The X Factor auditions moved to Edinburgh this week and judge Louis Walsh had a boost for the locals

The X Factor judge Louis Walsh said it is 'about time” the show had a winner from Scotland as auditions kicked off in Edinburgh.

Now filming for its 14th season, dozens of hopefuls were at the Assembly Rooms on Wednesday to perform in front of the panel.

This year, the judges are Walsh, Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Nicole Scherzinger.

Walsh said: “All we need to find today is two or three great people. Maybe we’ll have a winner from here – it’s about time.”

He added his favourite thing about Scotland was its 'real people, real fun – it’s like Ireland'.

Alesha Dixon was standing in for Sharon for the only auditions to take place in front of the judges in Scotland.

The 38-year-old songstress had previously stood in for Nicole on the first day of filming in Manchester.

Alesha said: “Edinburgh’s such a beautiful place, I’ve been here many times before so it’s always lovely to be back.

“I love the passion in Scotland and I know there’ll be a great turnout today.”

When asked whether she could be tempted to try out Highland dancing, the 2007 Strictly Come Dancing winner said: “Why not? Never say never, I like to give most things a try. I would love to.”

Host Dermot O’Leary tried his hand at bagpiping and gave Nicole a surprise performance when she entered the building.

That is, he pretended to play the traditional instrument.

Edinburgh-based Roddy the Piper was instead standing close behind blaring out Scotland the Brave while Dermot pretended.

Dermot said: “They are so hard, luckily I’ve got Roddy who’s actually playing the bagpipes. He kind of gave me a 30-second lesson.”

Nicole said: “I thought it was you.”

Cowell avoided the public gaze by sneaking in through a side alley.

Auditions are next set for London, before the successful acts are taken away to Boot Camp.

The X Factor is expected to return to ITV at the end of August.

There was chaos as the final line-up of The X Factor was decided in Louis and Sharon's six-chair challenge on Sunday night

The X Factor judge Louis Walsh caused chaos at the show’s Six Chair Challenge as he dropped a girl band at the last minute after already sending them home once.

The second night of the most brutal stage of the competition saw three girl groups, 4 of Diamonds, Girl Next Door and Skarl3t vie for hotly-contested seats and a chance to compete at judges’ houses as Louis agonised over who to send home.

The ruthless challenge means those who are given a seat must wait anxiously as they face being replaced by another singer if the judge thinks the latter is more deserving of it.

Both Louis and fellow judge Sharon Osbourne narrowed down the acts in their categories – the groups and the over 25s respectively – to six during the episode, after Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger put their contestants through the process on Saturday.

Walsh initially refused to give Girl Next Door a chair in the challenge and sent them home, but after deafening boos from the crowd and loud chants of 'Bring them back', Louis summoned them back to take the seat he had already given to boy band No Getaway.

Just minutes later the girls were ousted again when urban trio Skarl3t performed an impressive rendition of Jessie J’s Bang Bang.

After lining up Girl Next Door, Skarl3t and another girl group, 4 of Diamonds, to whom he had already awarded a seat, Louis once again sent Girl Next Door hone.

Those were not the only comings and goings in the tumultuous show – novelty duo Ottavio and Bradley were awarded a seat after performing Kelis’s hit Milkshake, but were sent packing to make room for boy band Yes Lad.

After lobbying from Sharon and Nicole, who told him his category needed 'spice', Louis called the boys back to reclaim their seat from the crushed members of Yes Lad.

Louis struggled so much with his decision that Sharon lost patience, telling him: “Do it. Louis, come on.”

After Louis settled on his line-up, made up of boy band 5am, Skarl3t, 4 of Diamonds, twin brothers The Brooks, Ottavio and Bradley and couple Tom and Laura, Simon told host Dermot O’Leary: “It was chaos, I thought it was bad two years ago, but this was worse.”

However, he confessed to being impressed by his chosen acts, saying: “This category, I wasn’t sure about it. But now this could be the best category.”

Sharon also struggled with her decisions when assembling the over-25s who will go through to judges’ houses.

Sharon disappointed Italian campaign co-ordinator Marianna Zappi, 34, who was only in her seat for a matter of minutes after displacing James Craise, 29, only to lose her seat to Ivy Grace Paredes, 33, who followed her on stage.

Ivy Grace was later ruled out of The X Factor when issues over obtaining a US visa meant she couldn't make it Sharon's house stage. She has been replaced on the show by rapper Honey G.

Russian model Irina Dedyuk, 28, delighted Simon when her performance of Jessie J’s Mama Knows Best involved her whipping off the bottom half of her dress to reveal a much skimpier number.

Her moves earned her a seat, but her joy was short lived and Dedyuk quickly had to surrender her chair to Janet Grogan, 28, for her version of Ariana Grande’s One Last Time.

Janet joins Honey G, American singer Christopher Peyton, 46, Relley C, 26, James Wilson, 34, and Samantha Atkinson, 32, in Osbourne’s category.

The wildcards were later chosen on The Xtra Factor. There are:

Samantha Lavery – chosen by Louis for Simon Samantha, 16, sailed through the first rounds of the competition with Nicole calling her, ‘an English raw diamond in the rough’. Having originally secured a seat at the Six Chair Challenge it was the wrong song choice that led Samantha to lose her chair to Gifty Louise.

Samantha said: “I had no idea about the wildcard and couldn’t believe it when I got the call from Louis. I still can’t believe it’s real."

Ryan Lawrie – chosen by Simon for Nicole Having originally auditioned as a solo act and then made it to Six Chair Challenge in a newly put together boyband, it was Simon who first realised they’d missed a trick with 20 year old singer, Ryan, telling him, “We made a big mistake in not putting you through Ryan as a solo artist”.

Saara Aalto – chosen by Nicole for Sharon Finnish singer Saara Aalto, 29, was an easy choice for Nicole having supported her from her first audition when Nicole told her, “That was so good you make me want to twerk right now. My ass wants to clap for you. That’s how good it was”. That support continued through Six Chair Challenge when Saara failed to secure a seat and Nicole told Sharon, “She was one of the best ones”.

Yes Lad – chosen by Sharon for Louis Yes Lad said: “We thought that was it and we were out. It’s so surreal to now be going to Louis’ house. We feel we’re the underdog and have something to prove to Louis. We have Sharon on our side and she said that she believed in us so hopefully Louis will listen to her.”

The X Factor continues on ITV on Saturday at 8pm.

The X Factor returns for its third auditions' show – and there is one singer that Simon Cowell is very glad to see

After last week’s worst X Factor opening show in more than 10 years, no wonder Simon Cowell looks a bit fed-up.

Is there anything about this weekend’s auditions that could cheer up Simon and his fellow judges, Nicole Scherzinger, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne?

Well… There is one act tonight (Saturday) that, Simon says, answers his prayers.

She is 28-year-old Janet Grogan, a lifeguard from Dublin.

In 2014, Janet got to Simon’s Six Chair round before he sent her home.

“I was always praying you would come back into the audition room,” Simon tells Janet tonight. “At least I can admit to my mistakes.”

But after hearing Janet sing Zayn Malik’s Pillowtalk, will Simon still think he made a mistake with Janet two years ago?

And what about Louis thinking that Ottavio Columbro looks like a birthday cake when he walks out to sing Get Lucky?

Will that be his cue to celebrate?

Ottavio should have been singing with his friend, Bradley Hunt, but they’ve had a falling out, which interests Simon more than his singing.

And that prompts Louis to suggest the boys should hug it out and audition together. They do, too, returning as Cosmic Riot to sing Pussycat Dolls’ Buttons.

 But are they any better together than apart?

There’s one act that has all the judges in agreement and that is 67-year-old car salesman Peter Richards.

They all agree he looks like Bono, the Irish singer-songwriter and lead vocalist in U2.

“People say I look like Bono but I don’t want to copy anybody,” Peter says.

Then he sings U2’s Beautiful Day.

But can he sing like Bono?

Find out how all these acts got on in The X Factor, ITV, Saturday, September 3, 8.15pm.

Louis Walsh was set to compete in I’m A Celebrity... until Simon Cowell talked him out of it.

Simon dissuaded his former X Factor co-judge from heading to the Australian jungle for the latest series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, which launched on Sunday.

Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh (Jon Furniss/Invision)

Louis said: “I was supposed to be doing it. I met them three times, I was nearly going… Simon told me he didn’t think it would be good for my credibility. He actually talked me out of it. Otherwise I was going to do it.”

He added: “I might do I’m A Celebrity next year. I’m going to keep the door open. It depends who you’re in with, but then they don’t tell you who you’re going to be in with.

Irish music mogul Louis Walsh (Sony)

“And you’re in Australia for three weeks, no food, no sleep, people you don’t like. I can’t swim. I don’t like bugs, I don’t like spiders, I’d be totally out of my comfort zone. Totally!

“But then X Factor’s a bit of a jungle too. It’s a three month jungle as opposed to three weeks.”

The 2014 X Factor judges (Tom Dymond/Thames TV)

Louis was an X Factor judge from the show’s inception in 2004 until he was replaced for the 2015 series.

The Irish TV presenter, 63, who was in London to promote Sony BRAVIA TV’s YouView feature, said he had shared his thoughts on this year’s show with Simon.

Louis Walsh (Niall Carson/PA)

He said: “I talk to him all the time. I rang him after the first show and said: ‘You’ve ruined the show.’ I was ranting and raving at him.

“He wasn’t happy, but the following day he said: ‘You were right!’ But I think a lot of people are afraid to tell him the truth. I’m not.”

Louis added: “I think they’ve changed it far too much, because people love the old fashioned: in the room, people coming in, and just being honest about their lives. There was no big audience there roaring and shouting, it was just you and them.”

Louis Walsh (Dave Thompson/PA)

On whether he could make a return to the judging panel next year, Louis said: “I don’t know if I want to go back. I’ve done 11 years. I’d only want to go back if it was going to be fun.

“Fun! Fun and the old X Factor, when he [Cowell] was fun, and when we were all having a laugh but still caring about our job.”

A couple of days ago, Louis Walsh was saying he was “done with The X Factor” after 11 years as a judge/mentor on the ITV talent show. 

Before becoming a familiar face on Saturday night TV,  Walsh was the manager for former Eurovision winner Johnny Logan and bands such as Boyzone and Westlife. Talking to Irish TV channel TV3, Louis said his days as an X Factor judge were over and that he was looking to return to being a manager. 

“I think I’m done with The X Factor honestly. My day job is as a manager, I’ve kind of neglected that. I want to get back to being a manager.

“I’m working with Shane Filan [Westlife]; he’s got a new record coming out. And I’m working with [new boy band] Hometown. I’d like to get back to where I started off… I never wanted to be on TV, it just happened.”

But while it looked like he was walking away from the world of Simon Cowell, it seems the 62-year-old from Kiltimagh, County Mayo, is being lined up by his X Factor boss to take the helm on the launch of Ireland’s Got Talent next year.

A source told The Daily Mirror: “Simon thinks Louis is the best man to take the reins on the judging panel. He’s very popular in Ireland and is the obvious choice – and Simon trusts him. The show’s in the early phases of development and Ireland should be a great new territory for the Got Talent format.”

Following the departure of Dermot O’Leary from The X Factor, there are reports that the ITV talent search is about to lose another long-standing regular.

Acccording to the Daily Star Sunday there have been murmurings that the show’s 62-year-old judge Louis Walsh will be replaced by former Take That star Robbie Williams. 

Louis, who has managed bands including Boyzone, Westlife and Girls Aloud, has been on the show  since it began in 2004. In 2007, however, Louis was sacked from the judges’ panel by the show’s creator and boss Simon Cowell, and replaced by American choreographer Brian Friedman. But when that didn’t work out, Louis was reinstated after just a few weeks. 

Now it seems he could be getting the push for good.

Robbie, who left Take That in 1995, and briefly rejoined to the band in 2010, is no stranger to The X Factor. When Gary Barlow was a judge on the series, Robbie joined his bandmate as a guest judge at the “judges’ houses” stage of the competition.

The Sunday newspaper quoted a source saying: “Simon is planning major changes for this year's X Factor and one of them is getting rid of Louis.

"It's not 100% finalised yet but Simon knows he needs to make the show current and credible and Louis no longer ticks those boxes."

The X Factor judge Louis Walsh has insisted this weekend's final is a 'three-horse race' despite bookmakers making Fleur East the hot favourite.

The singer, from east London, impressed the judges last week with her performance of Mark Ronson's Uptown Funk and she is 4-11 favourite to win the talent show.

Bookmaker William Hill has put her ahead of the other two finalists, with Ben Haenow at 11-4 and Andrea Faustini at 12-1.

The firm's spokesman, Rupert Adams, said: "She has the momentum and looks like the only pop star of the three and we cannot see anything other than her victory."

But Louis said: "It's not a foregone conclusion; it's a three-horse race, it's wide open and anybody can win.

"It's down to the song and the performance and it's all to play for. Sometimes the public vote for who they like. Sometimes it's a popularity contest as well as a talent contest."

Louis, who said he was sorry not to have any of his acts in the final, predicted that a couple of them - Stereo Kicks and Only The Young - could still have a career in music.

But the Irishman was tight-lipped about his own future on The X Factor, saying: "I don't know. It depends who else was back. If Simon was back, it's always fun."

Stereo Kicks, the eight-piece boy band manufactured by The X Factor judges, Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Mel B and Cheryl, are out of the competition.

They got further than many thought they would, including their own mentor, Louis, who wanted to get rid of some of the boys a few weeks ago because he thought there was too many of them.

But their X Factor adventure came to end in the quarter-finals, in a sing-off against 17-year-old Lauren Platt, who’s Cheryl’s only remaining singer in the contest.

Lauren sang Queen Latifah’s “I Know Where I’ve Been”. Stereo Kicks sang "I Won’t Give Up" by Jason Mraz.

And the judges’ vote was split.

“I so believe in the eight boys and I’m sending home Lauren,” said Louis.

“I’m going to stick by my girl,” Cheryl said.

“You both sung your hearts out but I’m sending home Lauren,” said Mel.

“The act that sang the best was Lauren so I’m sending home Stereo Kicks,” said Simon.

So the result was based on who got the fewest public votes and that was Stereo Kicks.

That leaves Ben Haenow, Andrea Faustini, Lauren Platt and Fleur East to battle it out in the semi-finals.

The X Factor continues on ITV, Saturday, December 6, 8.00pm.

The X Factor’s five remaining acts had to sing not one but two songs for a place in next week’s semi-finals, one song chosen by a celebrity artist, the other by the public.

Ben Haenow’s songs were the Beatles' “Come Together”, chosen by One Direction, and Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” from the public.

“Maybe I should just get One Direction to choose your songs every week,” said mentor Simon Cowell to Ben. “You’ve just got better and better.”

“I loved your first song,” Louis Walsh told Ben, “but your second was even better. You’re the one to beat.”

That might come as a shock to Andrea Faustini’s fans. He has long been the favourite to win the contest but, last week, Andrea was in the bottom two… Did he peak too early?

Andrea’s two songs this week were “Chandelier” by Sia, chosen by Sam Smith and “Hero” by Mariah Carey. The judges loved both his performances.

“After that performance, it shows we were right to save you last week,” Louis told Andrea, after he had sung his first song.

“You had a great night, Andrea,” Simon told him, after he had sung his second song - some of it in Italian.

“The Italian bit was beautiful,” Cheryl said.

“You are amazing,” his mentor Mel B told him. “I am so proud of you.”

Also still in the contest are Lauren Platt, Fleur East and Stereo Kicks.

Who will make it to the semi-finals?

Find out on The X Factor results show, ITV, Sunday, November 30, 8.00pm

Fleur East is not the bookies' favourite to win The X Factor - but Simon Cowell fancies Fleur's chances after her performance of Jessie J's "Bang Bang" on this week's show.

It was Big Band week, meaning the eight remaining acts had to sing with a 30-piece orchestra - or try to.

Fleur came out on top as far as the judges were concerned, but they also enjoyed Only The Young's performance of the Jungle Book favourite, "I Wanna Be Like You".

"You bring fun to the X Factor," Cheryl told the group.

"My kids are absolutely in love with you," added Mel B. "I would go to your concert any time."

Seventeen-year-old Lauren Platt sang Nat King Cole's "Smile" sitting on a swing… "And I'm just glad the seat didn't snap!" Lauren said afterwards.

"Your technique, vocally, is flawless," Mel told Lauren.

"But the performance was a bit boring," Simon added. "It was good, but not fantastic."

Andrea Faustini, who is currently the bookies' favourite to win, got a mixed reaction from the judges after his performance of Ella Fitzgerald's "Summertime".

"You're like a little Pavarotti," Louis Walsh told Andrea.

"I actually didn't like it," said Simon. "It lacked the gritty passion you need with that song. And you pull terrible faces when you sing, like you're in pain."

Will Andrea be in pain after the public have voted? Or will it be Jay James in the sing-off again, along with Stereo Kicks, or Ben Haenow or - dare anyone hope - Stevi Ritchie?

The X Factor results show is on ITV, Sunday, November 16, 8.00pm.

There was only one singer who had all the judges on their feet on Saturday night’s show and that was Andrea Faustini.

The remaining nine acts had to sing a song by either Queen or Michael Jackson.

Andrea took on Queen’s “Somebody to Love” and moved his mentor, Mel B, to tears.

“You have the extra-special superstardom,” Mel told Andrea. “You make me cry. You touch everyone.”

“Yes, you’re Italian, but the whole of Britain loves you,” said Cheryl.

“You are a brilliant, brilliant singer,” Simon Cowell added.

“That was my favourite performance of the whole series,” Louis Walsh said to Andrea.

But running a very close second on the night was Fleur East, who sang Michael Jackson’s “Will You Be There”.

“You just continue to surprise me,” Simon told Fleur. “You get better and better and better.”

Seventeen-year-old Lauren Plattt also pleased the judges with her performance of “I’ll Be There”.

“You sing like you’ve been performing your whole life,” Mel told her.

It was a good night, too, for Only The Young, who sang “Blame It On The Boogie”.

“There’s a gap in the market for a group like you,” Simon told them. “I think you’re popping.”

The other remaining group in the contest, eight-piece Stereo Kicks, almost became nine when someone from the audience joined them on stage as they sang “You Are Not Alone”.

To the group’s credit, they didn’t miss a beat.

“Good for you,” Simon told them. “These things happen on live TV.”

Ben Haenow got a mixed reaction from the judges for his performance of “Man In The Mirror”, some of which he sang a cappella.

“I think your vocals were exposed,” Mel told Ben.

“I don’t know if it was a good thing or a bad thing but good for you for giving it a try,” Cheryl said.

Ben’s mentor, Simon, saw it differently, though: “I believe this is the moment we’re seeing a star being a born,” he told Ben.

You can find out what the public believe on The X Factor results show, Sunday, November 9, 8.00pm

In a double eviction weekend, Jack Walton went first, on Saturday night, quickly followed by Lola Saunders.

Lola's exit from the competition wasn’t a popular decision with the studio audience, as presenter Dermot O’Leary pointed out, but that was no consolation to her.

Fighting back tears, Lola, 20, said, “I tried the best I could".

At the end of the night, the judges' vote was deadlocked.

Cheryl and Louis Walsh each voted for their own act.

Mel B preferred Stereo Kicks' performance of Pink's F****** Perfect - even though it wasn't.

Simon Cowell thought Lola sang the best in the sing-off, with her performance of Carole King’s (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.

“If I’m really judging this, which I have to, I have to ask: who sang the best tonight? And it’s very easy, it was Lola,” Simon said.

But the tied judges' decision meant it would be the act with the least public votes who would leave - and that was Lola.

That also means that Cheryl now has only one act left in the contest, 17-year-old Lauren Platt.

The X Factor continues with the nine remaining contestants on ITV on Saturday, November 8, 8.00pm.

Simon Cowell shocked the remaining 11 contestants this week by making it a double eviction weekend…

Mel B was shocked when it was one of her acts that exited first.

At the end of Saturday night’s Halloween-themed show, the act with the least public votes would go home immediately… And that was Jack Walton.

And his performance was a bit of a bloodbath. Jack sang Leona Lewis’s “Bleeding Love” while, halfway through the song, having his neck gnawed by a vampire dancer.

“I know it’s Halloween night but it’s all gone too crazy for you,” Simon said to Jack at the end of his performance.

And the voting public agreed.

But the biggest horror was that Stevi Ritchie has, so far, survived another week, after he murdered “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera.

“Hahahahaha,” Mel laughed. Then added: “You know what, you got to do your dream, which was to sing that song.”

“There are a lot of doubters out there saying I can’t sing,” Stevi responded. “I hope that’s proved it.”

Oh, it has… But we think he really meant to say, “I hope that’s disproved it.” And if he did, it hasn’t.

Another fright on the night was Andrea Faustini. It wasn’t his singing (although that wasn’t as good as it has been), it was how he looked…

His hair and face were painted gold and he was wearing a gold jacket. Is Mel trying to make him lose?

“Oh, Andrea, what have they done to you?” Cheryl said, after his performance of Take That’s “Relight My Fire”. “I love you to bits but I don’t like the gold thing.”

And from the look on Andrea’s face, he didn’t like it, either.

“That was one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen on this show,” Simon added.

“This is Halloween theme week and we’ve taken it to the extreme,” Mel argued.

Maybe too extreme… Andrea still has to survive the Sunday-night eviction.

The most fun performance of the night came from Only The Young, who bounced back from being in last week’s bottom two with an energetic performance of “The Monster Mash”, by Bobby Pickett.

“Congratulations,” Simon said to them. “This is the first time I saw you as the group you really are. I really hope viewers keep you in.”

But perhaps the overall best act was Fleur East, who performed Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, complete with the dance.

“One of the most amazing performances we have seen on X Factor,” Louis Walsh told Fleur.

Does that mean Fleur will survive another week?

The X Factor results show is on ITV, Sunday, November 2, 8.00pm

After The X Factor’s three consecutive nights of Boot Camp, the six-chair challenges and a lot arguing, tears and tantrums (and that was just the judges), we can now reveal the final six acts each judge will be taking to the Judges’ Houses.

And Cheryl's not crying with happiness (above) because singer/songwriter Raign didn't make it through… The judges are all applauding Italian student Andrea Faustini, who did make it through after another outstanding performance.

So, here's how the groups were divided and the names of the final 24 acts…

Cheryl has the girls category and was the first judge to choose her final six. They are: Lola Saunders, Lauren Platt, Kerrianne Covell, Stephanie Nala, Emily Middlemass and Chloe Jasmin.

Mel B has the boys and her final six are: Jake Quickenden, Jordan Morris, Danny Dearden, Paul Akister, Jack Walton and Andrea Faustini.

Simon Cowell got the over-25s and his final six are: Jay James, Ben Haenow, Fleur East, Stevi Ritchie, Helen Fulthorpe and Lizzy Pattinson.

Louis Walsh has the groups, including a new boy group and a new girl group. Both new groups are, so far, nameless, having just been formed from solo singers who failed the auditions. Louis’ four other groups are: The Brooks, Blonde Electric, Only The Young and Concept.

Click here for our photo special on the final 24 acts.

The X Factor continues on ITV, Saturday, October 3, 8.00pm, with the Judges’ Houses.

There are those in this year’s X Factor who think they can sing - and then there’s 20-year-old Italian student Andrea Faustini.

He was the star of The X Factor as the six-chair challenge continued on Saturday, September 27.

“All of them boy are now terrified,” Cheryl said to Mel before Andrea had even started to sing.

Mel B has the boys category in this year’s X Factor and, as Simon Cowell told her after Andrea’s performance in the six-chair challenge, “He just made your category good”.

Mel had already filled her six seats when Andrea performed Whitney Houston’s “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength” and brought the judges and the audience to their feet, leaving Mel and Cheryl in tears.

“That was a stunning vocal,” Simon told him.

It was 17-year-old Hayden Leeman who was bumped by Andrea.

Mel’s final six are Andrea, Paul Akister, Jack Walton, Danny Dearden, Jordan Morris and Jake Quickenden, who made it to the judges’ houses last year, only to be sent home by then-judge Nicole Scherzinger.

Next to select their six was Simon, who has the over-25 category, which includes the woman Cheryl loves to loathe, Raign.

Does Raign make it Simon’s judge’s house? She was sitting pretty in a seat in the six-chair challenge at the end of Saturday’s show… But Simon hadn’t heard all of his singers.

Find out who makes Simon's final six and who Louis Walsh puts through in the groups category in The X Factor, ITV, Sunday, September 28, 8.00pm.

Click here for our picture special on the six-chair challenges so far.

A quick march through Boot Camp and the remaining 57 acts found themselves waiting to be given a mentor in Friday night’s first of three X Factor shows over the weekend of September 26-28.

Simon Cowell got the over-25s, Louis Walsh got the groups, Mel B got the boys and Cheryl got the girls..

And it was Cheryl’s remaining 12 girls, including 15-year-old Emily Middlemass, the youngest girl in the contest, who were up first in the next stage of the competition: the six-chair challenge.

The final six girls sitting in the six chairs on stage would be the six going to Cheryl’s judge’s house.

Cheryl quickly filled the chairs - and quickly found herself in trouble. She still had singers she wanted to keep but no seats left.

So, the swapping began… Girls who thought they were safe, suddenly found themselves without a seat and, after a lot of disagreement from the fifth judge - the audience - Cheryl had her final six…

Emily Middlemass, who sang Ellie Goulding’s “Anything Could Happen” and prompted Simon to tell Cheryl: “I don’t care how old she is, you have to give her a seat.”

Lola Saunders, 20, a fishmonger from South Shields who, Cheryl said, didn’t do her best but did enough with her performance of Cece Peniston’s “Finally”

Chloe Jasmine, the 23-year-old model who Cheryl finds ‘mesmerising’ and who surprised judges with her performance of the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way”

Kerrianne Covell, a 23-year-old shoe shop assistant whose performance of Sara Bareilles” “Gravity” “gave me goosebumps”, Cheryl said

Lauren Platt, 16, whose performance of Michael Jackson’s “Man In The Mirror” prompted Mel B to tell Cheryl, “Wow! I’m super-scared of your category”

Stephanie Nala, 20, who sang Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” and “made the show cool” said Simon.

The X Factor continues on ITV on Saturday, September 27 at 8.00pm when Mel B’s boys will go through the six-chair challenge and Simon will start the process with the over-25s. Louis will choose his final six groups in The X Factor on ITV, Sunday, September 28, at 8.00pm.

Click here for our picture special of Cheryl's final six plus the other six-chair challenges as they happen over the weekend.

Find out which judge gets the over-25s, the girls, the boys and the groups - and which contestants survive the six-chair challenge to go on to the judges' houses

The X Factor auditions continued at Wembley Arena on Saturday night (September 20) with one stand-out audition from 23-year-old model Chloe Jasmin that completely won over Simon Cowell.

When she walked out on stage and the 5000+ audience heard her cut-glass accent they started whispering. Chloe sounds posher than any upstairs resident at Downton Abbey.

But not long after she started singing “Why Don’t You Do Right?” from the film “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” they audience was cheering and by the end they were on their feet.

“There’s something really, really mesmerising about you, you’re like old school Hollywood glamour,” Cheryl said.

“I don’t think you’ve quite yet connected with the right song and you were nervous,” Simon said. “But I think you’re interesting. We’ve never had anyone like you on the show before in terms of the way you look, the way you sound. I always judge an audition by whether I’m going to remember you an hour later and I’m definitely going to remember you.”

So, Boot Camp next for Chloe. And for Raign…

Cheryl loathed singer/songwriter Raign in the first round of auditions - and she loathed her at Wembley Arena. But Raign got three yeses after singing her own song, Rain Don’t Let Me Go.

“For whatever reason, people don’t like you before you sing,” Simon told Raign - or after, in Cheryl’s case.

Remember, Kerrianne Covell, the shoe shop assistant who was in danger of losing her job before Simon phoned her boss? Everyone loved her and she rocked Wembley with “I Know You Won’t” by Carrie Underwood.

“You were great the first time but I thought you were fantastic tonight,” Simon told Kerrianne.

“You should be selling music, not shoes,” added Cheryl.

And after Ben Haenow, 29, sang “Wild Horses”, by the Rolling Stones, the judges couldn’t work out why he is driving a van for a living.

“You’ve got an amazing rock voice. I can’t believe it hasn’t happened for you before but this is your moment,” Louis Walsh told him.

There are more X Factor auditions from Wembley Arena on ITV, Sunday, September 21, 8.00pm.

Click here for our photo special.

Singers fight for a place at Boot Camp

The Wembley Arena auditions continued on Sunday, September 14 with 20-year-old Andrea Faustini being the first to take the stage in front of  the 5000+ audience and, of course, the judges. A quiet, shy-like student from Rome, Andrea just wanted the British public to like him - and they did.

As Andrea sang Otis Redding’s Try A Little Tenderness, he had the audience on their feet long before he finished.

“I’m not sure whether the audience liked that or not,” Simon Cowell grinned as the audience continued to cheer. “That’s actually one of the biggest reactions we’ve had at the arenas.”

“You’re one of those people that are pre-judged before you’re heard and then you sing like that. You sang with every bit of passion, every bit of emotion. You took your three minutes and you used them with everything you had,” Cheryl told Andrea.

The show closed with another powerhouse performance that had the judges on their feet, this time from Jay James, 30, from Wales, who sang Fix You, by Coldplay.

“I like that you’re in the older category,” Simon told Jay. “I think we’re reaching a point in the music business now where age is no barrier, if you’ve got it, you’ve got it.”

“And you’ve just got it,” Mel B said to Jay.

The boy band Overload performed their original song, No, No, No and got four yeses from the judges… “Best boy band we’ve seen,” said Cheryl.

Mel B wannabe Kayleigh Manners didn’t hit the right note with the judges at first and admitted she was “terrified”.

“You have the least confidence I’ve seen up there. You’ve got to show them [the audience] what you’re made of. This is the moment. Please, I know what you’re capable of,” Cheryl told her.

And Kayleigh’s performance of Your Song, by Elton John got her to Boot Camp.

Click here for our picture special.

The X Factor Wembley Arena auditions continue on ITV on Saturday, September 20, 8.00pm

The X Factor moved its auditions to the Wembley Arena and the audience got what Cheryl described as “the smartest audition we’ve had so far”.

It came from Lauren Platt, from Essex, who sang How Will I Know, by Whitney Houston and got a standing ovation from the 5000+ audience.

“What a smart move to take a song like that and make it current,” Cheryl told Lauren,” who she had called her “favourite sixteen year old” in the first round.

“And you can sing!” Cheryl added. “I’m really excited about you.”

“I’m so excited right now and I could slap you!” added Mel B. “Seriously! You’ve just got everything.”

“I think we’ve found ourselves a pop star,” said Louis Walsh.

But did Simon Cowell? “I think you’re going to get better and better and better,” he told Lauren.

Paul Akister, 25, from Lancashire, also excited Mel B and Cheryl with his performance of Let’s Get It On, by Marvin Gaye - and they gave Simon a little thrill by dancing for him during Paul’s audition. Click here for more.

Paul was sent home by Louis for lacking the X Factor in 2013.

“For whatever reason, Louis destroyed your life last year,” Simon told Paul. “You have to put that behind you now and hope you get a better mentor this year.”

The night didn’t end well for many others, though… And Cheryl couldn’t save Amy Connolly, 25, who made it to Cheryl’s judges’ house in X Factor 2008.

Amy chose a big song to sing, Greatest Love of All, by Whitney Houston - and it proved too big for her.

“Cheryl made the right decision not to put you through six years ago,” Simon told Amy. “This is when you become exposed, Amy, up on this big stage, with a big song like that.”

“We’ve put through worse,” Cheryl argued - but she didn’t win.

The X Factor continues with more Wembley Arena auditions on ITV, Sunday, September 14, 8.00pm.

Click here for our Wembley Arena picture special.

X Factor judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl, Mel B and Louis Walsh didn’t expect much from 16-year-old Michael Rice when he stood in front of them at the fourth-round auditions.

“What do you do?” Simon asked Michael.

“I work in a chippy. I wash the potatoes and fry them. When I finish my shift I stink of fish. I don’t want to be a chip boy all my life,” he said.

“OK, you’re out of the fish and chip shop and here’s your chance. What are you going to sing?” Simon said.

“I Look To You by Whitney Houston,” Michael answered, softly.

“Are you really?” said Simon, unable to hide his surprise.

“Are you? Wow! Good luck,” added Cheryl. Then Michael started singing and Cheryl’s jaw hit the floor.

“Wow, I wasn’t expecting that,” Simon said at the end.

“I wasn’t expecting that at all,” said Louis. “You walked in and said you worked in a fish and chip shop and then you turned into Whitney! You’re really good.”

“Wow! You’ve got some power in there, haven’t you?” Cheryl said. “You’re like a little diva. I think you’re a really fantastic singer.”

“Smashed it!” said Mel. “You’ve got the range to kill any of the big ballads.”

So Michael was through to the next round. So was fitness instructor Kayleigh Manners, 23, who comes from Mel B’s old neighbourhood, High Hills in Leeds.

Kayleigh was nervous and told the judges, “I sing better in my room”. But they were impressed.

“I think you have a really good quality to your voice,” Mel told her.

Mel wasn’t sure about Jake Quickenden’s performance of All of Me by John Legend.

“Sing the song like you mean it,” she told him. “Have you ever been through a heartbreak?”

“My little brother died last year,” Jake answered.

“I'm really sorry to hear that," Mel told him. "So you do know hard times. Use that when you sing,” Mel told him. “Sing for your brother.”

He tried again with Say Something by A Great Big World and the judges loved it.

“To have criticism and come back with another song and fight for it is really admirable,” said Cheryl.

Really? That’s not what Cheryl said to singer Raign, who also got a second go.

Click here for that story.

And click here for our picture special on the fourth round auditions.

The X Factor continues on ITV, Saturday, September 13, 8.00pm.

Judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl, Mel B and Louis Walsh sit stunned in the third round of X Factor auditions, as Queen Christina arrives and announces that she is the “British version of Lady Gaga”.

Well, they’ve struck gold if she is…

“It’s art, fashion and a music project, a little like Lady Gaga,” says Queen Christina, explaining the performance the judges are about to see.

“I’ve been singing since I was four,” she continues. “Lo and behold, a couple of years ago my voice went into the stratosphere. It was a freak of nature really. A lot of people say I sound like a dead ringer for Kate Bush. Most of my friends call me ‘QC’ and I sign my card Queen Christina.”

But is she really Britain’s answer to Lady Gaga?

Or is she just 40-year-old Christina, from Loughton in Essex?

The judges were unanimous with their vote.

Watch The X Factor on ITV, Saturday, September, at 8.00pm, to find out how they voted.

Click here for our picture special

Fifteen-year-old identical twins Kyle and Josh had the judges seeing double when they walked out for the third round of auditions.

And they didn't look like they were about to sing, either… They looked like they were auditioning for Ralph Macchio's role in The Karate Kid.

“Have you sung together in public before?” Simon Cowell asked the boys, who call themselves The Brooks.

“Yes, we started singing together in church,” they answered. “We’ve got a really close bond. If I need the toilet, he needs the toilet,” added Kyle (or was it Josh?).

“You’re so cute together!” Cheryl told them.

No one mentioned the other X Factor twins - Jedward, who finished sixth in the 2009 series. They’ve released three albums and represented Ireland twice in the Eurovision Song Contest since then and, up until 2013, were managed by Louis Walsh.

Is he looking for a new double act?

Find out on The X Factor, ITV, Saturday, September 6, 8.00pm

Click here for our picture special

Odd couple Kitten and the Hip gave the X Factor judges plenty to think about in the second round of auditions - and then the judges gave them something to think about: splitting up.

Kitten - aka Scarlett - and Ashley, 53 are partners in work and play and have a daughter.

“We’ve got each other’s backs,” Kitten told the judges.

“Oh, I thought you were father and daughter!” Louis Walsh exclaimed.

Awkward.Their audition was awkward, too.

Performing their own number, Shut Up And Dance, Kitten pounced and Hip appeared to need help moving.

“I’m not convinced you work together,” Cheryl said. “I think you’re stunning,” she told Kitten. “You’ve got something but there’d be a lot of changes I would make.”

“I think the man should step back and go,” added Mel B. “He’s pushing 60, let the wife be the front of this. He should stand down like a man.”

“He’s a star,” Kitten told Mel.

“No, he’s not,” said Mel.

No splinters in her bum from sitting on the fence.

“It doesn’t work at all for me,” said Louis.

“It’s quite awkward, this, because you are in a relationship and you’ve got a kid together,” said Simon Cowell.

“I don’t know if you’d consider going alone,” says Cheryl to Kitten.

“Yes. I’m so hungry for this,” said Kitten in a nano second.

That shocked the judges… "She could have taken a couple of seconds to think about it," said Simon. Hip looked a bit surprised, too.

So Kitten got 4 yeses and Hip was put out.

A controversial decision… Making their minds up about call centre worker Stevie Ritchie, 33, from Essex, was a lot easier for the judges - even if it took longer.

“Like I always say, it’s always sunny somewhere in the world,” said Stevie, before he placed himself at the mercy of the judges.

“It’s nice to be in the presence of legends like yourselves,” Stevie told Simon, Cheryl, Mel and Louis. “And you, Simon, the God of X Factor.”

“I like that term,” Simon smiled.

Then he started singing Dance With Me Tonight, by Olly Murs.

But there was a lot more dancing than singing as he forgot the words but kept on moving.

“It goes on forever, doesn’t it?” he said, as he threw in every dance move he could think of. “I feel such an idiot.”

And the judges could see why.

“I like you,” Simon told Stevie. “But that wasn’t the best vocal.”

Louis, Mel and Cheryl said they wanted to see Stevie again. “Really?” said Simon. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

Neither was Stevie. “Really? Thank you so much! Even though I b*****d it up? I thought, ‘that’s me, I’m going out’ but I thought I might as well enjoy it as you only get one opportunity.”

And now he’s got another one, in the next round.

Only The Young didn’t divide the judges at all - they all loved them.

Mikey, 19, Parisa 20, Charlie, 17 and Betsy, 18 gave Elton John’s song, Something About The Way You Look Tonight, a new twist - “and you made it current”, Simon told the group.

“I love you guys. I’d love to work with you,” he added.

“That’s how you do an audition,” Cheryl told them. “It’s so refreshing to see something original.”

Concept was the next group to audition, performing Earthquake by Labrinth.

“You’ve obviously worked hard at this,” Mel told them.

Hard enough to get four yeses.

Arize, a three-piece girl group, also impressed the judges with their version of Little Me by Little Mix.

Overload, featuring five lads, worried the judges, though, when they revealed they’d only been together three month.

But their worry turned to surprise and the boys got four yeses.

The judges’ worry returned, though, with the start of an international section featuring wannabes from all over the world.

Oceane Guyot, 19, from Paris, strangled Emotions by Maria Carey.

“It was like you’d swallowed a load of people and they were all screaming,” Simon told her. “Unbelievable.”

Jimmy Cheung, 57, from Hong Kong did no better with O Sole Mio, by Luciana Pavarotti.

“Did you enjoy it?” Simon asked Jimmy at the end of his audition.

“I did. Did you?” Jimmy replied.

“I didn’t actually, Jimmy,” Simon told him.

Jan Chichorz, a 21-year-old factory worker from Poland, did something unintelligible with Tough Lover, Christina Aguilera.

“Keep singing for yourself, at home, where nobody else can hear you,” Mel told him.

After all that, when Andrea Faustini, 20, from Italy, walked out, the judges were wary.

Andrea was sweet, softly spoken, and wearing a sweatshirt that declared he loves Pugs. He also loves the Spice Girls. Then he sang Who’s Lovin’ You by the Jackson 5.

“That was unbelievable. That taught me not to judge a book by its cover,” Cheryl said. “My favourite audition so far.”

“Big, soulful audition. You took it to church and back,” said Mel.

“You’re really cute but you are Italian,” said Simon, “and this is the British X Factor. We embrace all nationalities, though, and I think this is just the beginning of how good you could be. I think you could be really special.”

Chloe Thwala, 30, from South Africa, kept the good thing going for the judges.

“Big voice you’ve got there,” Cheryl told her. “You’ve got the potential to do anything.”

The judges also saw potential in 34-year-old Helen Fulthorpe, whose son filled in her application, and cruise ship singer Michelle Lawson, 37.

Linzi Martin, 33, desperately wanted them to see potential in her… What Simon saw was a face he recognised.

“I know you,” Simon said, when Linzi walked out.

“Yes, I used to be in a band called Girl Thing when I was a kid,” Linzi said. “We were signed to you. We were tipped to be the next Spice Girls.” But they weren’t.

Then she launched into I’ll Be There, by the Jackson 5.

“I think you’re really brave but I wasn’t crazy about the audition ,” Louis tells Linzi. But he gives her a “yes” vote.

“I understand you, I could have been in your shoes,” Cheryl says. “But the audition just wasn’t strong. I feel it would be unfair to put you through. It’s ‘no’.”

“You know what? We all deserve another chance so I’m going to say ‘yes’, even though it was not a good audition,” Mel told Linzi.

Which left head judge Simon with the deciding vote.

“OK. ‘l’m going to be honest, Linzi,” Simon said - and you knew the truth was going to hurt her.

“This is not going to work out for you. Your voice isn’t good enough, sweetheart and I don’t want to give you false hope. I can’t lie to you, this isn’t for you. I’m going to have to say ‘no’.”

Ouch.

Click here for our picture special of the X Factor auditions round two.

The X Factor continues with round three of the auditions on Saturday, September 6, ITV, 8.00pm

The X Factor returned with the first round of auditions and there was screaming, crying and laughter - and that was just from the judges.

There was a lot of singing, too - and not all of it good. Actually, not much of it good.

But judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl, Mel B and Louis Walsh think they have found a few stars in the making…

Former Navy man Jay James, 30, from West Wales, gave the audition of the night for Simon.

Singing Say Something, by A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera, full-time dad Jay, was desperate to make his mark.

“This is everything to me,” he said, before he stepped in front of the judges. “My nine-month-old daughter is my motivation.”

And it seems she was all the motivation he needed.

“Amazing,” said Simon, when Jay had finished singing. “That is how you do it. At first I thought you were good and then it got better. It was outstanding. I’ve got a really, really good feeling about you.”

Mel loved it so much she cried…

“And I hate you because you made me cry,” she told Jay. “I don’t cry but your passion and emotion was ridiculously good.”

“It was a brilliant song choice,” added Louis. “You had us with every single word.”

“The passion was oozing from you,” Cheryl told Jay.

So, Jay’s through to the next round.

But he wasn’t the only singer to show passion and impress the judges.

Chloe Jasmine, a 23-year-old model from Sussex, got the judges’ attention as soon as she opened her mouth…

“I like your posh accent,” Mel told Chloe.

Simon looked interested. “What’s your dream?” he asked Chloe.

“To be happy every day for the rest of my life,” she answered.

“That’s a good dream,” Simon said.

And then the judges heard that Chloe can sing good as well as dream good.

“Darling, I thought you were fabulous,” said Louis, in his best posh Irish voice.

“You’re mesmerising,” said Cheryl.

“Awesome from head to toe,” said Mel.

“I really like you,” Simon told Chloe. “You’ve got a really cool, bluesy voice. You’re one I’m going to remember.”

Simon will remember Blonde Electric, too - but maybe not for such good reasons.

Jazzy, 24 and Ruby, 22, are sisters who make up Blonde Electric. “Touring the world and singing would be an absolute dream,” said Jazzy, just before she and Ruby ran screaming into the audition room. They were like little girls on a sugar high and Mel and Cheryl definitely didn’t like what they saw. They exchanged a look - and it wasn’t a good look.

But Jazzy and Ruby weren’t put off and launched into their performance of Jessie J’s Do It Like A Dude. But Simon stopped them halfway through.

“OK,” he said. “Imagine the biggest blackboard in the world and you’ve got eight people drawing their nails down it - multiplied by 10. That’s how irritating you were.”

Mel laughed…

“But irritating in a way that I’m sort of fascinated by you.”

Mel stopped laughing.

“It’s like you’ve been invented by Louis in a computer to create the most irritating girl group in the world and here you are,” added Simon.

“In some weird way you’re that annoying that you’re good,” Mel told the sisters - who clearly couldn’t tell which way the vote was going to go.

“I think you might divide the nation,” said Louis. “I thin you’re a little loopy but all good pop stars are.”

“Yeah,” said Jazzy, almost beside herself with excitement.

Then Simon asked Cheryl what she thought.

“I think you’re very, very nice people but it wasn’t my cup of tea,” she said.

Still, Blonde Electric got three yeses and went through to the next round.

It looked like anyone playing a guitar would be instantly thrown out, as Simon decided he had become allergic to guitars.

“They all sound the same,” Simon moaned. “I’m going to get 50 guitars and blow them up.”

And then he did grab a guitar and smash it up as Cheryl, Mel and Louis shouted “No!”

Then Reece Bibby walked out with his guitar.

“I’ve been waiting for my 16th birthday so I could audition and then they lowered the age limit to 14 for this series so I don’t have to wait any more,” Reece beamed. “It’s brilliant. It’s like Christmas come early.”

But did the judges feel the same way?

“Simon’s someone I want to impress,” Reece added.

But he was already out of favour for having a guitar.

Then he started playing and singing Latch by Disclosure - and the judges started smiling.

“Man, I loved it! I wanted to stand up and applaud,” said Mel. “I think you’re exactly what this show is about. It’s young, it’s current, it’s fresh. You’re 15 and you look cute. I loved it and I love everything that you are.”

So, Mel liked Reece.

“I love your passion and I think your voice is incredible,” added Cheryl. “It was a very good audition. Well done.”

“Reece I can tell that you absolutely live for music,” said Louis. “I think the word for you is ‘potential’.”

Then it was Simon’s turn to have his say.

“Reece, are you always going to perform with a guitar?” he asked the boy.

“No, no” Reece answered quickly.

“Then I loved the choice of song, loved the version and you’re a really nice guy, Reece,” Simon said.

And Reece was through with four yeses.

Fourteen-year-old Charlie Jones got through with just one “yes” vote. How?

Charlie sang Little Things, by One Direction and Simon liked him - a lot.

“You know what?” Simon told Charlie. “You’ve got potential. I’m going to say ‘yes’ - and it doesn’t matter what the other three say.”

Chloe O’Gorman, 17, and Lauren Platt, 16, excited all of the judges.

“I think we have just scratched the surface with you,” Simon told Chloe.

“And we may have found someone special with you,” he told Lauren.

Ben Quinlan only really wanted to impress one judge - and it wasn’t Simon.

Ben serenaded Cheryl with That’s My Goal, by Shane Ward, and even got her dancing.

“I think he’s nuts,” Simon said behind his hand.

But Ben can sing and got four yeses.

Amy Connolly got four yeses, too.

Amy auditioned for The X Factor in 2008 and made it all the way to Cheryl’s judge’s house before she was sent home.

It was an emotional reunion for Cheryl and Amy, who could barely finish singing With You, from the musical Ghost, she was sobbing so hard.

“That was really beautiful,” Cheryl told her. “I’m so proud of you, proud of the fact you came back.”

Not all of those who sang for the judges got the thumbs up, though.

Go to our picture special here to see the worst of the worst - plus more on the judges’ favourites from round one.

The X Factor continues on ITV, Sunday, August 31, 8.00pm.

The X Factor returns on Saturday, August 30 and there are at least three singers in the first round of auditions who make the judges feel that they might have found something special.

One of them even gets through to the next round with just one “yes” vote.

And one of them plays the guitar… Which is a surprise because head judge Simon Cowell decides early on that he’s become allergic to that particular instrument because so many of the guys turn up to audition with guitars and then play them badly.

“They all sound the same,” Simon moans. “I’m going to get 50 guitars and blow them up.”

But in the end he settles for grabbing one and smashing it to bits as fellow judges Cheryl, Mel B and Louis Walsh shout “No!”

There’s also a singer-songwriter who’s so bad that three of the four judges walk out… And you’ll be surprised by which judge stays until the very bitter end of the audition.

Simon seems surprised by the number of wannabe stars who have stars in their eyes when they meet Cheryl… Boys and girls tell her over and over - and over - again that she’s “beautiful” and “gorgeous” - while Mel sits next next to her.

“What am I, chopped liver? I hate sitting next to this one,” Mel said, pointing at Cheryl.

In truth, contrary to a lot of reports, the judges get along fine - for this round, anyway.

Maybe they feel they have to play nice because so many of the auditionees are so young.

The age limit has been lowered to 14 for this year's contest, so there’s a lot of excited teens desperate to prove they have the X factor.

“My dream is to have girls screaming my name,” says 14-year-old Charlie Jones.

Will the judges think it’s a dream that should come true?

Or will they be more keen on 63-year-old Carol Trefarthen, who sings Tina Turner’s Simply the Best and teases Simon by taking off some of her clothes?

Cheryl is pleased to see Amy Connolly… Amy auditioned for The X Factor in 2008 and made it all the way to Cheryl’s judge’s house before she was sent home. How far will she get this time? Will she make it past the first audition?

Not everyone does, of course - and not all of the rejects take their rejection well.

But then the X Factor is all about watching the good with the bad.

Click here for our picture special on the first round of auditions.

Tune in to The X Factor on ITV at 8.00pm, Saturday, 30 August to see exactly which acts turn the judges on - and off.

The X Factor continues on ITV on Sunday, August 31, 8.00pm.

Rumours persist that ITV bosses are going to drop Louis Walsh from the X Factor judging panel, despite Simon Cowell being keen to keep Louis on the show.

The latest news, reported in the Mirror, is that Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears, 35, is tipped to replace Louis, 61, as ITV chiefs think a change is needed to revive the show’s flagging ratings.

Simon insisted recently: “It wouldn’t be the same without Louis.”

But bosses are desperate to plug the ratings leak and American singer Jake is tipped as the man to do it.

A source said: “Jake really impressed when he was a guest mentor on The Voice, but Louis is very much Simon’s man, so we’ll have to wait and see.”

Jake has indicated he would love to be a judge, saying in 2010: “I would be happy and very excited to appear on one of Simon Cowell’s shows.

“I think I’d have a good time. I’d definitely be enthusiastic.”

Cheryl Cole, 30, is also returning to the panel after a four-year gap and has admitted she would prefer Louis be replaced by another female judge.

An X Factor spokesman said: “Simon and Cheryl are the only confirmed judges. No decisions have been taken on the rest.”

The X Factor is due to return on ITV at the end of the summer.

The battle lines are already being drawn between returning X Factor judges Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole over the future of fellow panellist Louis Walsh.

It was revealed yesterday that Cheryl, 30, and show boss Simon, 54, will revive their on-screen partnership for the ITV talent show after a four-year break. But the pair are reportedly at war over who will join them on the judging panel when the show makes its return later this year.

Cheryl told The Sun that she would like another woman to join her on the panel, while Simon said he would prefer to keep the show veteran, saying: "I want to keep Louis."

The Girls Aloud star, who was dumped from a US version of the show before it was even broadcast, revealed that Simon had given her the final say on who to recruit, part of a reported £1.5 million deal to lure her back.

The singer told the newspaper: "There are people I'd love to join the panel. Definitely a strong woman. I'm kind of hoping I don't have to deal with three guys because otherwise I'll have no hair - I'll be pulling it out all the time."

Simon said the two of them would discuss who to bring in, saying: "When Cheryl came back we decided we'd agree together. I'm not going to put someone beside her who she hates."

A spokesman for Louis told The Sun: "ITV and Simon have given assurances he will be back."

Simon and Cheryl quit The X Factor after the 2010 series to launch a new version across the Atlantic, but she was dropped within weeks, during the audition stages, amid claims that Americans could not understand her Newcastle accent, and the pair fell out.

Her return to the UK show was announced by Simon with a message posted online, which said: "It's official. Cheryl is back. Most importantly she is a brilliant judge of talent."

Cheryl told The Sun Simon had begged her to return to the show for years, joking: "It's not nice to see a grown man cry."

She said the pair have a 'great relationship' and that she doesn't hold any grudges, and that their return to the show is a 'step forward'.

Simon admitted he got it wrong by firing Cheryl in 2011 and said it took '2,000 calls' to persuade her to forgive him and come back.

He said: "Of course I was wrong and I don't mind admitting it. If I could turn the clock back I'd do it differently, but I can't."

Simon said he believes the pair can pick up where they left off as he considers her a friend, saying: "I trust her and she is loyal."

X Factor judge Louis Walsh has launched an astonishing attack on fellow panellist Gary Barlow, accusing him of "taking the money and running".

According to the Sunday Mirror Louis is said to have told friends that he believes Gary is no longer treating the show as a priority, due to his focus on his music career.

"I've sussed him out. He's taking the mickey," the Irish mogul reportedly told associates.

And while the pair may still exchange friendly banter onscreen, show insiders told the paper that offscreen it was a very different story.

“Louis is being quite open about his thoughts on Gary,” one source explained. “He thinks he’s only really concerned about looking after number one.

“Louis complains that Gary has been leaving the studio pretty sharpish after filming.

“He thinks some of the other judges are spending a lot more time nurturing their acts each week.

The insider added that Louis was also upset by Gary's plans to perform with Elton John during the final, saying it "confirmed his belief that Gary was thinking ahead to the days he has finished as an X Factor judge."

A source close to Gary, meanwhile, hinted that Louis' latest gripes were nothing new.

“It sounds from this that Louis is just up to his old tricks again by getting competitive and upping the ante," the insider said.

A spokesman told the paper that "all the judges enjoy spending time with their contestants and mentoring them."

Gary has just one remaining act - trio Rough Copy - left in the competition, while Louis has yet to lose an act from Nicholas MacDonald, Sam Callahan and Luke Friend.

The results of this weekend's big band themed show will be revealed on Sunday night from 8pm.

As the remaining 12 contestants head to the X Factor studio for the start of the live shows this Saturday, What's On TV spoke to Boys' mentor Louis Walsh, who revealed what he's expecting from his category and their rivals. He also talked about his friendship with Sharon, some secrets from previous series, and what we should expect from last ever autumn of live shows on X Factor....

Are you excited about your final three boys, Nicholas, Luke and Sam, and how do you think they'll fare in the live shows?

"I'm very excited because I got a very good category this year and I can work with them. I normally get the overs or the groups - the jokers if you like. But I picked three really good boys. I had four in mind so it was really difficult to pick the right three.  I have to work on confidence with all of them because they're all young kids. They haven't really performed on live TV before so it's a whole new world."

Do you have a favourite among them?

"There's one who I think is totally a dark horse and that's Nicholas. There's something about him, he connects with me and with people when he sings. Even at Judges Houses, when he sang a song it was just so honest and emotional. It got to us all."

Who would you say is your boys' biggest competition?

"There's competition in every category. Nicole has three amazing girls and Sam Bailey is definitely one to watch out for. Gary's groups are good - the three girls he's put together are really fantastic. Because there are no males in the Overs, that helps me, so I have a strong category because younger girls normally vote for boys and I've got three cute boys."

Who's the one to watch from the Girls and Groups?

"Hannah Barrett was amazing at her first audition. Then you've got Tamera Foster? If Tamera works, she is the one for me. She's like a little Whitney...before Bobby! From the Groups, Kingsland Road are good if they get the vocals right. They're a bit like Take That - they have a good energy. Then the three girls in Miss Dynamix could be great. They're a bit like TLC meets Destiny's Child. There's such an opening for a girl band right now, especially a girl band that can sing!"

How do you think the other judges will deal with their categories?

"Everyone genuinely gets on this year. You've got two managers and two artists. Gary and Nicole know about singing, they know what to do. Whereas Sharon and I are managers and we see different things in people."

The live shows are where things get a bit more bitchy, though?

"Yes, it does. We're bound to get competitive. We all want to win and don't forget, Gary's never won and neither has Sharon. The last time I won I had the boys, and Nicole had last year's winner. She's very competitive, in fact Nicole is the best female judge we've ever had on X Factor by miles!"

Even better than your mate, Sharon?

"Sharon's never won, but she's great fun. For work ethic, Nicole is the best. She's like an athlete. She comes in every day ready to go."

Feeling more stressed this year?

"No, I know what the show is going to be like. And this year we all get on so well, there's going to be no games. And there are no lazy judges. That's all I'm saying! Everybody is prepared to work. We don't just show up. I'm already on the phone to my guys today. Song choice is crucial. I'm good at my songs, that's one thing I'm very confident about - picking the songs to suit the artist. I know what the public likes in songs. That's the best thing about my role as a judge. I'm not good at styling or whatever else."

Would you say this is the best line up of judges?

"Yes, absolutely. Simon is the icing on the cake, he always will be, but I think it's the most honest panel and we genuinely all do get on."

In the live shows a lot of contestants get overwhelmed, and don't do as well as you'd hope. Is there any advice you'd give them?

"It's so hard to give them advice because they've no idea what's going to hit them. When you're on X Factor it's a 24/7 job 7 days a week. They probably don't realise that it's not a case of just walking out on stage and singing a song, it's not like that."

Who do you think has the toughest category?

"I suppose the Overs is normally tough but you've got Sam Bailey in there. Sharon will do wonders with her. She's the one everyone's been talking about. She came out and did the Beyonce song and she was just amazing. We didn't think anyone could so she had the shock factor. My boys, I'm very confident with."

It's the 10th year of X Factor, so any tricks up your sleeve?

"There are no tricks. I think we just get great songs and we try and get the boys to go out there and deliver them. There are themes again, for week one it's 1980s and for week two it's movies. I've been busy picking my songs."

There's always pressure to get big star guests on the live shows. Do you know who they'll be?

"Yes, I do. We have the biggest names in the world on the show this year. The biggest by a mile!"

Do you enjoy the rivalry with Strictly each year? I don't really care about Strictly, honestly. I think there's room for both shows but the show that everyone talks about is X Factor."

Do you think Gary takes it all more seriously - he gets angry about the joke acts?

"That's good. He believes in the whole thing because he's in the music business. A lot of people are in the television business. He's a songwriter and a performer - he knows music. That's what's good about him, he's not interested in making a TV show."

Which judge is the most fun to go for a pint with after the show?

"Me! Me and Sharon - we are the fun on the panel, without a doubt."

So do you go and get drunk together after the show?

"We did. The four of us went out on the very last night of Bootcamp and we stayed up all night talking. We've never done that before on the show. We were up till 6am. Sharon was going to America, Gary was going to New York and Nicole was going to Hawaii or somewhere. We sat up all night chatting, honest. That's the bond that's there."

"Will that bond come to an end during the X Factor live shows?

No! We're planning to go out every Sunday night. We're taking it in terms to organise. I'm doing week one, Gary's doing week two. I'm not telling you where we're going! We'll just eat and chat."

Does Simon Cowell phone up and chat about the shows when he's seen them?

"Yes, he keeps in touch with us a lot. He's always watching the show and any good ideas, he'll nick and pretend they're his! He's doing the bootcamp chairs on the American show now. Simon is the master of making good TV. There's nobody better."

Have you got an all-time favourite act?

"To work with JLS. They were incredible. They were just so together, they should have won that year. I know Alexandra Burke won but I think they should have won and they've been more successful than her. I loved Shane Ward as well and had fun working with Wagner and Jedward!"

Looking ahead to the live shows, it's your last series. Will you be suffering withdrawal symptoms next year?

"Probably, yes. I'm probably going to miss it big time but then if Simon came back and asked me to stay I'm sure I would stay. It's been really great this year because there's a whole new energy to the show with Sharon and she's made Gary Barlow laugh."

Do you think the show can survive without you and Sharon?

"Of course, the show is bigger than anybody. This show is always going to be the best show on TV. It's the fact that it's real and it's live. Things can happen, and we never who's going to show up. Then you watch them grow. It's like a soap opera, some of them survive and some of them don't."

Are you worried Sharon's going to be throwing more water over you?

"Not at me, she can throw it at anyone else. Sharon's the best. She's fun. I look forward to going in to the show every week. I go into her dressing room and we have a good laugh. We slag everybody off and then we do the TV show. How good is that? Simon usually gets a bit of a lashing but in a good way."

Who was a nightmare to work with on X Factor?

"Oh there were loads, loads of people who let me down. The big girl from Wales, she was a nightmare. She was a cruise ship singer! She was a nightmare. We put her in by default. Sami Brookes. That's the one. She was an absolute nightmare."

What do you watch on TV?

"Everything. Homeland is top of the heap, The Good Wife and Dexter, plus Nurse Jackie, Boardwalk Empire. I have them all on Box Set.  I watch a lot of movies.

Do you feel proud you're the only judge to have been there in every series?

"No, I think I'm lucky. But I genuinely say what I think and I genuinely love it. I give it 100% and I'm on call 24/7 for the ten weeks of the show. I'll do whatever it takes, I don't mind."

What do you usually do after each series has ended?

"I go to Miami, always. I do nothing but eat, sleep, drink, watch TV, go to movies, everything. And I think about the next year."

So what will you be doing after X Factor?

"I want to manage one or two really big acts. I'm putting a new boyband together at the moment in Ireland and I'm picking the right people. I'm managing Shane Filan and I have great hopes for him."

Tulisa Contostavlos has confirmed she will not be returning as a judge to The X Factor this year.

The former ITV contest judge and N-Dubz singer tweeted an official announcement that her time on the show was over.

She wrote: "Just wanted to let you all know that I won't be part of the X Factor panel this year. I've had a great time on the show, but this year it's time to do something different.

"I'd like to thank everyone on The X Factor for two amazing years. Stay tuned as I have a very exciting announcement soon!"

The 24-year-old star sat on the judging panel for two years, winning in 2011 with girl group Little Mix who she had mentored.

Rumoured names who could be in the running to join Louis Walsh and Gary Barlow on The X Factor this year include former judges Nicole Scherzinger and Sharon Osbourne and ex Spice Girl Mel B.

Tulisa's comments came as Louis hinted that X Factor contestants this year will have a much tougher ride.

The ITV show judge, who will be back for his 10th series this year, told TV Now about the shake ups in the programme's format that could make things more difficult for hopefuls.

He said: "I think it's going to be a different show. It's going to be fresher. We're all going to work much harder."

Last year X Factor regularly lost out in the ratings war to BBC Saturday night rival Strictly Come Dancing, but Louis said he wasn't worried about the show's future.