TWO of the music industry’s biggest names were publicly battling to sign Diana on Saturday’s X Factor.

During the 17-year-old’s masterclass with Take That’s Gary Barlow, the 37-year-old producer, singer and songwriter was so impressed with her, he vowed: “If Simon Cowell doesn’t sign you, I will snap you up.”

But the offer didn’t impress X Factor mogul Simon Cowell who nipped the idea in the bud.

After judges unanimously praised the Westholme student’s version of Take That song Patience, Simon said: “We won’t be taking Gary Barlow up on that kind offer, thank you.”

Diana, who lives in Accrington, won through to the last five of the contest with Rachel being voted off by the judges after a sing-off with boy-band JLS.

It marks the end of a nightmare few weeks for Diana in which she lost her voice, missing one show and performing in the next while still unwell.

She also took the opportunity on Saturday to give her fans a heart-felt thank you for sticking with her while she made her recovery.

Ann Vickers, Diana’s mum, said meeting Mark Owen and Gary Barlow had put a spring back in Diana’s step.

She said: “They said some lovely things to her and after the bad time she’s had lately it was just what she needed.

"Right now we’re so just delighted that she is through to another week!”

Next week, finalists sing two songs each, and the themes are American Classics and Britney Spears Classics.