By Chris Heard BBC News Online entertainment staff

Finalist Alex Parks is the favourite to win

So then, will it be spikey-topped Alex from Truro, Alistair - the bookies' dark horse - or northern "rock chick" Carolynne?

Whoever walks off with the �1m record deal on Saturday, the show's producers will be looking to improve on last year's spectacular finale, when 6.9 million votes were cast by viewers.

Programme-makers have played down the importance of the ratings, but they must be secretly pleased that this year's series has not been wiped off the radar by its rival Pop Idol.

Some commentators had predicted the Beeb's challenge to Simon Cowell and co would collapse when the two went head-to-head in the schedules in August.

But while the ITV1 show has predictably nudged ahead, the Academy has held its own, with its primetime Saturday night shows averaging about six million viewers.

Alistair Griffin's odds have been improving with bookmakers

During last weekend's semi final, 1.5 million phone votes were cast - up on last year - and 5.8 million tuned in to see the result (compared with Pop Idol's 6.2 million).

The ratings matter, because amid rumours of the show being axed, and the exhaustive search for the "saviour" of Saturday night TV, it is ultimately the public who decide what stays and what goes.

The BBC has yet to commit to a third series (a fourth if you count the celebrity version), but the general consensus seems to be that this year's show was pretty good and an improvement on the first.

It was off to a faltering start when fans complained that four of the contestants had industry experience (finalists Alistair Griffin and Carolynne Good have songwriting deals).

There were further murmurs of "unfair advantage" when it was revealed that Louise Griffiths was the girlfriend of Formula 1 racing driver Jenson Button - until it quickly became clear she was there on merit.

Carolynne Good remains the outsider in the final

The show's credibility was boosted with the inclusion of Bee Gee Robin Gibb as one of the Academy's "tutors" , while viewers were kept entertained by the frequent ego clashes between host Patrick Kielty and "headmaster" Richard Park.

Any idea that this was somehow staged to boost ratings was soon quashed by the sight of a visibly angered Park - a man otherwise given to scant display of emotion - along with Kielty's unfailing inability to let it go.

While some of the camera work still left a bit to be desired, the live adrenaline rush emanating from the "circle of fear" was genuinely palpable.

Most importantly, the overall calibre of contestants was deemed to be just that bit better this year.

"I think the standard overall, taken as a collective, has been pretty good," headmaster Park told BBC News Online. "I think it compares favourably with last year.

"My feeling is that Alex is definitely deserving of the viewers' vote, and I think Alistair and his cheeky chappie abilities are closing in, but not close enough."

Thirteen contestants fought out this year's contest

Mark Frith, editor of Heat magazine, agreed that the quality of this year's entrants was high.

"I've been really impressed - not only by the standard of the singers but also by the characters," he said.

"You can be a great singer - and there are lots of great singers - but you have to be a great character, and I think we have seen some great characters in this show."

Despite suggestions that it stigmatises its biggest players, Fame Academy has been good for the cream of last year's show.

Winner David Sneddon went on to record three hit singles, including a number one, and a well received album.

Sinead Quinn matched Sneddon's �1m deal, while Lemar Obika, Ainslie Henderson and Malachi Cush have all enjoyed singles success.

All three of Saturday's finalists seem certain for bright futures - at least in the short term, while evictees such as Peter Brame, Paris Campbell-Edwards and James Fox should also do quite well - whatever Richard Park may say.