Hands up who's excited about the return of The X Factor live shows this Saturday!

It's been a rollercoaster of a series so far, from Joseph Whelan's departure, to Rylan Clark's crying face. And we get the feeling it's only going to get more exciting as the weeks go on.

Let's have another quick look at Rylan's tear-stained face, shall we?

Yesterday we brought you heatworld's exclusive interview with Tulisa Contostavlos and The Girls - Lucy Spraggan, Ella Henderson and Jade Ellis, and now we bring you all the latest gossip from Nicole Scherzinger and The Boys.

Here's what Rylan Clark, James Arthur and Jahmene Douglas had to say about marriage proposals, futuristic Egyptians and Jahmene's belly button.

Jahmene, at Judges' Houses we saw Nicole telling you to grow some balls. How have you been trying to calm your nerves for Saturday?

Jahmene: I think it’s just about believing in myself and just knowing that everything is all right because boot camp was such a humbling experience. I think if you put Stevie Wonder in boot camp he’d crumble! It’s just nice to have gotten through to the final stages in the competition.

What preparation have you been doing?

Jahmene: Rehearsing 24/7.

Rylan, is there any chance we might see you in TOWIE in the future?

Rylan: I’m concentrating on X Factor at the moment. That’s my main priority.

Is it something you might be interested in doing though? You're friends with some of the TOWIE lot, right?

Rylan: Yeah, a couple of the TOWIE lot like Amy Childs and Harry Derbidge are my friends. I’m a massive fan of the show. At the end of the day whatever comes my way if it’s something I want to do I’ll happily get involved in. But at the minute I want to do dance music.

Nicole, you have quite a wide variety amongst your boys. Are you confident that you have the winning team?

Nicole: I’m very confident. That’s why I chose them. I’m very blessed to have them. They are three very unique individual artists and we’re going to have a lot of fun.

And obviously we’re going to see Ne-Yo back this weekend to perform. Are you looking forward to being reunited?

Nicole: Yeah, we’re friends so it will be great to see him. I am just in love with his new song. And the message of it; I think it’s so important: ‘let me love you until you learn to love yourself’. Yeah it’s a beautiful message. I’m so glad that I got to have him as my guest judge. And the work that he puts behind everything. He’s just amazing.

James, how are you feeling about Saturday night?

James: I feel like the hard work is over now. I think the boot camp stage was pretty awful and Judges Houses’ was a high-pressure situation. I’m looing forward to getting out on a live stage and smashing my performances.

Loads of people have been approached by people from the show, asking them to audition. Did you guys get someone asking you to come along?

James: I was actually down at a mobile audition; I wasn’t going to audition for the show.  They took a van around the country and they came to my hometown and ended up at the back of the queue and luckily they liked what they heard.

Jahmene: I was found on YouTube but we all have to go through the same process. You have to be good enough to go through. 

Rylan: Yeah, the same as everyone else. Went to the auditions last year and queued up for 20 days or however long it was! And then I didn’t end up doing the show last year because I had other commitments. And so I’ve come back again this year and obviously the guys were like ‘Oh my god you’re back’ and I was like ‘Yes I’m back’. And now I’m sitting next to f*cking Nicole Scherzinger!

Do you think the fact that this year you can be approached by The X Factor or already have management has changed the competition?

Nicole: No I don’t think it changes anything at all. That has nothing to do with your talent. Jahmene said everyone goes through the exact same audition process. They’re judged purely on their merit. I think it’s great that they have actually done that because it opens up the pool for wider talent.

What was going through your head when Rylan reacted the way that he did when you told him he was going to live shows?

Nicole: I was like ‘That is a very expensive pillow!’ I loved it.  I was gearing him up for it, to be all dramatic and everything with the whole ‘risk’ thing. I should have won an Emmy for that.

What are we going to see in the way of exciting outfits from you, Rylan?

Rylan: James said the hard work for him is over, whereas this is where the hard work begins for me. I’m in my element. Performances are what I want to do. My worst fear is standing with a microphone and just singing to someone, like at Judges’ Houses and at boot camp as well exactly the same thing. This Saturday I have got so much in store for the live show. I’ve got the biggest routine and we’re going all futuristic Egypt and there’s a throne and a lot of naked men.

Nicole, how hard is it to see someone leave the competition in the first round?

Nicole: I’m always an artist first then a judge second. So I’m very empathetic about their feelings and I know how much it means to them and how hard they have worked so it breaks my heart to have to let someone go. It’s my least favourite part of the whole competition.

How are you guys dealing with press attention?

Rylan: Nicole’s really helped me because I’ve had a really tough time in the press recently. It really, really did get to me. But she believed in me and that’s exactly what you need to hear from that person. It makes you realise ‘You know what, she validates me’. I’ve got probably got more to prove than everyone else in the competition. I’ve worked my arse off the last three weeks. I’m ready to show people what I can bring to the table.

James, we spoke to the girls yesterday and they said you’re the heartthrob of the competition?

James: Seriously?

And the girls seem to love you on Twitter – what have girls been saying to you? First of all, are you single?

James: Yeah, I’m single. Yeah, everybody seems to want to marry me. Nobody’s like, ‘Let’s have a one night stand’, or anything. I must be husband material or something.

Rylan: He is actually really good husband material.

James: I must look like I can cook or something.

Rylan: He can’t do nothing!

Do you quite like the attention?

James: It’s a bit early, but I’m getting more and more used to it.

Rylan: James gets the marriage proposals and I get the death threats – it’s a nice little combo really. We live together me and James – we’re like a little married couple: We row all the time, we don’t have sex, and I clean up after him! It’s the perfect relationship. We love it, we absolutely love it. Everyone loves our room. Mine and James’ room is the party room. Jarmene sneaks in every now and then. We’re having real fun. Obviously we’re really, really lucky, staying at the Corinthia hotel, it’s a five-star hotel!

Nicole: You’re really spoilt! When I was on my popstars show, I had nothing. I asked the other day, ‘How are you doing? What are you up to?’ And they were like ‘Actually we’re scheduled for an exfoliation.'

Are you enjoying being pampered?

Jahmene: It feels quite alien. We’re getting spray tans, having our make-up done. I’m just waiting for someone to ask for my bra size next! But I know they’re just trying to make me look my best for TV.

Is there anything that you wouldn’t let them do?

Jahmene: If they made me get my belly button out. Or get a nipple ring. Some things are too far.

Is there anything that you wouldn’t wear Rylan?

Nicole: He wore my hair on his shoulders…

Rylan: For me personally, I’m a massive fan of high fashion and people look at me and my outfits and I don’t dress up like that all the time, after this I’ll change into a tracksuit and go back to the studios but when I perform, I’m a performer, I want to put on a show. Some people just stand there and sing and they’re an amazing vocalist. I’m not trying to compensate for a lack of emotion but I like to put on a show and If I have to wear mad clothes , then fine, if I get the front cover of Vogue out of all this, I’ll be happy.

Nicole, people are going to be comparing your and Tulisa’s outfits on Saturday. Are you prepared for that?

Nicole: There’s no rivalry between us. She’s got her own style, I’ve got my own style. I love fashion and I love to push boundaries.

Any hints on what you might be wearing?

Nicole: Dope shi*t.

Has Simon Cowell had any involvement in the show so far? Has he been hands on?

Nicole: I saw him last week. It’s weird for me not to have him on the show, getting under my skin, driving me nuts. We stay in contact; he’s a great teacher and a great mentor to me as well.

Head back to heatworld later for our exclusive chat with Louis Walsh and The Groups - GMD3, MK1 and Union J.