CHAMPERS ON ICE; RINK OR SWIM AS CRAIG AND BRIAN FACE ANOTHER VOTE Scotland can make MacDonald Brothers' X Factor birthday wish come true tonight.

Byline: By Lachlan Mackinnon 

X FACTOR star Craig MacDonald is desperate to shine in tonight's show - so he can toast his 21st birthday with a win in the final.

Craig and brother Brian, 20, have made it to the last four and are just two weeks away from clinching the crown.

Craig turns 21 on December 16 - the day of the final - and the whole family want it to be one to remember.

Yesterday, the brothers took time out with the other contestants to go skating in Kew Gardens, near London.

And mum Margaret was preparing to travel to London to see tonight's show.

She said: "Winning the X Factor on Craig's 21st birthday would be a lovely present. Brian's still celebrating after turning 20 a few days ago so it really is an incredible time for both of them."

And Margaret has confirmed the brothers will play at a Hogmanay bash at a small hotel in Scotland.

She said: "It was booked before X Factor started but I can't say too much about it."

The boys were booked for the gig at the Horizon in Ayr over a year before they found fame on the hit TV show.

Tickets are now changing hands for pounds 200, more than four times the original pounds 45 price.

Last Saturday, two million viewers called X Factor to keep their favourites in the running for another week.

Scouse boy band Eton Road were booted out while Ray Quinn, Ben Mills and Leona Lewis joined the MacDonald Brothers in the quarter-final.

Margaret, 53, from Ayr, revealed her sons will belt out Shang-a-lang by Scots legends the Bay City Rollers and Barry Manilow's classic Can't Smile Without You in tonight's show.

She said: "They wanted to do a faster, more upbeat song as well as a nice ballad to show their range. They're at the stage where they have to take risks. It will either work out for them or it won't.

"I spoke to them late last night and they said they were going to try to enjoy themselves. They don't want to let nerves get in the way because it is the chance of a lifetime.

"They are really quite positive about tonight's show - I think their dad and I do their worrying for them."

The brothers are 5-2 second favourites for eviction. Ray is 4-9 favourite to go.

But Rupert Adams, of bookies William Hill, backed the duo to defy the odds.

He said: "Punters are convinced the MacDonald Brothers will be singing for the final time. However, they have consistently under-estimated the Scottish vote and the anti-Simon Cowell vote, and we think they will make it to the final."

Margaret said it was vital fans north of the Border get behind Craig and Brian.

She said: "People have really taken a shine to them and have bothered to pick up the phone to keep them in.

"It would be such an achievement if they made it to the final but they can't do without their Scottish voters."

Judge Louis Walsh has vowed to wear a kilt if the boys get through tonight.

He even gave them a 2007 diary with the note: "I hope I can fill this with recording commitments for you next year."

Not all the judges have been as supportive as Louis, however. Cowell has been a harsh critic - but Margaret is convinced he'll have to eat his words.

She said: "Simon is entitled to his opinion and I have nothing against him.

"Viewers aren't voting for Craig and Brian because they don't like Simon Cowell - it's because they like my boys.

"Louis has been brilliant with them and I think Sharon Osbourne has warmed towards them too.

"We get letters of support from all over the UK and, if they keep getting votes, that shows they have a big fan-base.

"People seem to forget they have been in bands for four years. For the past 12 months, they have made a living playing at weddings and ceilidhs."

Margaret believes Brian has come out of his shell since the show started.

She said: "He was always a backing singer but he's come on in leaps and bounds over the past eight weeks.

"In fact, they've both improved thanks to all the vocal coaching they've been getting and are more like equals now."

Margaret and hubby Jim, 59, have flown down to ITV's London studios every weekend to cheer their boys on.

They will be joined tonight by six family members and several of the boys' pals.

William Hill make Leona 2-7 favourite to win X Factor with Ben at 4-1, the MacDonald Brothers 7-1 and Ray 20-1.

CAPTION(S):

SKATE HOPES: Craig gets the hang of skating while Brian seems to need a few tips' REX FEATURES' HELPING HANDS: Left to right, Ben, Craig, Leona, Ray and Brian all relax on the ice at Kew Gardens