'X Factor' Finalists 2008: 'Hero'

American Idol's done it a few times, and Pop Idol had a go, so it's odd that it's taken The X Factor this long to round up its finalists for a charity single. Then again, the timing is strangely perfect - with Leon Jackson failing to reach number one recently, the show could do with reminding us of its chart-topping potential.

And so all 12 of this year's finalists - including those who've already been eliminated - have teamed up to record a Mariah Carey cover in aid of Help For Heroes, a charity that supports wounded servicemen and women, and the Poppy Appeal. Nobody could quibble with the causes, and the finalists acquit themselves as wholeheartedly as you'd expect, but musically this is utterly redundant. Worse still, it's hard not to roll your eyes when the key change kicks in - blame Peter Kay and 'The Winner's Song'.