Radio Times: Review by:; Jane Rackham

Any suggestion that this show was about discovering a talented singer who would eventually become an international recording star was ruled out when frontrunner Ella Henderson was shockingly voted off in favour of keeping Rylan Clark and Christopher Maloney in the contest. Was this a bit of Rage Against the Machine-style subversive voting by viewers or did they assume she was safe and so didn’t bother to pick up the phone? We’ll never know.

Still, as the final two acts take to the stage in Manchester tonight (the third left yesterday, but coming third’s not so shabby — look at One Direction), they can congratulate themselves on having survived a remarkable succession of dramas and controversies.

They’ll be singing what may – or may not – be the Christmas number one before Dermot O’Leary puts on his most serious face and, after a dramatic pause long enough to record your own version of it, announces this year’s winner.

About this programme

21/21. With part one of the final behind them, this is the last chance for the two remaining acts - James Arthur and Jahmene Douglas - to impress the public in the race to become this year's X Factor winner. Gary Barlow, Nicole Scherzinger, Tulisa and Louis Walsh offer their comments as usual, but the result is entirely in viewers' hands, and at the end of the show, Dermot O'Leary reveals which of these potential pop stars walks away with the record deal. One Direction, Emeli Sande and Rihanna will also be appearing on stage. Last in the series.