AFTER weeks of drama, twists, turns and excitement, Witham Wonder Olly Murs will tonight be singing in the X Factor final.

James Hore

AFTER weeks of drama, twists, turns and excitement, Witham Wonder Olly Murs will tonight be singing in the X Factor final.

Fans of the 25-year-old will be hoping he can defy the bookmakers' odds to bring the title to Essex.

It has been a rollercoaster ride for the former call centre worker who was a one-time favorite to win the popular ITV show before being forced into a sing-off to guarantee his survival.

He will be up against fellow Essex contestant - the Dagenham Diva, Stacey Solomon, 20, and Geordie Joe McElderry, 18.

Yesterday the finalists spoke about the mounting pressure before tonight's show.

Olly, who will be singing with Robbie Williams, said the Angels star left a message on his phone earlier this week suggesting they perform a dance together.

He said: “I don't take the public vote for granted.

“I didn't think for the life of me that each week I was going to get through. I just thought at some point I was going to be in the bottom two.

“I just bounced back and did the best I could. I knuckled down and worked hard.”

The finalists have recorded five potential songs for the winner's single and shot the video for the chosen song this week, with the choice widely rumoured to be Disney teen sensation Miley Cyrus's ballad The Climb.

Yesterday Olly's best friends wished him as he prepared for the biggest weekend of his life.

Lee Phillippo said: “I would just tell him to go out there and do his best - carry on doing what he has been doing and hopefully that will be enough.”

Lee will be in the studio audience cheering on his mate, who he said had been “flat-out” rehearsing this week.

“A few of the lads put money on him - I think my boss had �100 at 13/1 when he first got through, but it would just be great to see him win it.”

One finalist will be voted off before the final on Sunday night.

n Businesses across Witham have been doing their bit to support Olly with one caf� even naming a breakfast after him.

And MOT and Service Centres has also got in on the act by casting a vote for him each time a customer comes in for an MOT.

James Moses, general manager said Olly was a popular lad and customers had really been behind the idea.