[Red Moon]

Cowell raises pressure on finalists

Simon Cowell said the pressure was on for the X Factor finalists to win the show, because in the current economic climate he cannot guarantee runners up a recording contract.

Asked if he was going to sign up any of the other contestants, he said: "I'm not going to make any decisions at this time. I think under the current climate I would say it was more important to win the show this year than any other year.

"Like every other business the record business is tougher than it was last year."

Cowell said that this year's finals was the most exciting so far. "It's the most exciting final we've done. I genuinely can't call it. It's theirs to win on the night. That's what the final should be about, all about their performance. I'm really looking forward to Saturday. I think it's going to be a right old ding dong."

Alexandra Burke, 20, said she was not going to let the fact she is the bookies' favourite to win affect her performance. "The bookies' favourite to win changes every week, it changes all the time. So to me it absolutely means nothing. As Simon said it's all about your performance on the night."

Her mentor, Cheryl Cole, told a different story. "Alexandra's been the bookies' favourite but actually that's added quite a lot of pressure on to her. She's really struggling with her nerves so I'm just trying to contain that at the minute, and just to keep doing what she's been doing. She comes out there every week terrified and sings and dances amazingly, so I'm not as worried as she is," said Cole.

Eoghan Quigg, 16, said he was not nervous about the final. "All three acts want to win and all three are good."

Boy band JLS said they wanted to be the first group to win the X Factor. "This is the biggest moment of our lives. We've shared this experience so far together and we'd like to hopefully make X Factor history and hopefully we can be the first group ever to win the show," said Ortise.

Cowell said the contestants did well to perform live on the show each week.

"Something that Cheryl said to me and something that Gary Barlow said about being on the show, it is the most terrifying show on TV as an artist to perform on. The fact these guys come out week after week and turn out these performances, it's unbelievable."

Source: Press Association