The X Factor finalists may spend this weekend’s programme talking about how much they want to win on Saturday – but even the losers can rest assured that they have booked their place at their biggest ever gig, writes John Payne.

But for Fleur East, Ben Haenow and Andreas Faustini, one great honour is guaranteed. Taking to the stage in front of 60,000 to 70,000 (less the 50,000 or so who haven’t yet arrived or are keeping warm at the bar) ahead of Harlequins’ Big Game 7 against Northampton a couple of days after Christmas.

Who can forget the performances of last year’s X Factor winner Sam Bailey on the Twickenham pitch last year as well as the other two finalists, the identities of whom have unfortunately slipped from the memory.

Pre-match and half-time entertainment is very much part of the Big Game atmosphere and helps to make it a great day out whether or not you are a massive Harlequins or rugby fan. It is an occasion.

But that is very much the exception to the rule in British sport. While the Superbowl and baseball across the pond are as much about the celebrities and sideshows, there is something about the British sportsgoer that sees such things as more Cringe Factor than X Factor.

Football clubs are particularly rubbish for the entertainment extending beyond a pre-match pie and pint. You get half-time penalty shoot outs and the odd ex-player wheeled out but, in the main, fans are expected to put up with the dull 0-0 draw and get out.

The most surreal half-time entertainment I have seen was at a Premier League game many years ago at a game where fans had slaughtered a referee.

Whoever booked the Village People so that those same fans could do the moves to ‘YMCA’ during the half-time break certainly knew how to change an atmosphere.

At a time when punters it costs a lot to follow your favourite team, perhaps sports fans in general should be demanding a bit more entertainment for their money.