Boyband sensation JLS will sing with superstar Rihanna in Saturday’s X Factor final.
The lads have struck lucky by landing a duet with the sexy chart-topper on the live show.
It is a clear blow to their rivals Alexandra Burke and Eoghan Quigg. Alexandra will team up with Westlife while Eoghan has Boyzone.
In last year’s final Leon Jackson performed beside megastar Kylie Minogue and stormed to victory – after starting the show a 6-1 outsider.
Bookies thinking history could repeat itself cut the odds on JLS winning to 7-2 last night.
The boys, Oritse Williams and Jonathan Gill, both 21, Aston Merrygold, 20, and Marvin Humes, 23, would be the first group to win.
A show insider said: “They are thrilled to be working with Rihanna. It is a massive coup. She has an incredibly wide fanbase which is bound to help pull votes.
“The feeling is that Rihanna’s backing is the clincher.
“Even Simon Cowell has admitted they could win. He views them as an increasingly profitable asset.”
JLS, which stands for Jack the Lad Swings, will perform Rihanna’s first No1 hit Umbrella on Saturday.
The live performance with an established star can make or break X factor hopefuls.
Last year the favourite Rhydian Roberts’s performance beside Katherine Jenkins failed to draw enough phone votes.
And Same Difference’s rendition of Any Dream Will Do with Jason Donovan saw them trail in third.
But Leon’s victory was hailed as being “the biggest shock in the history of reality TV betting”.
Alexandra was still 8-13 favourite to win last night with Eoghan 4-1.
But JLS’s popularity has been soaring. Earlier this week more than 30 fans were taken to hospital following a crowd scramble during a JLS gig at Fairfield Halls in Croydon, South London.
Last week the Mirror revealed Michael Jackson was a fan of the group, mentored by Louis Walsh, and had asked them to support him on tour next year.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/lates...5875-20961311/
Please let this be true!!!!!!