X FACTOR bosses are aiming for record TV ratings on a night of surprises at the live final.

Three finalists will battle for the £1m record contract tonight, with Alexandra Burke, 20, the odds-on favourite.

Close behind is boyband JLS and then Eoghan Quigg, 16, who was in tears last week after the elimination of Lancashire student Diana Vickers.

Diana, 17, from Blackburn, will be back on The X Factor stage this evening, along with Atherton's Laura White, 21, and Clayton-raised Scott Bruton.

It will be a double celebration for former Pontin's Bluecoat Scott, who turns 20 on Sunday, as all 12 finalists are reunited. X Factor reject Emma Chawner will also make an appearance - after twice being booted off the show.

Memorable

The 19-year-old former trainee hairdresser, who first appeared on the ITV1 talent show wearing a dress made by her dad, joins a line-up of memorable acts from the last five years.

Emma had been living in her car after being evicted from her Ramsbottom home following complaints about late night karaoke sessions.

X Factor supremo Simon Cowell said the surprises could last all the way to the announcement of the winner. He said: "It's the most exciting final we've done, I can't call it."

Alexandra will sing Silent Night, JLS will perform Wham's Last Christmas, with Eoghan singing Wizard's I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day. Other highlights include Alexandra performing a duet with Beyonce, JLS teaming up with Westlife and Eoghan dueting with Boyzone.

The winning act will release a version of the Leonard Cohen song Hallelujah and fight it out for the Christmas No 1 spot.

Once the third placed finalist has been eliminated, the final two contestants will perform the track before the result of the final public vote is announced.

The X Factor Final is on ITV1 at 7.10pm and 9.40pm tonight.