The 20-year-old Peterborough performer will be singing for his future when he appears on ITV1's hit talent show with his band, JLS, at 7.45pm tonight (Sat).

At stake is a chance to sing in the final rounds of the competition, with the glittering prize of a million pound record contract on offer for the eventual winners.

But first the former Jack Hunt School pupil and his bandmates must prove they have what it takes to stand out among the last 24 acts of this year's contest.

Mum Siobhan, of Morrfield Road, West Town, who will be glued to her television this evening and tomorrow night at 7pm for the results show, wants everyone in Peterborough to get behind him.

She said: "Aston has been fighting for his dream for as long as I can remember and it's still surreal for me to watch him on the programme.

"If he is lucky enough to qualify for the live shows, he's going to need the support of everyone in the city. He's absolutely determined to succeed but he won't be able to do it without Peterborough people getting behind him and voting."

JLS won through to X Factor's final 24 last weekend after impressing judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole.

After qualifying from the initial auditions and the "boot camp" stage of the contest, they have been mentored for this weekend's performance by music mogul Louis.

If the judges put the band through to the final round, they will compete for the public vote on prime-time television from next Saturday.

This weekend he is guaranteed the support of everyone at his former school, where his brother, Connor, and sister, Courtney, are both pupils.

Kerry Cliffe, who was one of Aston's drama teachers at Jack Hunt, said: "Everyone has become so caught up in this and X Factor has become a viewing must for all of us. Everybody is buzzing and willing him to do well.

"Aston's band have got enough talent to win the competition, and they've certainly got the right attitude.

"Aston is a very thoughtful person and has always been willing to listen to other people's views and take criticism on board, which is really important at this stage in the show.

"The whole school is very proud of his accomplishments so far – we just hope it can continue."

l See how Aston gets on on ITV1, at 7.45pm, on Saturday, and then on ITV2, from 9.15pm.