SMILING Diana Vickers has swung her way into the next round of The X Factor.

The 17-year-old from Accrington sang swing classic Smile during last week’s live show, once again impressing the four judges.

Louis Walsh said: "I love your little girl voice and you made a really old song sound new. It was incredible."

And Simon Cowell told her: "There is something special about you." Diana’s mentor Cheryl Cole described her performance as "mesmerising", while Danni Minogue’s verdict was: "There is a huge voice in there, let it out."

Click here for our special report following Diana's X Factor progress

As well as getting rave reviews from the judges, Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has tipped Diana as her favourite.

The pop star said: "I love The X Factor and Diana Vickers is my favourite. She is amazing and has an incredible voice. But I’m not sure what she’s been given to sing has completely shown her talents."

Diana and the other X Factor finalists are set to have their first number one single on Sunday.

Charity single Hero, only released on Monday, sold over 100,000 copies in one day.

All proceeds from sales are going to Help for Heroes, a charity which provides help for wounded servicemen and women, and the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

Diana has also been helping another pop star revive his career.

Michael Jackson’s Man In The Mirror is currently at number 55 in the singles chart following Diana’s performance of the song in a previous show.

The Westholme School pupil has been a fan of the King of Pop for much of her life.

Over the last week she has continued to attract the attention of the national press.

One red-top tabloid compared her to Amy Winehouse after picturing her walking to a corner shop dressed up to the nines in a mini-skirt.

And in a separate article, the same newspaper called her a diva.

But Diana says she tries not to let any negative publicity faze her.

She told the Observer: "At the end of the day I know what is going on in my life and I know what is going on in the competition."

She and the other eight remaining acts will be singing disco favourites on tomorrow night’s show.

The X Factor is screened on ITV on Saturday at 7.30pm with the results show at 9.50pm.

WITH Diana still the bookies’ firm favourite with odds of 2-1, William Hill has allowed the Observer to place a free £100 bet on the teenager. Should Diana win, proceeds from the bet will go towards our Aspire Appeal to save the Accrington Pals Memorial Chapel in St John’s Church.