In pictures: The X Factor finalists

Bad Lashes were one of six acts who were taken to Louis Walsh's house in Ireland. Only three acts have made it to the live final.

Marvin Humes, JB, Ortise Williams and Aston Merrygold make up JSL. Walsh, who is mentoring the group category, said he had chosen them after a lot of "soul searching".

When Girl Band were told the news they were through to the final they threw their arms around Walsh. Three of the four members are from Bristol.

Twenty one-year-old Austin Drage is in Simon Cowell's male category. He used to be in boy band Five Boys and has supported Lemar, Westlife and Girls Aloud.

Eoghan Quigg, 16, grew up in Northern Ireland and is currently studying for his GCSEs. His pop star icon is Justin Timberlake and he hopes to be as big as former X Factor winner Leona Lewis.

The boys, including Scott Bruton, were taken to Cowell's house in Barbados. The 19-year-old had been working as a Bluecoat at Pontins, but has quit to pursue his singing dream on The X Factor.

New judge Cheryl Cole is in charge of the female category and whisked them away to her home in Cannes. Two years ago, 17-year-old Laura White started singing in jazz clubs.

It is not the first time 20-year-old Alexandra Burke has been on The X Factor. She made it through to the ITV1 show's boot camp in 2005, but Louis Walsh sent her home.

Diane Vickers, 17, believes her "quirky, different voice" will be liked by viewers. She has been singing since she was 11.

Rachel Hylton, 26, is in Dannii Minogue's over-25s category. The singer has five children and spent time in prison for drugs offences. She is through to the final, despite forgetting her song words.

Essex man Daniel Evans, 38, entered as a tribute to his late wife, who died last year.

Ruth Lorenzo, 25, joined six other acts at Minogue's house in St Tropez. One act will be voted out in Saturday's first live show, which airs on ITV1 at 1915 BST.