It’s safe to say that this series of The X Factor has been pretty average. Sure, all of the finalists are talented and they can sing (with the exception of the axed Frankie Cocozza) but nobody has been a clear favourite from the start like in previous years and there hasn’t been that one show stopping performance that has made viewers think ‘Wow! That is our winner right there’.

With three new judges, all qualified and experienced enough to give their opinions, and what looked like real alliances backstage this series started out with such potential but then came along the live shows and everything changed. The judges realised the competition was well and truly on and the bickering began. With the talent not up to much producers have had to rely on backstage drama, controversy from the judges, double eliminations, bringing back axed contestants and getting artists from previous years to appear on the show and take part in the annual charity single to boost record sales and the ever decreasing ratings.

So with our three finalsts: Amelia Lily, Marcus Collins and Little Mix, what are their chances of actually winning?

17-year-old Amelia was originally sent home by mentor, Kelly Rowland, in the first week but was then voted back into the competition in Week 6 to replace, Frankie Cocozza, who had been kicked out of the competition for rule breaking. With the big powerful voice that can hit the high notes (or just shouting as Gary Barlow puts it) can she go all the way? Sadly, I don’t think so. Not only has Amelia been eliminated once already but she has also been in the bottom two quite recently and there is that ever knowing and always present ‘bottom two curse’ (a winner of The X Factor has never been in the bottom two).

Marcus Collins is not perfect, but he’s very nearly there. Having had more good weeks than bad Marcus’s popularity hasn’t faulted throughout the live shows but as an artist it is clear Marcus still doesn’t truly know what his ‘style’ is. Whatever happens to Marcus lets just hope he takes time to learn, discover and develop who he is with regards to his music because with the right package he could go on to achieve great things.

Having been formed at Bootcamp, Little Mix, have gone from strength to strength each week and their hard work has definitely paid off by becoming the first girl group to make it past the half way mark. The only thing the girls have failed to do is show any versatility. Pretty much all of their performances have been of the same Pop/R&B style but at this is a popular genre at the moment anyway does it really matter? Little Mix could very well be the first group to win The X Factor but given the success stories of groups JLS and One Direction who didn’t win and were just as popular on the show (albeit slightly more given that they are boy bands) maybe Little Mix don’t need to win after all. Looking back at other series’ the runners up always seem to be the most successful act and let’s face it, Girls Aloud are not likely to reform in the foreseeable future and The Saturdays are slowly on their way out so the UK could really do with a new popular girl group on the scene.

We’ll find out this weekend. The final begins on Saturday night live from Wembley Arena where all three acts will perform for your votes. At the end of the show the act with the least votes will go home there and then leaving the final two to go through to Sunday night where the winner will eventually be crowned.

The Finalists from L to R: Amelia Lily, Little Mix (Jade, Jesy, Perrie and Leigh-Anne) and Marcus Collins.