X Factor to announce its winner

The contestants will perform for the final time on Saturday night

Contestants on ITV1's talent show The X Factor will discover who earns a £1m record deal as the current series reaches its star-studded final.

Alexandra Burke, Eoghan Quigg and boyband JLS are hoping they will follow in the footsteps of the likes of Leona Lewis and Leon Jackson.

The winner, decided by public vote, will release a cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, in time for Christmas.

The final is under way on ITV1, with the results show from 2140 GMT.

It is shaping up to be a closely-fought battle, according to bookmakers.

Eoghan Quigg said the final would be stressful for everyone

Alexandra is the Ladbrokes' favourite to win the show with odds of 4/6 on Saturday, despite a late surge in popularity for JLS.

The group have attracted more money in the final week of X Factor than any other act in the show's history.

Their odds now stand at 2/1, and have been cut from 9/4 since Monday.

Eoghan Quigg remains the outsider with a price of 9/2 in Saturday's betting.

As part of the final, all three contenders will perform a duet with an established chart act.

Although those combinations have not been officially confirmed in advance of the show, several newspapers during the week have tipped Beyonce Knowles, Westlife and Boyzone as the star acts.

The past week has seen the finalists return to their home towns to perform shows for fans.

And five teenage girls were injured at the concert in Croydon, London, starring JLS.

Fans were reportedly pushed forward when the crowd swelled to about 2,000 people at the 1,500-capacity Fairfield Halls.