X Factor's Liam Payne and Treyc Cohen lift the lid on show

Midland X Factor wannabes Liam Payne and Treyc Cohen lift the lid on the competition. They talk to London reporter SUNITA PATEL.

It's never a dull moment in the X Factor house, according to Liam and Treyc.

Both have demonstrated they have among the best voices of the bunch.

And last night the pair took time out at the end of a week of intense preparations for tonight's face-off to dispel the myths about the trials, tantrums and tribulations in the contest so far - plus life in the X Factor house and under the media spotlight.

"It's different. If you don't get to see it and experience it first-hand you wouldn't understand what it is like," explains Liam.

"It's so much fun. There is never a dull moment, and it is always loud in the house. That's usually probably coming from our band," he admits.

"Everyone has such a great time and it is surprising how well everybody gets on because at the end of the day it is a competition, but everybody gets on great."

Asked if there is any truth in the reports of in-house feuding, Treyc says "absolutely none at all. People are getting on great.

"I wouldn't say I was close to any one person. I get along with everybody.

"When I get back to the house I just want to sleep, so I eat, then get back to my room and sleep as much as I can.

"But we all get along great. We all have a chat and watch videos and watch the show back."

One Direction hopeful Liam admits he is more timid than most of his band mates.

"The dynamic of our band is that there are loud people and there are quiet people and there are people in between - I would say I am probably one of the in between people and one of the quiet people.

"But we all get on so well. It's unbelievable. Everyone is just so happy to be here. We just have a laugh 24/7.

"It is hard to get to sleep at night - everyone just carries on joking about."

He continues: "I would say I get along with Storm and John best.

"Our group gets on really well with them. They are very wise guys and they are straight-talking people so you can get on really well with them and you know it's not fake."

The 17-year-old from Bushbury, Wolverhampton, has no doubt sent many teenage hearts a fluttering with his baby-faced brooding and shorn locks.

There's a classic moment in the BBC's famous adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice when Colin Firth takes a plunge in a lake as the brooding Mr Darcy, clothed in tight white breeches and a frilly shirt.

Liam reveals he experienced a Darcy-style moment with the X Factor crop – though unintentionally.

"We were doing a photo shoot and we were playing football outside and the football went into the pond.

"I went to get the football out of the pond and one of the boys pushed me in.

"I think it was Louis - but it meant I got free clothes because they didn't want the clothes back.

"I'm glad he pushed me in. I got some nice free jeans out of it," he laughs.

As well as a hoard of fans each year, contestants inevitably draw the media scrum to their heels too. It the price of fame.

And One Direction are no different.

"There are girls stood out by the gates of the studio, 24/7," says a somewhat bewildered Liam.

"You only have to walk past and when they see you they just start screaming. It's great.

"They will pass you gifts through the fence.

"A couple of the lads have had bracelets. I had a teddy bear the other day off a girl. And someone gave us cakes the once."

He goes on: "It's weird when we go out sometimes and we get chased by paparazzi out the car.

"There will be about eight photographers there just taking photos of you walking down the street.

"It's very, very weird. It's hard to get used to, but it's cool."

University of Wolverhampton student Treyc was Cheryl Cole's "wildcard" entry after she failed to make it through the judge's home stage the first time round.

"It is just starting to sink in now that I am actually here," she tells me.

"I am really overwhelmed that I have actually been given a second chance and that they actually did see something in me.

"Simon's comments last week blew me away, saying I was the best vocal of the night, so, it is just amazing. It really is only just starting to sink in."

And she has nothing but kind words for her mentor Cheryl too.

"She is great. She is very encouraging.

"When it comes to me and my songs, because I have got a strong voice and a big voice, she doesn't want me to give too much away at the beginning of the song and keep it back a little bit, until the big bits in the middle and the end, that's what we work on really."

The 25-year-old – who denies any truth in the reports she has already landed a record contract - sounds a bit hoarse.

Is everything ok?

"Yeah, I'm not ill or anything like that. I just think my voice is just really tired," she replies.

"I'm not going to the doctors, I'm just going to see the throat specialist, just so he can have a look and see if there is anything going on down there.

"I'm feeling really confident. It's going to be another big song.

"I can't disclose what it is but it is heroes week – so, it's a big artist, and another well-known song.

"I'm feeling the pressure a little bit because of the comments that I got last week, so I don't ever want to fall below that standard.

"So I am just trying my best to be able to deliver a good performance.

"My voice isn't sounding that great so I am just going to try and rest my voice until then, get plenty of fluids and hopefully be able to deliver.

"I've probably been over-rehearsing a little bit too much when I get back home, wanting to make sure that the big notes in the song are perfect and push myself a little bit too much."

Liam too keeps schtum about tonight's show – but his message to fans is they will not be disappointed by the band's performance.

"I can't tell you what we are singing and we haven't had the styling yet. I can't really say what route we are going down.

"All I can say is that we have got a really good song and we have been working hard at it. It is going to be really good. It is going to be a really good one."