IT'S the final countdown for Bexley's Sam Bailey who has made it all the way the final of The X Factor.

The 35-year-old, who grew up in Eynsford Road in Bexley Village, has been hailed as the most 'consistent' act throughout the competition after her two performances last Saturday.

After her rendition of Beyonce's If I Were A Boy, judge Louis Walsh said: "Vocally that was off the scales - you never let us down."

He added: "I really think this competition is yours to lose. You can win it for Mrs O, you can go all the way. You tick all the boxes."

The mother-of-two then took on her biggest ballad yet with Elton John's Candle In the Wind, which Gary Barlow described as 'beautiful' and 'effortless'.

He said: "You almost showed another side of you tonight I thought, and you know, it's not an easy song. You took it and you made it a singer's song. I thought it was great."

Meanwhile, Nicole Scherzinger was moved to profanity, but recovered by repeatedly uettering the words 'shiitake mushrooms'.

Mentor Sharon, who has a chance of winning for the first time with Sam, emotionally added: "Thank you, Sam, thank you. I do love you, missus."

After reaching the final on Sunday night, Sam said: "Words can't describe how I felt. I just thought to myself 'I'm not gonna cry, I'm not gonna cry'."

She added: "I've lost weight, I've gained confidence, I've become myself again."

Appropriately enough, Sam will be singing Lady Gaga's Edge of Glory as one of her songs in this weekend's final where she'll be competing to take the crown from Luke Friend and Nicholas McDonald.

She'll also repeat her favourite performance from the live shows - The Power of Love by Jennifer Rush.

Her mystery celebrity duet is yet to be revealed.