Defiant Simon Cowell last night insisted the X Factor is NOT fixed in favour of Leona — and revealed: “I’ve bet £1,000 Ben will win.”

He hit back after we revealed contestant Ben Mills threatened to quit because he feared bosses had arranged for rival Leona Lewis, 21, to win.

Ben, 26, was said to be furious that the song chosen for the winner’s debut single, Kelly Clarkson’s A Moment Like This, is more suited to a female vocal.

And we can reveal the long-haired lad from Kent, who is being mentored by Sharon Osbourne, left show bosses panicking this week by going MISSING.

But judge Simon, 47, who is mentoring Leona, said: “There is no fix.

“Everyone wants their act to win, but I genuinely think Ben will win and I’ll be very happy if he does.

“I’ve got a £1,000 bet with Sharon that he will win.”

Simon added: “If we have Ben and Leona in the final it’ll be the best final ever.

“The whole point is to find a successful recording artist. We want a star to emerge from this show.”

Clarkson released A Moment Like This after winning American Idol in 2002.

And the X Factor winner will release their version on December 20, four days after the ITV1 hit ends. This means all remaining contestants have had to record the single this week so it can be released as soon as the winner is announced.

Ben recorded his version on Thursday after going missing for a day.

He turned off his mobile and eventually turned up at his mum’s house.

A show insider said: “He just needed time to chill out, but he’s great now.”

Despite claims of a fix, Simon revealed A Moment Like This was first recorded as a demo tape by a BLOKE.

He added: “We’ve made five different versions of it to suit all the finalists.

“I spoke to Ben the day before he recorded his version and said ‘If you don’t like it, you don’t have to record it’. But he rang me up last night and said he is thrilled with the final result. I think his arrangement is best by a mile.”

He added: “Last year, both other judges hated the winner’s single That’s My Goal.

“We persuaded them it would suit everyone and Shayne Ward went on to sell a million and a half copies.” Simon said Ben had the advantage over Leona, who is suffering from tonsillitis but is due to sing Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You tonight.

He said: “Leona has hardly sung a note all week, so I’m very worried for her.”

Source

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One Response to “Simon slates fix claims”

1. KATIE WEAVER says:

   December 16, 2008 at 1:49 pm

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