A RECORD 20 million viewers tuned in to The X Factor final last night to watch the four remaining acts battle it out for a £1million contract.

ITV will make a fortune from advertising revenue as some of the biggest names in pop performed on the live show.
Pop royalty rubbed shoulders with the stars of the future in the most exciting and unpredictable final in X Factor history.

US superstar Christina Aguilera, Robbie Williams, Will.i.am and American R&B singer Rihanna sang with the finalists.
Aguilera, who resembled a Fifties movie star, performed a duet with Rebecca Ferguson, 24, the popular mother-of-two from Liverpool.

Robbie Williams, recently reunited with Take That, sang with boy band finalists One Direction. The 36-year-old also appeared on the show last year with runner-up Olly Murs.

X Factor contestants already voted off, including Wagner and Mary Byrne, returned to perform Christmas single Heroes with the finalists.

Meanwhile last night was expected to mark the end of the X Factor journey for feisty teenager Cher Lloyd.

She was predicted to be voted off the show after receiving the lowest number of public votes. The final is in two parts and finishes tonight.

Earlier in the week Lloyd revealed she did not believe she could take the title: “I know I am not going to win. Come on, I am the rapper.”

However, the 17-year-old’s dreams came true when she got to sing with her music idol Will.i.am, front man for hip hop band The Black Eyed Peas.

X Factor favourite Matt Cardle, 27, is looking forward to buying a car and treating his family if he wins. The former painter and decorator from Essex is hotly tipped to land the coveted recording contract with show supremo Simon Cowell.

The heart-throb, who duetted with Rihanna, plans to buy mentor Dannii Minogue an “amazing” present for supporting him through the contest.

When asked how he would spend his first pay cheque if he wins The X Factor, Matt said: “It depends how much I get. I want to treat my family first, and myself, but then I want to be sensible with it. I don’t hanker over any flash cars, just a car that works would be a nice start.”

He said Dannii had bought him gifts all week in the run-up to the final, so he wanted to pay her back.

Matt added: “I really need to buy her something to say thank you but I’ve got no money at the moment.”
He was overjoyed to be paired with Rihanna, saying: “I think every guy on the planet’s going to be jealous of me. She is super hot and a great singer.”

Source: Express UK