Published Sunday, 30 September 2012
Ella Henderson is one of this year's finalists (© ITV)
Gary, Tulisa, Louis and Nicole revealed four acts also face a public vote to become the 13th finalist in the show.
Among the acts to head straight through with a chance of winning are bookies' favourite Ella Henderson and YouTube sensation Lucy Spraggan who have both already performed their own tracks earlier in the series.
In the overs, Melanie Masson has had a taste of the music business with her own deal and session work and saw the show as her "last chance" of a full-time music career.
In the boys category, James Arthur writes his own songs, raps and plays the guitar and promised to bring "versatility, passion and raw emotion" to the show.
The finalists will be able to perform their self-written songs as well as strum along this year, in a first for the live shows.
A change in the rules to allow acts with management deals into the contest has encouraged more entrants with their own material.
The live shows will feel very different this year as contestants can sing their own songs and play guitar - I can't wait for Saturday.
Gary Barlow
Gary said: "This year we really have got the cream of the crop with our finalists and it was tough for all of us to choose our three acts. The standard of talent has gone up this year and I think it's the best ever line-up of finalists."
On Sunday, viewers saw Tulisa break down in tears as she let Amy Mottram go, saying she was not sure she had made the right decision.
But Amy was later given a lifeline as one of the four acts who will battle it out to be the "wildcard" in the first live show on Saturday.
The other acts in line to become the 13th finalist in the show are Adam Burridge, Christopher Maloney and Times Red (Staz, Scott and Luke).
Fans have until midday on Saturday to vote for their favourite who will perform on the first live show that night.
This year's X Factor finalists are:
Boys: James Arthur, Rylan Clark and Jahmene Douglas
Girls: Jade Ellis, Ella Henderson and Lucy Spraggan
Overs: Melanie Masson, Carolynne Poole and Kye Sones
Groups: GMD3 (Greg, Dan and Mickey), MK1 (Charlotte Rundle and Simeon Dixon) and Union J (Jamie Hamblett (JJ), George Shelley, Josh Cuthbert, Jaymi Hensley)
Wildcards facing a public vote to become the 13th finalist: Adam Burridge, Christopher Maloney, Amy Mottram and Times Red (Staz, Scott and Luke).