Cheryl Cole said: "I think I'm a little bit in love with you after that performance". | Favourite X Factor moment: The moment when, after he performed Take That's Never Forget, Cheryl Cole said: "I think I'm a little bit in love with you after that performance". |
| On the final: "I'm not nervous for the final, singing-wise, but the results are always going to be nervous. All three acts want to win. And who know what's going to happen." | On the final: "I'm not nervous for the final, singing-wise, but the results are always going to be nervous. All three acts want to win. And who know what's going to happen." |
| Bookmakers' odds: 4/1 | Bookmakers' odds: 4/1 |
| The X Factor Final is on ITV this Saturday at 1910 GMT. | The X Factor Final is on ITV this Saturday at 1910 GMT. |
| The X Factor Final Results Show follows on ITV1 at 2140 GMT. | The X Factor Final Results Show follows on ITV1 at 2140 GMT. |