X Factor veteran Louis Walsh has insisted this weekend's final is a "three-horse race" despite bookmakers making Fleur East the heavy favourite.

The singer, from east London, wowed the judges last week with her performance of Mark Ronson's Uptown Funk and she is 4-11 favourite to win the hit talent show.

Bookmaker William Hill has put her ahead of the other two finalists, with Ben Haenow at 11-4 and Andrea Faustini at 12-1.

The firm's spokesman, Rupert Adams, said: "She has the momentum and looks like the only pop star of the three and we cannot see anything other than her victory."

But Walsh said:"It's not a foregone conclusion; it's a three-horse race, it's wide open and anybody can win.

"It's down to the song and the performance and it's all to play for. Sometimes the public vote for who they like. Sometimes its a popularity contest as well as a talent contest."

Walsh, who said he was sorry not to have any of his acts in the final, predicted that a couple of them - Stereo Kicks and Only The Young - could still have a career in music.

But the Irishman was tight-lipped on his own future with the show, saying: "I don't know. It depends who else was back. If Simon was back, it's always fun."