Stars
predict Rhydian
By Kevin Widdop
THE X FACTOR finalists are x-pecting a run-away victory
for Rhydian as the final approaches next week and all insisted:
"At least there's second place to play for."
The four finalists - brother and sister combo Same Difference,
Leon, Niki and Rhydian - all put in private performances this
week before the semi-finals at a gathering of competition winners
at Carphone Warehouse.
 Click
to watch the finalists interview
Niki stole the show by getting the audience involved in the Jennifer
Rush classic 'The Power of Love' and Rhydian was in typically
crowd-pleasing mode.
Sean, 21, and Sarah, 18, from Portsmouth, Hants, who sang Wake
Me Up Before You Go Go and Nothing's Going To Stop Us Now, revealed
that they have a secret ritual before heading on stage, inspired
by High School Musical where they shake their hands at the same
time.
Sarah, from Same Difference, said: "I think we're all in
pretty much agreement that Rhydian is the favourite.
"He's been consistent throughout.
Brother Sean added: "But at least there's second place
to play for."
Rhydian, 24, is 1-2 favourite by the bookies to be crowned X
Factor champ and shed light on his simmering relationship between
Dannii Minogue.
He said: "I think she's well out of my league and she prefers
the older man.
"We're just friends and I think it will always remain that
way."
Asked whether there was anything going on between Simon Cowell
and Dannii, Nikki said: "I've never seen anything going on
between the two.
"We don't see anything like that.
"If anything is going on, it's kept behind closed doors."
The foursome put their competitive streak aside to have a night
out and Rhydian described it as ‘liberating'.
But they said the feared panellists' tantrum-throwing theatrics
is down to their competitive natures and has failed to overshadow
the job in hand.
Same Difference's Sean said: "I think a lot of the time
there's mind games in amongst it.
"We're just trying to concentrate on our performance."
Nikki added: "I think the judges are more competitive than
what we are."
Scot Leon, 18, sang a below par and unmoving A Crazy Little
Thing Called Love and You Don't Know Me, but was followed by Same
Difference in boisterous mode.
As popera star Rhydian closed the show with the Queen song Somebody
to Love and classical hit Somewhere, the crowd gave him a standing
and fists-clenched ovation.
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