Elton John to headline X Factor final - with Barlow duet

A world exclusive of Gary Barlow and Sir Elton John performing their new single Face to Face will be one of the star turns at this year’s X Factor final.

The pop legends will be joined at the final by Katy Perry, who will sing her latest track Unconditionally, and One Direction, who shot to fame after winning X Factor three years ago and will perform their brand new single Midnight Memories.

The final takes place at Wembley Arena on Saturday December 14 and Sunday December 15.

Singer-songwriter Tom Odell and The Killers, who will sing Mr Brightside and Human, are due to perform on the Saturday with the other big name acts taking to the stage on Sunday.

One Direction – Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne - have remained close to the show since finishing third on the seventh series in 2010 and current 'X Factor' favourite Sam Bailey recently admitted she would love to see Harry become a mentor on the programme.

She said: "I was having a fat day and thinking I was going home and Harry found me upset in the corridor, put his arm around me and said, 'Come with me.' He was really sweet, hugged me and said, 'Sam Bailey, I want to see you go out there and smash it.' He'd make a good mentor in a few years."