Nicole Scherzinger thinks that all the controversy over Rylan Clark will have Simon Cowell rubbing his hands with glee this week.

It’s no secret that the X Factor boss loves a bit of a drama and anything that keeps his TV shows in the papers and the Pussycat Doll star admitted today that he’ll be delighted with all the furore over the marmite like Essex singer.

Ever since she picked Rylan as one of her final three singers, viewers have been in uproar and it seems that everyone has an opinion on the former model.

Some Twitter users have been sending him death threats, but TOWIE’s Amy Childs thinks he’ll go far. The fact that he’s being talked about is enough for Nicole and she told The Sun:

“I must be making Simon Cowell proud because controversy is his favourite word. I chose Rylan because the show is about having the X Factor and he has the X Factor.”

Rylan admitted himself that he knows he’s not the strongest singer in the competition, but he thinks he has enough flair, enough passion and enough personality to pull a good performance off tomorrow night.

Scherzinger insisted that it’s not all about the singing anyway, reminding viewers that Clark wants to be a dance artist and not the next Michael Buble.

She added:

“It is not just a singing show. Rylan has already said he is not trying to be Whitney Houston or a big ballad singer — he wants to be a dance artist. Having the X Factor is about having your own sparkle and he has got the spikes to go with it.”

Gary Barlow is sure to have a few things to say about Rylan when he takes to the stage tomorrow – though after putting Frankie Cocozza through last year we’re not sure he has a right to criticise anyone – and he has revealed that he will be ‘very honest’ when critiquing the hopeful’s performance.

Nic isn’t worried at all, after all she’s faced up to Simon Cowell before. Gaz is like wee buns in comparison. She explained:

“I had to deal with Simon Cowell last year. So Gary ain’t nothing but a chicken wing. I believe in Rylan.”

Rylan will perform on tomorrow night’s live show and despite admitting yesterday that he was ‘nervous’ about the prospect, it seems he has something interesting up his sleeve in relation to his styling at least.

He wore a Kylie Minogue style tunic and black shorts at judges houses, so anything is possible at the weekend and he tweeted this evening saying:

“At @TheXFactor studios just left hair makeup and wardrobe…. All I can say is #SHOW x”

The X Factor live shows start tomorrow night and the supposed song list for the singers has been leaked online. Check it out and tell us if you think Rylan can shine.