The X Factor Quarter Finals - The Round Up

And then there were 5! That coveted record deal is drawing nearer and nearer. As weeks have gone by I have noticed that these have gotten shorter and shorter by the week! Just goes to show how quickly time flies! This week  the theme was Heroes and Guilty Pleasures and each of the finalists had two songs each - one 'guilty pleasure' song and one by one of their musical heroes. So who was flying high in the sky and who got a taste of Kryptonite and fell flat?

The X Factor Live Show Week 5 - The Round Up

And then there were nine!!! Note to Dermot O'Leary: As much as I love you and think that you look very dapper in those suits every week, Halloween was last week and we therefore do not need your dancing every week. Sack the zombie choreographer!! Anyways, it was time to whip out those dancing shoes and get the mirrorballs out. It was Club Classics week, but who completely painted the town red and who was just murder on the dancefloor (not in a good way either)?

The X Factor Live Show Week 4 - The Round Up

Tulisa stole my catsuit!!!

Let's hear you SCREAMMMMMMM!!! It was Halloween week on the X Factor this week so there were some interesting performances being conjured up in the rather boiling hot cauldron. But who made everything go bump in the night and who was just a reign of terror? Alexandra Burke, who previously appeared on the show in 2008 and became victorious, was sitting in for Kelly this week. Kelly was ill with a throat infection, which sounds rather nasty, and doctors therefore told her she wasn't able to travel. However, the scariest thing this week just had to be Louis's poor impersonation of Kelly Rowland, which was disturbing in its own way. In fact, I have no idea which was more terrifying, that or Dermot's creepy dancing at the very beginning of the show, where he actually did look like he'd been choreographed by a zombie or the living dead...

The X Factor Live Show Week 2 - The Round Up

A little late but we shall continue. After the X Factor had turned into the Shock Factor yet again after four contestants were eliminated by the judges, it was business as usual this week. What was particularly shocking was that Amelia left as I though she completely owned her performance the previous night and absolutely blew the roof off! She had the most powerful voice out of the whole competition and it was the saddest thing ever to see her go. As for the rest of them it was time for them to up the ante as the pressure was on like a Bonbon where they had to sing their little hearts out for their chance at a life-changing career move. With the theme of love and heartbreak, there were about to be some hearts broken as the fate of these contestants was left in the safe hands of the British public....

The X Factor Judges Houses - The Round Up

After a very tough boot camp, the X Factor went global as the 32 finalists flew across many exotic locations from LA to Miami, Greece to Barcelona, all over the world in a last attempt to make it to the live finals. But this was no vacation, it was strictly straight down to business as their fate was hanging by a thread! Some would make the cut, for others it was the next plane home and the competition ended there and then for the contestants. So get ready, for tears, talent, guest judges, singing, hearts being smashed into pieces and then more tears as we round up all the exotic drama as the X Factor goes global. There were many big shocks along the way, but the biggest shock of all I must say was Sinitta being dressed a lot more conservatively?! Not sure what happened there. Maybe she wasn't quite in the mood? Or couldn't be bothered?

Barcelona...

I was right after all! Louis had put Goldie through but she later dropped out and we learnt that she had been replaced by Sami. Also sad that Terry didn't make it through to the next round as I felt he delivered a good enough performance, but I suppose that's how the cookie crumbles. Goldie put in a rather eccentric performance of J.Lo's On the Floor, which was very baffling indeed. She would have been a complete nightmare to mentor so maybe it was a blessing. Or a curse? This was the last we ever saw of her. On the plus side, Jonjo made it through to Louis's final four. Despite being a bag of nerves, he showed tonnes of potential and could be the dark horse of the competition if he finds a way to control his nerves. It was to my utter surprise that Louis had chosen Kitty as he previously mentioned she would be a nightmare to mentor!! Well let's just see how the cookie crumbles on this one!!

LA...

Over in La La Land, Robbie Williams joined Gary in a LA in which he took a leaf out of Sinitta's book (or wardrobe in this case) and made an, ahem, 'grand entrance'. Anyways, it was down to serious business though as the boys were required to sing in order to win a place in the final. Unfortunately, Luke Lucas fell at the last hurdle as he proved to be struggling with his song choice. Despite showing oodles of potential in the first round of auditions, the pressure got too much it wasn't enough to get him through and he was sent home. Gutted about John though - second time unlucky.He was clearly a better singer than Frankie.  James was also a surprise, but I'm glad Craig got through. He'll go far in the competition. Glad Marcus got through, I was really routing for him as he absolutely smashed it. Not too sure about Frankie though. He seems to care more about getting laid then being a popstar. Maybe he should be on the Playboy channel instead of The X Factor...

Miami...

Over at Kelly's house in Miami where she was joined by Oscar-winner and American Idol alumni Jennifer Hudson with the girls. The X Factor became the Shock Factor when Jade failed to make it through and I would like to take this time to show my disdain. She should have went through! She has a beautiful voice! Someone who I never expected to get through was Sophie?! Still not too sure what to make of this but we will have to see whether she will prove to be a dark horse in the competition. Glad Amelia got through where she killed it with her rendition of E.T. Imagine if she and Katy Perry did a duet in the final?! Sick!!!!!!!!!!! No wait. Katy who?! Misha also impressed with her sassy appeal waiting to steal Jennifer's crown. Janet also made it through but needs to come out of her shell a bit! I reckon there are some serious contenders in the Girls category!!!! The heat is on!!!

Greece...

And the award for the most underwhelming category this year goes to .... *drum roll* the Groups. After a lot of mumbling and jumbling at boot camp, the final four were selected. But the jumbling didn't stop there after two lacklustre performances from The Keys and The Risk as Tulisa decided to take a risk of her own as she took the lead singer of The Keys and three fifths of The Risk and created a new group, retaining the name The Risk.  Slightly worrying as it may deter groups from trying out next year. But with the roaring success of One Direction it could work out beautifully. Two Shoes made it as did Nu Vibe and Rhythmix.

And as for the BIG TWIST...

Wonder what it could be...

• Another wild card where a few of the previous contestants are brought back and given a second chance to perform in the live finals?
• The return of Simon Cowell or a fifth judge?
• One of the finalists being eliminated before the finals even begin?

We shall have to wait and see. Exciting though...

The X Factor Boot Camp - The Round Up

After a night of partying for the auditionees who made it to the next round, it was straight down to serious business. This year's boot camp proved to be the most brutal one yet when thousands of hopefuls were sent home before they even had the chance to prove themselves once more in order to make the Judges' Houses stage.  However, to all the others that made it, it was their chance to really push the boat out and do everything in their power to be triumphant in the competition. The pressure is on like Donkey Kong! Let's have a little recap over last weeks shenanigans in preparation for tonight's Judges Houses stages in the competition....

Just when you thought this woman couldn't get any more annoying...

... this happens!!!

She literally lit up the stage with her rather peculiar outfit, making jaws drop everywhere!! Who does she think she is? Lady Gaga?! Strangely fascinating, though. Wonder what she would do next, go on stage in bondage gear?! Gary's face at the end was a picture though! 

OMFG! LAUGH MY F***** ARSE OFF!

Goldie was just simply hilarious!! All covered up for the first time in the competition it didn't stop her from flashing her bits or terrorising the poor pianist! He looked like he wanted to do a runner, he looked that scared!! She even played cat and mouse with Gary Barlow after she chased him across the room when she finished!!! And even Dermot was quite uneasy! Crazy woman! It was recently confirmed that she had quit the show after making it to the live finals after it was apparent that she did not want to be away from her family! Guess this will be the last we see of her! Talk about putting on a show!!! 

The new kids on the block...

After the underwhelming amount of good groups who auditioned this year, there were also several new groups being formed but I have say the ones who totally smashed it were Nu Vibe and I definitely think that there is a market out there for them. I loved their really cool urban vibe. One Direction better watch it! 

A glimmer of hope...

It was also quite sad about Terry, where the nerves got the better of him, but I'm glad the judges saw potential and put him through anyway. What a relief! I still believe he has a lot more to give!!

Wouldn't be the same without a bit of craziness...

It's the return of David Wilder!!! The wannabe rockstar! After a dramatic monologue, it was straight down to business as he sang Edge of Glory by Lady Gaga rather badly. Very out of tune!!! Sounded rather desperate to be quite honest! The audience then (unsurprisingly) started booing him! Then there was Gary's favourite - Kendro, who came out with their own weird song! Catchy or what? OK, maybe not!!!

And whilst we're here...

...I would like to take the time to express my intense disappointment that Lascel Wood and John Adams missed out and fell at the last hurdle. How could this be?! I feel so sad and I felt that they also had a lot more to give!! I would also like to commiserate all the other hopefuls that failed to make it through tp the next stage.

______________________________________

Here's the final 32...

BOYS (Gary Barlow)

• Frankie Cocozza
• Marcus Collins
• Craig Colton
• Joe Cox
• Luke Lucas
• James Michael
• Max Vickers
• John Wilding

GIRLS (Kelly Rowland)

• Misha Bryan
• Janet Devlin
• Sophie Habibis
• Amelia Lily
• Melanie McCabe
• Holly Repton
• Jade Richards
• Sarah Watson (replacing Sian Phillips)

GROUPS (Tulisa Contostavlos)

• Boy v Girl
• The Estrellas
• The Keys
• The Lovettes
• Nu Vibe
• The Risk
• Rhythmix 
• 2 Shoes

OVER's (Louis Walsh)

• Samantha Brookes
• Kitty Brucknell
• Goldie Cheung
• Joseph Gilligan
• Jonjo Kerr
• Carolynne Poole
• Johnny Robinson
• Terry Winstanley