9 December
TONIGHT is the showdown that will have X Factor fans on the edge of their seats.
The last three contestants - Leona, Ben and Ray - will go head-to-head to in the hope of winning a place in the final.
And the one person who doesn't mind who wins is judge Louis Walsh, whose last act, the Macdonald Brothers, was voted off last week. "I'm neutral now - I can just sit back and relax," he says.
Which means he's in the perfect position to give his impartial view on the final three.
Here's his professional opinion...
LOUIS ON BEN
I LOVE Ben's voice. He's different from anything we see on these shows - the long hair, the image. He's a rocker like a young Rod Stewart or Joe Cocker.
Ben has progressed and taken a few chances. Last week he tried a Queen song a cappella. It was good but would have been better with some music.
He's consistent but a hard card to read.
He's shy but he will get the female vote. He has been in bands so he has the advantage over Leona. I knew he'd be in the final. He will go far in the music business.
LOUIS ON RAY
I WOULD never have thought Ray would be in the final three. Never ever. I thought Ben and Leona had so much more to offer.
But of the three acts left he's the hardest working and the most professional. I've never seen anyone so determined.
He's a great dancer and a good singer. He's got a great personality and a great work ethic.
I think he'll end up a star in the West End.
You never know, he might even make the final two.
LOUIS ON LEONA
LEONA is a great singer and there's an opening for a girl like her in the UK - a big female solo act.
Her voice is amazing. When you think about it, we've had Lulu and Dusty Springfield but not many big female singing stars since.
She's understated and not very confident and that's why people like her. She takes everything on board, she treats it all very seriously.
I think Leona will do well. Her future in this business is very bright.
The only problem with Leona is that if she wins Simon will be so smug.
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