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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Final battle for X Factor crown | Final battle for X Factor crown |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The X Factor finalists Joe McElderry and Olly Murs are battling it out on primetime TV as they compete to win a lucrative £1m recording contract. | The X Factor finalists Joe McElderry and Olly Murs are battling it out on primetime TV as they compete to win a lucrative £1m recording contract. |
| Up to 20 million viewers are set to tune in to the last show in the series, with McElderry favourite to win. | Up to 20 million viewers are set to tune in to the last show in the series, with McElderry favourite to win. |
| Stacey Soloman was voted off on Saturday night in a show which saw the final three duet with Michael Buble, George Michael and Robbie Williams. | Stacey Soloman was voted off on Saturday night in a show which saw the final three duet with Michael Buble, George Michael and Robbie Williams. |
| Nick Weinberg, a Ladbrokes spokesman, said: "Joe looks unstoppable." | Nick Weinberg, a Ladbrokes spokesman, said: "Joe looks unstoppable." |
| This weekend's two, two-hour X Factor shows could attract £18m in advertising... helping ITV1 finally end its month-by-month decline in revenue Torin DouglasBBC media correspondent X Factor prompts ITV resurgence | This weekend's two, two-hour X Factor shows could attract £18m in advertising... helping ITV1 finally end its month-by-month decline in revenue Torin DouglasBBC media correspondent X Factor prompts ITV resurgence |
| Both Ladbrokes and William Hill put Joe's odds of winning at 2/9, while Olly is the 3/1 outsider. | Both Ladbrokes and William Hill put Joe's odds of winning at 2/9, while Olly is the 3/1 outsider. |
| The contestants began by performing their favourite song of the series, with Murs performing Twist and Shout. | The contestants began by performing their favourite song of the series, with Murs performing Twist and Shout. |
| "You're a born showman, and whatever happens tonight you are going to have a great career," said judge Louis Walsh. | "You're a born showman, and whatever happens tonight you are going to have a great career," said judge Louis Walsh. |
| "There could be an upset tonight," said Cowell, Murs' mentor. "What people love about you is that you are fearless". | "There could be an upset tonight," said Cowell, Murs' mentor. "What people love about you is that you are fearless". |
| "Olly deserves to win because he has delivered 150% every single week," said Cowell, ahead of Sunday's show. | "Olly deserves to win because he has delivered 150% every single week," said Cowell, ahead of Sunday's show. |
| "He has a great future ahead of him," he added. "Winning this show will give him the last bit of confidence he needs." | "He has a great future ahead of him," he added. "Winning this show will give him the last bit of confidence he needs." |
| Murs, 25, who was working in a call centre just three months ago, described the occasion as "incredible". | Murs, 25, who was working in a call centre just three months ago, described the occasion as "incredible". |
| After weeks of ballads, McElderry sang the upbeat Don't Stop Believing which Cowell described as a "great song choice". | After weeks of ballads, McElderry sang the upbeat Don't Stop Believing which Cowell described as a "great song choice". |
| Simon Cowell's X Factor has played a major role in ITV's resurgence | Simon Cowell's X Factor has played a major role in ITV's resurgence |
| "You would have a hit record with that song, it was that good," he said. | "You would have a hit record with that song, it was that good," he said. |
| "Geordie Joe - you're got everything: the voice, the attitude, the charm," said Walsh of the 18-year-old's opening performance. "Small boy, big voice - and a great future." | "Geordie Joe - you're got everything: the voice, the attitude, the charm," said Walsh of the 18-year-old's opening performance. "Small boy, big voice - and a great future." |
| Judge Danni Minogue added: "Definitely the best voice on the stage tonight, there is no doubt." | Judge Danni Minogue added: "Definitely the best voice on the stage tonight, there is no doubt." |
| Both contestants went on to sing the Miley Cyrus single Climb, which will be released as this year's X Factor single and is widely predicted to be the Christmas number one. | Both contestants went on to sing the Miley Cyrus single Climb, which will be released as this year's X Factor single and is widely predicted to be the Christmas number one. |
| Of Murs performance, judges Cole and Minogue both remarked admiringly that they had "never heard you sing like that before". | Of Murs performance, judges Cole and Minogue both remarked admiringly that they had "never heard you sing like that before". |
| There was also a special message from Robbie Williams, with whom Murs duetted on Saturday. "You're a great singer, a great dancer and so charismatic. I wish you all the best in the world." | There was also a special message from Robbie Williams, with whom Murs duetted on Saturday. "You're a great singer, a great dancer and so charismatic. I wish you all the best in the world." |
| "It's my last performance on the X Factor," said 25-year-old Murs, from Essex. "I gave it absolutely everything." | "It's my last performance on the X Factor," said 25-year-old Murs, from Essex. "I gave it absolutely everything." |
| He added that he wished rival Joe all the best: "He's a fantastic contestant. I hope the best singer wins." | He added that he wished rival Joe all the best: "He's a fantastic contestant. I hope the best singer wins." |
| However, Walsh felt McElderry's version of the same song had "the edge", calling it "a note-perfect performance". | However, Walsh felt McElderry's version of the same song had "the edge", calling it "a note-perfect performance". |
| Cowell, who stands to make a personal fortune from the winner of the series, remarked that nerves led to a shaky start from McElderry, but added that he was "brilliant in the last half". | Cowell, who stands to make a personal fortune from the winner of the series, remarked that nerves led to a shaky start from McElderry, but added that he was "brilliant in the last half". |
| "I can't call this now, I really can't," he said. | "I can't call this now, I really can't," he said. |
| An emotional Cole, who comes from the same area as South Shields student McElderry, recalled her own break, in another TV talent show, Popstars: The Rivals. | An emotional Cole, who comes from the same area as South Shields student McElderry, recalled her own break, in another TV talent show, Popstars: The Rivals. |
| "I've lived the dream, - now I just want to see you live yours," she told him. | "I've lived the dream, - now I just want to see you live yours," she told him. |
| Sunday's show included performances from legendary stars Sir Paul McCartney and George Michael. | |
| Lucrative | Lucrative |
| It opened with this year's 12 finalists - including infamous twins John and Edward Grimes - singing Take That's Never Forget. | |
| Last year's winner Alexandra Burke sang with 2008 runners up JLS, before a performance from the 2006 winner Leona Lewis, who has proved a huge star on both sides of the Atlantic. | Last year's winner Alexandra Burke sang with 2008 runners up JLS, before a performance from the 2006 winner Leona Lewis, who has proved a huge star on both sides of the Atlantic. |
| Leona Lewis has achieved global success since winning in 2006 | Leona Lewis has achieved global success since winning in 2006 |
| However not all winners in the show's six series have gone on to enjoy global success. | However not all winners in the show's six series have gone on to enjoy global success. |
| Leon Jackson, who won the competition in 2007, was dropped after his debut album charted at number four in the UK, while Steve Brookstein - the winner of series one - was also dropped eight months into his contract, despite a number one single and album. | Leon Jackson, who won the competition in 2007, was dropped after his debut album charted at number four in the UK, while Steve Brookstein - the winner of series one - was also dropped eight months into his contract, despite a number one single and album. |
| This year's X Factor is expected to be extremely lucrative for ITV1. The series has dominated peaktime viewing on both Saturday and Sunday throughout the autumn. | This year's X Factor is expected to be extremely lucrative for ITV1. The series has dominated peaktime viewing on both Saturday and Sunday throughout the autumn. |
| The 40 ITV1 shows are thought to have brought in more than £75m in advertising, plus revenue from the phone-votes. | The 40 ITV1 shows are thought to have brought in more than £75m in advertising, plus revenue from the phone-votes. |
| And one analyst claims the total benefit to ITV is almost £100m, including income from showings on its website itv.com and the ITV2 spin-off show. | And one analyst claims the total benefit to ITV is almost £100m, including income from showings on its website itv.com and the ITV2 spin-off show. |