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X Factor Final 2013: Sam Bailey, Luke Friend and Nicholas McDonald duets announced

Nicole Scherzinger, Ellie Goulding and Shane Filan will join them

Jess Denham
Wednesday 11 December 2013 11:35 EST
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Luke Friend, Sam Bailey and Nicholas McDonald get in the Christmas mood with a rendition of Wizzard's 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday'
Luke Friend, Sam Bailey and Nicholas McDonald get in the Christmas mood with a rendition of Wizzard's 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday'

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Preparations for the grand final of The X Factor have been well underway since Sam Bailey, Luke Friend and Nicholas McDonald made it through the semis last Sunday.

This weekend, the remaining acts will duet with three musical stars in a climactic bid to impress the voting public and land a recording contract.

Judge Nicole Scherzinger will perform “And I Am Telling You” from Broadway musical Dreamgirls with Sharon Osbourne’s mentee Sam Bailey.

“We’re going to have so much fun and scha-diva it out on the X Factor stage,” the former Pussycat Doll said.

Luke Friend, who has survived several sing-offs to make the final, will be teaming up with award-winning singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding on a rendition of her hit single “Anything Could Happen”.

“I’m really excited to perform with lovely Luke,” she said. “He’s a crazy talented singer and a good soul and to me that is the perfect combination.”

Devonshire busker Luke has called the experience “overwhelming” and praised Ellie’s “unique voice”.

Lastly, Westlife’s frontman Shane Filan will join Nicholas McDonald to perform number one ballad “Flying Without Wings” at the Wembley Arena final.

Shane was one of Louis Walsh’s guest judges this year and thus has supported Nicholas throughout his X Factor experience.

“Nicholas stood out from the beginning as he has such an incredible voice for someone so young,” Shane said.

Guest acts to appear on the weekend shows include Las Vegas group The Killers, Mercury Prize nominee Tom Odell, judge Gary Barlow, Elton John, Katy Perry and former X Factor contestants One Direction.

The finalists have been getting into the Christmas mood this week with an acoustic rendition of Wizzard's "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday".

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