Our X-Factor star best on night - judges

20 November 2009

OUR songbird student, Stacey Solomon, has reached the half way mark in this year's X Factor competition and come out on top with her latest performance according to the judges.

Simon Cowell told the Havering College stunner her powerful rendition of Queen's Who Wants To Live Forever? on Saturday was "by a mile the best performance of the night so far".

His comment and the positive feedback from the other judges left the 20-year-old mother-of-one grinning from ear to ear.

After the show while being interviewed backstage she said: "It's so good to get a good comment from Simon. It's such a rarity. It's like, I dunno, caviar."

Even celebrity rock legends Brian May and Roger Taylor, who mentored the finalists this week, picked out Stacey as their favourite when they performed on Sunday's results show.

Roger said: "She turns into something else when she sings."

Louis Walsh said he thought her performance was "incredible" and said to her "you look like you've been doing this for years".

Cheryl Cole said: "That was absolutely stunning. You totally sung your socks off. That was beautiful."

Stacey's mentor, Dannii Minogue, who Stacey stepped off-stage to give a high-five to after hearing the judge's comments, said: "You've made me so proud. You've grown into a woman overnight."

Stacey, from Dagenham, is one of five remaining contestants battling to win the prize of a recording contract and the opportunity to make a break in the world of music in the ITV1 talent contest.

Her contenders are the last remaining group, John and Edward, who've caused controversy among disgruntled viewers that they're still in the competition despite not being able to sing, the two remaining boys Jordie Joe McElderry and Lloyd Daniels, and the two remaining over 25s Danyl Johnson, and Essex boy Olly Murs, who it has been reported has developed his own soft spot for our Stacey.

Stacey's college tutors and peers at the Ardleigh Green Campus had an X Factor-themed non-alcoholic cocktail party to celebrate her success so far.

Drinks, concocted by the student services team, included the Simon Sour, Cheryl Cola Dannii Mango, Louis Lime-ericka, Derm O'Licious, Holly Willough Berry, and Stacey Surprise - a fruity combination with lots of fizz.

Havering College vice-principal Pat Brennan Barrett said of Stacey: "We have watched her grow in confidence every week. She is a splendid example to other young people and a revelation to us all.