'Best year yet' for the X Factor

Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue have been talking about their chances of winning this year's series of The X Factor and say it's the "best year the show's had".

Speaking at this week's Pride of Britain awards, Louis, who has the groups for the second year in a row and fourth time in six series, insisted one of his acts is in with a chance of snatching the title.

"I'm quietly confident," he said. "Listen, I got to the final last year with JLS. They're the big success act.

"I got there with G4. I won it with Shane (Ward). I could be in the final this year.

"Only one act is going to win. 11 are going to go home. It's wide open, I think."

The music manager wouldn't name a possible winner from his three finalists (Miss Frank, Kandy Rain and Irish duo John and Edward) but admitted he did want to annoy Simon Cowell.

"I've got two very good girl bands. [John and Edward] can only get better. They're young, they're inexperienced, they've no sob story.

"I had a few reasons for putting them through. That's one of the reasons (to annoy Simon Cowell). I didn't put them through because they're Irish."

'Best year'

Simon Cowell, who's mentoring over-25s Jamie Archer, Danyl Johnson and Olly Murs, jokied that he thinks Louis Walsh could have a winner in his group.

"I think Louis is in a really strong position," he said. "I think the Irish boys have been misunderstood and I think you've seen something the entire country's missed."

Simon Cowell is mentoring the over-25 category could win this year

Dannii Minogue, who has the girls (Stacey Solomon, Lucie Jones and Rachel Adedeji), says she's excited about the show this year but didn't name a potential winner.

She said: "It's been, I think, the best year that the show's had. It's so fun to be a part of that and grow with it."

'Best concert ever'

Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole, who's mentoring boys Lloyd Daniels, Rikky Loney and Joseph McElderry, is just happy to be watching star talent like Robbie Williams appear on the show.

"Take That were on last year. I just feel like I'm in pride of place. I'm sat right there at the front.

"I'm like, 'This is the best concert ever'. That's one of the perks of the jobs, I can tell you."

Live X Factor shows begin this weekend (Saturday 10 October).

Cheryl also revealed the judges get a ticket allocation for the shows on Saturday and Sunday nights, and that her Girls Aloud bandmates fight over who gets to go along.

Even last year's winner, Alexandra Burke, is getting excited about this year's show.

"I'm thinking that the over-25s are a really strong category. I'm not going to say [who I think will win] yet 'til the first live show. I want to watch them live and be like, 'Right. You stood out and you stood out'.

The singer, who releases her debut album Overcome on 19 October, also revealed she'll be making an appearance on Sunday night's X Factor results show.

"Yes I am. I'm going to be on there on Sunday night, so you've got to watch."