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Rhydian tipped for X Factor crown | Rhydian tipped for X Factor crown |
(about 12 hours later) | |
Welsh vocalist Rhydian Roberts is the bookmakers' favourite to win the final of ITV1 talent show The X Factor. | |
The bleached blonde 24-year-old is tipped at 1/3 ahead of sibling duo Same Difference, who have odds of 9/2. | |
Ladbrokes has reported a surge of bets on Sean and Sarah Smith, raising the prospect of a surprise result. Scotsman Leon Jackson is least favourite at 5/1. | |
"This is quite simply the biggest night of their lives," said judge Simon Cowell as the live final kicked off. | |
Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and opera star Katherine Jenkins will perform duets with the finalists during the show. | |
Leon - whose mentor is Dannii Minogue - will be paired with Kylie to sing her 1990 single Better The Devil You Know. | |
Cheerful | Cheerful |
In addition to the duets, each contestant will sing a Christmas song and their favourite number from the competition so far. | |
FINAL SHOW SONG CHOICES RHYDIAN Christmas song: O Holy Night Duet: You Raise Me Up (with Katherine Jenkins)Favourite song: Somewhere | |
LEON Christmas song: White ChristmasDuet: Better The Devil You Know (with Kylie)Favourite song: You Don't Know Me | |
SAME DIFFERENCE (pictured) Christmas song: All I Want For Christmas Is YouDuet: Any Dream Will Do (with Jason Donovan)Favourite song: Breaking Free Ladbrokes spokesman Nick Weinberg said: "Current favourite Rhydian is more vulnerable than Leona was last year and punters are beginning to sense an upset." | |
Same Difference, who have become popular with viewers thanks to their cheerful performances, are mentored by Simon Cowell, who initially called them "potentially the most annoying people I've ever met". | |
Fellow judge Louis Walsh has insisted they should not have progressed so far in the competition and do not have a future in the music business. | Fellow judge Louis Walsh has insisted they should not have progressed so far in the competition and do not have a future in the music business. |
Rhydian's performances have been a mixture of high camp and strong vocals, while Leon has carved himself a niche as a swing singer. | Rhydian's performances have been a mixture of high camp and strong vocals, while Leon has carved himself a niche as a swing singer. |
The winner of the competition will secure a £1m record contract and is likely to top the UK's Christmas singles chart. | The winner of the competition will secure a £1m record contract and is likely to top the UK's Christmas singles chart. |