X Factor hopeful duets with his idol

X Factor semi-finalist Leon Jackson today said his dream came true when he was invited to duet with his idol Michael Buble on stage to a packed Wembley Arena.

The 18-year-old Scottish shop assistant, who only got into singing in January, performed Michael’s hit Home in front of 12,000 fans last night.

He said: “That’s the pinnacle for me man. I’d never rehearsed it with him, I never had a sound check, I just went up and winged it and it was beautiful man, a dream come true and when I came off I was wee bit emotional at the end.”

The surprise duet came after the remaining four contestants had a master class with the 32-year-old Canadian jazz singer, who is due to perform on the ITV1 talent show this weekend.

Speaking at a press conference, Jackson said he wasn’t nervous despite his lack of preparation, adding: “I think it was because I knew I wasn’t getting judged and I could just go up and have fun.”

A star-struck Jackson was also invited backstage to meet Buble’s family and his girlfriend, British actress Emily Blunt.

He added: “It’s just incredible because he’s sang duets with all his idols like Tony Bennett, and I’ve grown up in the last few years listening to Michael Buble and I got to sing with him. I just can’t explain it.”

Meanwhile, X Factor hot favourite Rhydian Roberts said he had enjoyed recording the winner’s single last week – a version of Mariah Carey’s When You Believe.

The 23-year-old Welshman, who has consistently wowed the judges with his operatic vocals, said: “It actually works for me. If you strip it down to its bare minimum without the riffs, because Mariah and Whitney try to outriff each other. It’s a beautiful song, with amazing lyrics and it was fantastic to work with Steve Mac, who’s one of the world’s best producers.”

School dinner lady and mum-of-two Niki Evans, 34, admitted winning a place in the final would be her “last chance” of having a music career.

“I’m a clear ten years older than everyone else in the old wrinkle stakes, so this is literally my last chance of the dream I’ve had since I was a small child,” she said.

“This is it for me. I’m fighting for it because there’s nothing else for me, the other’s have got more longevity than me.”

Brother and sister duo Same Difference are the bookies favourites to get kicked off the semi-final on Saturday, as the 9/1 outsiders.

Sarah and Sean Smith, from Portsmouth, seemed to accept their fate, with Sarah saying: “I don’t think we can win. We’ll try our hardest, we don’t want to be defeatist but having said that, obviously you’ve got Rhydian, who’s an absolute legend, Niki, who’s got an absolutely beautiful voice, and then Leon, who’s loved by teenage girls everywhere.”

The X Factor final takes place on December 15 and the winner will secure a £1 million recording contract, as well as releasing their own version of When You Believe to compete for the Christmas No 1 spot.