The strongly positioned newspaper rumours were that three artists had been lined up to perform with the finalists next week:

Beyonce (worldwide superstar)
Take That (UK's most popular band return)
Boyzone (the Louis Walsh favour)

Now does the composition of the final three alter what the X-Factor had planned? I think JLS getting there has thrown a spanner in the works, and why Simon et al were being so cagey tonight regarding who is on next week.

JLS can't perform with TT or Boyzone - they need a solo artist to work with. So JLS get Beyonce if the guest artists remain the same. That upsets the apple cart as Alexandra had been lined up to duet with Beyonce all along, so she now gets TT or Boyzone. Doesn't really matter who Eoghan gets.

If the producers are determined to make the Alexandra and Beyonce duet a runner, will they invite another solo artist on at the expense of one of the two bands to allow JLS to duet with them? Beyonce might also insist that the only duet she'd do would be with Alex so forcing their hand.

Any suggestions for an alternative solo artist? Another option is of course to scrap the duets altogether. Or do you see no problem?

Beyonce is by far the biggest draw of the three guest acts. The other two cannot compare.

Why not Beyonce and Eoghan?

I'm pretty sure they were preparing for JLS to make it, they pushed heavily for them tonight.

Leona duetted with Take That so Alex would be fine with them. Eoghan and Boyzone might be a bit odd looking, though.

Although the guests still aren't confirmed, but Simon did confirm that there will be 3 guests next week.

The problem for JLS is that they will always be overshadowed by the female they sing with whether it is Beyonce or Leona.

Wasn't Alicia Keyes confirmed to be appearing at some point?

Last year Leon did a duet with Kylie, while Same Difference got Jason Donovan and Rhydian got Katherine Jenkins.. I think this had a massive influence on the votes as Kylie is extremely popular.

I think who the contestants duet with could have a huge influence on the votes

That was meant to be a James Bond tie-in but it clearly never got off the drawing board.

i be surprised if alex dueted with beyone - kinda pointless, i dont think beyonce would wanna duet with her

id see beyonce with JLS

take that and alex would be good

i thought eoghan and boyzone but someone made a good point it would look a little strange, they are all men in there 30's

eoghan be better off with someone like miley cyrus, there not too many teen acts to choose from though ?? i guess he be with boyzone cause of ther irish connection

im not sure take that will be back as theyve already done one final and i also dont think boyzone will be there.

Im going to guess at three from

Beyonce
Duffy
Script
Seal
Will Young
Take That
Sugababes
Michael Bubbles

Would be funny if the three guests were...Shayne Ward, Leona Lewis and Leon Jackson though.

oooo aint i good.

With duffy, seal and beyonce set to perform at final. All amongst my choices.

All be it boyzone will also be there which i was wrong about but give me some credit.

Is that definitely confirmed?

Duetting with Take That didn't do Leona any harm

Maybe the same trick would work fine for Alexandra?

TT will not be on the final!