Finalists perform Miley song

Olly Murs and Joe McElderry have delivered their last X Factor solo performances before the winner is announced.

The pair both performed the winners' single - the Miley Cyrus power ballad The Climb.

Olly, who performed first, looked on the verge of tears as he sang the final notes and the judges looked genuinely shocked by what was undoubtably his strongest vocal performance of the series.

"I have never heard you sing like that - where did that come from?" exclaimed Dannii Minogue. "Congratulations - that is a voice we've never heard before."

Cheryl Cole agreed with Dannii, adding: "I thought it was a beautiful version of the song."

"You always give 100 per cent. I like everything about Olly Murs," gushed Louis Walsh.

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Olly's mentor Simon Cowell said it was the perfect response to any criticism that Olly lacked the vocals required to win the show.

"You've just answered every criticism... you've just proved a point. I really, really hope that people get behind you after that performance," he said.

And Olly admitted: "It's my last performance on The X Factor so I gave it everything."

Asked what it would be like to be declared the winner, Olly told Dermot O'Leary: "It would mean the absolute world."

And Simon, who admitted he felt emotional after seeing Olly's highlights from the series, told his act: "This is why we make the show - it's to give people like you a break.

"You've been an absolute pleasure to work with and I wish you all the luck in the world."

However, once again it appears that Joe won the support from the judges after he performed his version of the single.

Louis Walsh said it was "as always, a note-perfect performance" from Joe, before declaring he had sung it better than Olly.

He said: "I loved Olly's version. but I'm going to put my neck on the block - I think you have the edge."

Dannii was equally impressed, telling the 18-year-old: "That was a beautfiul performance - it was effortless.

"When you hit those absolute top notes, I get tingles."

Simon Cowell appeared to begin to criticise Joe's performance, claiming: "This is the first time I can see and feel your nerves."

But he added: "You started off shakily, then annoyingly you were brilliant... I can't call this now."

And, as always, Cheryl was on the verge of tears as she told Joe: "I hope tonight you achieve your dream."

Joe said the song meant a lot to him.

"It's a really emotional song, as it means everything that's gone on for the last couple of months," he said.

And after watching his highlights of the series, he told Dermot: "I've just realised how far I've come along."

Cheryl told her act that he could emulate her success, after she came from being a contestant on Popstars: The Rivals, to being a member of Britain's top girl band Girls Aloud and, more recently, a solo artist with a No 1 single and album.

"Watching that takes me right back from when I started and I was a contestant. and I've lived the dream," she said.