X FACTOR star Lauren Platt is preparing to face her toughest challenge yet as she takes part in the X Factor’s Big Band week.

The teenager is sticking to her guns and performing a well known song with her own twist on tomorrownight’sshowasshe battles to remain as the only under-25s contestant left in the competition.

Lastweek the 17-year-old powered through a throat infection to perform the Jackson 5 hit I’ll Be There and bag her place on the X Factor tour as one of the last eight contestants on the show.

She said: “I think Big Band week is going to be a massive challenge for anybody as it is such a pressurised week. When you think of X Factor the only theme that is repeated everysingle year is Big Band week.

“It is something everyone can relate to, one of the biggest weeks so far.

“I can say I am singing something very well known, but my version.”

Lauren,who isstill recovering from her throat infection, has visitedhercousinandfanLaurel Parker in Little Havens Hospice, in Thundersley, this week and also attended the Hunger Games: Mockingjay film premiere in the West End.

Her odds have shortened to win the contest, but Italian contestant Andrea Faustini remains the favourite to take the title and possibly score a Christmas number one in the process.

Lauren is determined to get through the next round and is delighted to have made it far enough to be on the X Factor tour.

She said: “It is such a great feeling. For like fiveminutes you are on stage thinking you have got through to next week and then you remember you are on the tour and it just makes it so much better.

“For me my main aim was to get to this stage when I came on the live shows.

“I really think it could do wonders for my career and so anything formenowis justabonus.”

Speaking about her highlight of the competition so far, she added: “Living with all my friends.IknowIwill be absolutely gutted when I leave the show to think I won’t be able to wake up and knowmybest friends are there.

“So to knowIget to do that for another three months on the tour is just a great, great feeling.”

The X Factor is on ITV 1 tomorrow from 8.15pm and on Sunday from 8pm.