X Factor supremo Simon Cowell says One Direction could be the real stars of the final because the hugely successful boy band still think they are in the competition.

The mogul, who said he could not decide which of his two acts he wants to win, said he is still angry they did not take the prize in 2010.

He said: “I was talking to the guys from One Direction all day long yesterday while they were in rehearsals and they are doing something special and its quite amazing they have come off this stadium tour this year but actually their focus is absolutely what they’re going to do on the night because they still think they’re in the competition.” One Direction are just one of the big names including Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran who are performing at this weekend’s final.

Cowell has two acts − Fleur East and Ben Haenow − in the final and said he felt “quite odd” because he liked them both. The bookie’s favourite East says learning “to let go” is the secret of her success in the hit singing show. The singer, from Walthamstow in east London, said: “Through the weeks I did learn to let go but I didn’t really have fun without thinking about anything else and last weekend was the first time I did that.”

Haenow, whose set will include a cover of Michael Jackson’s Man In The Mirror, revealed he had a secret weapon in his quest for success.

He said: “You know what I have got is lucky pants, there’s no real ritual involved, I just put them on and hope for the best really but they’ve served me well so far.”

The third act in the final, Italian Andrea Faustini, revealed he would also be paying tribute to Jackson performing Earth Song. Take That are also among the acts appearing over the weekend.