X Factor 2018 winner set to share the limelight with famous singer on debut track to boost Christmas No1 chances
THE new X Factor champion will be crowned this weekend – but whoever wins the record deal will have to share the limelight on their debut release.
I can reveal that this year’s winner’s single will feature one of three chart-topping artists to boost its chance of being Christmas No1.
Bookies’ favourite Dalton Harris, mentored by Louis Tomlinson, has collaborated with James Arthur. He has a good track record after winning the show in 2012 and scoring the biggest winner’s single ever, with more than 1.5million UK sales of the song Impossible.
For his single, Scouse underdog Anthony Russell — also advised by Louis — will team up with Leeds rockers Kaiser Chiefs, fronted by ex-The Voice coach Ricky Wilson.
And Simon Cowell’s outsider Scarlett Lee, has been paired with 2006 winner Leona Lewis, who will be hoping to score her first No1 since Run in 2008.
The top two performers will sing their potential winner’s single with their featured artist in front of their mentors, judges Robbie Williams and Ayda Field and millions of viewers on Sunday’s show, but only the champion will get to release it.
A TV insider said: “The X Factor no longer has a monopoly on the Christmas No1 like in the early days, so this exciting spin on the winner’s single will ensure it is in the running. James, Leona and the Kaiser Chiefs are friends of the show and were happy to lend their vocals to the winner’s singles, even though only one of the records will see the light of day.
“While Dalton, Anthony or Scarlett have to share the glory, the chance to collaborate with one of the country’s biggest acts on their first ever release is an added perk.”
X Factor bosses roped in the talented trio of acts after a last-minute twist in the 2017 final saw champions Raksu release their winners’ debut single, Dimelo, as a collaboration with Naughty Boy and Wyclef Jean.
Their original song peaked at No2, becoming the most successful winner’s single since Ben Haenow’s festive No1, Something I Need, back in 2014.
I suppose this year’s winner can always blame their duet partner if the gamble doesn’t pay off.
Ayda's reddy to roll
SHE may not have an act in the final but actress Ayda doesn’t seem bothered.
On her time on the show, the judge, who mentored The Overs, said: “I honestly don’t know if I would change anything.
“Coming into this experience I was so nervous, because this is a huge job.
“I take helping people reach their dreams and goals very seriously and I hope that my contestants could feel that from me throughout the process.”
On her fellow judges, Ayda, posing here in a promo shot for the final, added: “Simon is even more competitive than you think and is a master of this job.
“Louis has a big heart and even bigger Instagram following.
“Robbie? I knew everything about him already.”
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Rob takes centre stage for medley
ROBBIE Williams won’t be short of screen time tomorrow despite none of his acts competing.
I can reveal he will open the live show by performing his greatest hits with the acts that reached the last ten.
They will all sing a medley of his iconic tracks including Let Me Entertain You, Rock DJ and Freedom.
A show insider said: “Fans have been gunning for Robbie to perform all series and that’s finally going to happen.
“He’s been a real highlight of this year’s show and it was a real feat to get him as a judge, so the medley is going to be a celebration of that.”
And it won’t be the only time Robbie takes to the stage – as he’s also set to reunite with former Take That bandmates Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen for an epic reunion performance during the ITV show’s Sunday finale.
Robbie has also just been confirmed to headline Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time Hyde Park on July 14 next year.
The X Factor will give him a bit of a warm-up.
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Louis:'Simon's annoying but we've had a laugh'
IT may look like they’re thick as thieves but Louis Tomlinson says Simon Cowell is getting on his nerves.
He admitted: “I knew that Simon was annoying. He’s been annoying me a bit on the panel, but we’ve had a bit of a laugh, so that’s been good.”
His comments come after the pair fell out after Simon decided to vote off Louis’ act Armstrong Martins and they clashed over Brendan Murray’s song choice earlier in the series.
Louis is in the best position to take this year’s X Factor crown with two of his acts, Anthony Russell and Dalton Andre Harris, in the final.
He said: “I’ve got big personalities in my category.There are good stories and good people, so there are plenty of reasons for people to vote for them.”
The odds are with him.
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Three pairs for final flourish
FINALISTS will get TWO major collaborations this weekend.
As well as top stars on their potential winners’ singles, Dalton, Anthony and Scarlett will sing with big names tomorrow, before one of them being is booted out ahead of the grand final.
Dalton will team up with Emeli Sande for her 2012 No1 Beneath Your Beautiful, Anthony will duet with one of the biggest rising stars of 2018, Tom Walker, on his single Leave The Light On and Scarlett will join Robbie Williams for Angels.
The last time he sang that live with an artist was in June, when he joined Taylor Swift for a rendition for her tour. If Scarlett gets anywhere near the superstardom of Taylor, Simon Cowell will be rubbing his hands.
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Channing Tatum may be dating Jessie J but he still showed love to actress Amanda Bynes after she claimed she got him cast in 2006 film She’s The Man.
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Hugh's going on world tour
HUGH Jackman’s movie career has spanned two decades but he’s swapping it for life on the road.
After landing the biggest- selling album of the year with The Greatest Showman soundtrack, he is going solo on a huge world tour.
The Man, The Music, The Show will see Hugh perform tracks from the musical movie as well as Les Miserables and other big-screen and Broadway classics, accompanied by a live orchestra.
His jaunt will kick off in Hamburg, Germany, on May 13, followed later in the month by shows in Manchester and Birmingham and two nights at London’s O2 Arena on June 2 and 3. Tickets go on sale next Friday.
The Greatest Showman soundtrack has shifted a massive 854,000 combined copies in the UK this year – 348,000 more than George Ezra’s Staying at Tamara’s, which is currently at No2 in the Top 40 biggest-selling albums of 2018.
But Hugh’s move into music throws his acting career into doubt and he currently has no films scheduled for 2019.
Perhaps a solo album could be more profitable.
It comes after the A-list actor admitted he was looking for something fulfilling to do.
He told The Sun last December: “I’m unemployed. My wife loves it but talk to us in about a month.
“I’m happy to say I don’t know what’s next. I’m deliberately creating a vacuum in order to find the next thing.”
Sounds like he’s found it.
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- FORMER X Factor contestant Simon Gross is putting on naughty pantomime A Lad In Soho, which promises to be “bigger, bolder, camper and ruder”. It runs at London’s Karma Sanctum Soho from December 14 to 23.