[Red Moon]

X Factor: Eoghan set to go for glory

DUNGIVEN star-in-the-making Eoghan Quigg will make his final pitch for X Factor glory on Saturday night.

ULSTER television viewing figures are expected to be smashed tonight as thousands tune in and pledge their support for the young crooner.

There has already been an estimated half-a-million Northern Ireland viewers tuning in to watch the local lad over recent weeks, but the grand finale this evening of the prime-time reality show is expected to set a new rating record for the Province.

None more so will this be felt in Eoghan's native north west, where over 850 people will cram into Londonderry's Playhouse theatre to cheer on the baby-faced 16-year-old.

In a live feed to the London studio, X Factor frontman Dermot O'Leary will speak to Eoghan's fanatical support, in a broadcast hosted by a mystery celebrity presenter.

The teenager's extended family and friends will pack into St Canice's Hall in Dungiven in a weekly ritual which they hope for one last weekend will prove a good luck charm for the town's favourite son.

As revealed in yesterday's News Letter, Eoghan's biggest supporters, his father and mother, Chrissy and Denise, and younger brothers, Calum and Dylan will be in the audience cheering the school boy on from the sidelines.

Recently born baby sister, Chrissie Mia, will remain in Northern Ireland with relations of the Quigg family.

The Dungiven lad received an insight to what the celebrity lifestyle could hold during a flying visit home on Monday when thousands turned out to give him a rapturous reception.

The youngest ever X Factor contestant, mentored by music mogul Simon Cowell, is predicted to be offered a lucrative record deal regardless of tonight's result.

Eoghan – who will perform a live duet with Boyzone – will battle it out with 20-year-old Alexandra Burke and remaining group, JLS, for the coveted crown.

The winner of the ITV show can expect to top this year's Christmas charts singing a cover version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.

Speaking ahead of the showpiece final, the modest teenager admitted he felt "really good".

"I can't wait – this will be the biggest night of my life and I am going to give it my all," he told Radio Ulster's Stephen Nolan show yesterday.

Appreciative of the ever-growing support back home – which included best wishes from First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness – Eoghan said: "To get support from home gives me so much confidence.

"It feels really good to have the support and to rely on people – I want to win it for everyone as well as myself.

"I dream of being a worldwide selling artist pursuing a career in music – that is what I want to be doing," he added.

A leading bookmaker claimed earlier this week that Eoghan's emotional moments during last week's semi-final with evictee Diana Vickers could have won him more fans and more votes ahead of tonight's final.

However, last night the Dungiven teenager had slipped to third favourite to win the competition outright at odds of 4/1.

Rupert Adams from bookmaker William Hill claimed Eoghan still had a "cracking chance" as his Ulster support is not being canvassed on the mainland.

Source: Belfast Newsletter

[james_h]

aw no. im not saying i don't want him to win well i kind of am lol but tbh alex is vocally better and well im jus being selfish now but i want to enter next year and i think if they've had a young lad this year then they won't want me next year lol im probs over thinking it tho.