According to the Daily Star on Sunday - the final 9 are the following:

Sharons ; Roberta - blonde haired girl from Ireland
Tabby - also from Ireland. He was the guy who turned up with his band and instruments but was advised to go solo or his band wouldnt go through anyway.
Megan - 16 year-old who impressed Simon Cowell

Simons: Verity - 41 year old who had been stopped by her now ex0husband from pursuing a solo career. Simon got quite emotional over her story.
Steve - bloke who was asked to audition again the next day. Louis Walsh didnt think he was committed enough.
Rowetta - ex Happy Mondays backing singer, came across as quite mad in audition but Simon thinks she could win the whole competition

Louis`s: 2 To Go - blind lad and female friend. Judges initially did not rate voice of girl.
Voices With Soul - Mother, sister and daughter trio. Simon Cowell thought they looked awful but had fantastic voices.
G4 - Opera-style band that judges raved over especia\lly young lead singer

If the Daily Star are correct then I think G4 are going to be favourites to win this though Simon Cowell will be pushing for Rowetta.

erm since when are the daily star ever correct?

Simon Cowell may push for Rowetta but he'll sign G4 up win or lose.

Don't rule out Steve.

If the Daliy Star are right (or more to the point telling the truth) I'm surprised the singing coach isn't among the over 25's last three. Simon loved him.

I can't remember Roberta at all, I didn't like Tabby and couldn't see what was so impressive about Megan. 16 year olds with voices like hers are 10 a penny. No star quality and nothing special.

I missed the blind guy and the girl when they were on and Voices with Soul are the ultimate cliche. I bet the mother and aunt thought all their Christmases had come at once when this show was announced. Simon was right about their look at least.

We only have the first auditions to go off up to now.
I am looking forward to the 2 one-hour-bootcamp specials.
Then we should see the real talent shine.

G4 and Rowetta are my favourites.
Both stood out, and I KNOW they can both sing brilliantly.

Lloyd was one of my favourites too.
A much better singer than Verity, in my opinion, but they're proably after the sympathy vote with her.
Nice lady, nice voice, but nothing special.

I would have to see more of Megan to judge.
Maybe the judges heard more.
I thought she was good, but wasn't blown away as the judges were, but maybe they saw something we didn't.

G4 will get signed anyway, and hopefully so will Rowetta.
I would like an over 25 to win, as it is the last chance.

God I hated Rowetta. Can't stand brash, loud people like that.

I personally want the best to win, not any particular group or any particular judge. I hate the fact even a part of the contest is about the judges at all - it shouldn't be.

I agree with Drooboy about the judges. We should be voting for the best contestant not the favoured judge or the person who deserves our sympathy the most. It looks like Simon has gone down this route with the inclusion of Verity. I am dismayed by Sharons choices too. None of the three were particularly memorable despite the judges enthusiasm. As has been said already, voices like Megan are commonplace these days. The guy from Blackpool - Andy Steed - was far more memorable though his voice wasnt the best. He had more of the overall package. Shocked he isnt there. I am suprised that the Star was leaked the information about final nine too.
At this moment in time I am backing G4 to win. They may get a contract win or lose but the same could be said for anybody in the final nine.

G4 look like good contenders, though don't know if they will threaten Simon's new operatic boy-band! I also wonder if they are a bit one-trick-ponyish, so will be interesting to see how they progress. I'm fairly sure they will be in the final 9 come what may, even if the Daily Star story is wrong.

Verity was memorable but I didn't think she was great. I'm willing to be proven otherwise.

That brash, loudness could also be said of Robbie Williams.
It's called the X Factor!

Without it, you get, dull, boring and bland!
I know which I prefer.

Let's wait for bootcamp though before judging anyone fully.

Rowetta is a far superior singer to Verity.
Check her backing vocals on Happy Mondays tunes.
Amazing.

I found Verity too nervous to be a star, although I liked the way they worked the sob story in.

Thats what I liked about Andy though. He seemed to have a Robbie Williams vibe about him. Very cheeky. Sharons choices seem really safe and bland and that is what is perplexing with her final 3.

I liked that about Andy too.
Cheeky chappy, reminiscent of Robbie.
Tabby was a good choice though for me.
Somebody a bit different.

Maybe the Star has it wrong.

I'm surprised that long haired guy who Sharon loved didn't get through

Excellent, she is gorgeous

Those weren't the exact final 9, they were what the guy in the paper thought would be the last 9.......
Don't you guys read the article.

damn u beat me too it.. yeah if you rad the article it says based on what we have seen so far that is who they think will make it through!

The article had the names of all the final nine even though a few were barely featured. Someone gave the reporter these names and the reporter dressed it up as his own thoughts. It could be Cowell himself giving false info to the Star but it may turn out to be true. The day before the Star claimed it had the definte names of the final nine and would reveal them exclusively in the Sunday edition. I noticed that next to this article was an interview with Cowell and he said if any info of the final 9 was leaked by any of them to friends or the media then he would have the power of veto over their place in the competition. Maybe the Star are simply covering themselves in case a few names are wrong?

I think this would be excellent news if true as there is a good mix there.

After thinking about this for a while, I am inclined to believe that the above listed contestants may not make the final nine. I am sure that at the end of last Saturday's show, Verity and Rowetta were shown in tears, and at the time, it made me think that maybe those two don't get any further?

Jay i thought that but could that what they want us to believe? Maybe they were crying because they got through anyway Rowetta is fantastic and is my fav so far.

Of course, it’s entirely feasible that Simon has a bit of a thing for Verity, but I can’t believe that she has the vocal ability to make it to the final 3 in her group. Rowetta has a great voice, is an utter fruit loop and should be the top placed Over 25 in the show.

However, I still think that G4 are the only ones to beat. Voices with Soul are wonderful powerhouses but maybe not mainstream enough for a public vote. Those two and Roweta are my tip (if the list is even close to the truth) for the top 3 in the competition.

I wouldn't be surprised if 2 To Go win as they are so inspirational.

I wouldn't be surprised if a solo male won knowing that most voters will be young girls.

I think Rowetta or G4 will win, if the top 9 are right.

People want something different.
They are both orignal and definitely have the X factor!

People talk about the final 9 but didn't they say tonight that the judges had to whittle them down to 5 each? 3 x 5 doesn't equal 9.

Yeah, I was thinking that too. Maybe its a final 15 instead of final 9?