'I would have quit the X Factor if it wasn't for Olly': Stacey Solomon reveals blossoming relationship has kept her in the competition

By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated: 05:39 EST, 25 November 2009

With the finals fast approaching, The X Factor is certainly hotting up - as is the blossoming relationship between two of the show's most popular contestants.

Stacey Solomon and Olly Murs have been getting closer to one another behind closed doors, and Stacey has spoken about her relationship with Olly for the first time.

The 20-year-old single mother from Dagenham, Essex, is the only female left in the competition and yesterday enjoyed a trip round the Somerset House ice skating rink in London with her mentor Dannii Minogue.

Scroll down to watch MailOnline video reports of the latest X Factor news

She said she loves Olly, 25, who is her best friend in the house and he has even met her mother, Fiona.

Speaking to Now magazine she said: 'I love Olly, he's my best mate in the house - with John and Edward.

'We're from the same area, so he reminds me of home. You know when someone talks and it's like: "Ah, that's home..."'

The duo were allegedly seen kissing backstage after performing on the show two weeks ago.

A source revealed to Now: 'Stacey and Olly have stopped trying to hide it. Once they'd finished the show, they met her mum. Olly wasn't nervous.

'He and Fiona chatted like old friends for half an hour. His arm was round Stacey's waist all the time - they were like a married couple.'

'He told Fiona how nice it was to meet her and complimented her on her amazing daughter. But it wasn't all one way. Fiona invited him for Christmas because she wants him to feel like a part of the family.'

The relationship has grown from a friendship forged through Olly's gentlemanly ways, and his guidance for Stacey who has had a troubling time since reaching the X Factor finals.

The singer herself admitted that it was Olly's support that kept her from walking out of the show.

She said: 'I read in the paper two weeks ago: "Stacey was going to quit until Olly hugged her." Oh yeah, that definitely happened.

'I was in tears, really distraught, ready to walk out the door and Olly came over, gave me a cuddle and I was like, back in the game. Here I am!'

Olly's twin brother Ben also appeared to confirm that the two contestants are getting together.

In an interview with Heat magazine, he revealed that he could see the blossoming friendship between Stacey and his brother, who lost his virginity at 18, growing into something more. 

He said: 'They definitely seem to be getting friendlier. It wouldn't be the most shocking relationship if they got together.

'I think that, as the weeks go on, he's getting to know her more and they've been spending a lot of time together. They're both from Essex... Stacey will be missing her boy, and Olly will be comforting her.

'He's a caring guy and I'm sure he cares about her.'

With just a few weeks left of the competition, the couple face the prospect of being split up should one of them be eliminated before the other.

However Stacey says she's staying focused on the task at hand and is just happy to be the only remaining female on the show.

She said: 'I think it's really scary because everyone who's left the show has been a girl apart from a couple of guys.

'So you just think maybe the public just don't like girls this year. That's a scary thought.

'And then you think: "Oh my gosh, I'm the last girl!" I've got to be good ain't I? I'm just so excited.'

Meanwhile, Jamie 'Afro' Archer opened up about his date with fellow evictee Coco Lloyd from girl group Kandy Rain.

The 33-year-old told Closer magazine: 'Coco's a great girl - we're having a laugh. It's all so mad right now, I can't get into anything serious.'

This coming weekend's shows will see the X Factor final five sing tracks by Take That and Elton John, it has been confirmed.

Dannii Minogue revealed the news in a Twitter post, after a fan asked whether her act Stacey Solomon would be performing a Barbra Streisand number.

'I love Streisand and [Stacey] can certainly sing those kind of huge songs, but I have to follow the theme! Elton/Take That this week!' she said.

The song choices have yet to be revealed, but each contestant will sing a song from Take That and Elton John.

Last year's Take That week saw Alexandra Burke performing Relight My Fire and chart-topping boyband JLS singing A Million Love Songs.

Rihanna is rumoured to be acting as a guest mentor as well as singing her brand new single Russian Roulette.