The auditions are over, the boot-camp has been done… it’s getting closer to the live shows, but first, we have the much-anticipated X-Factor judges’ houses.
The 25 acts who have made it to the penultimate stage of the contest were revealed last night as the boot-camp shows came to an end.
Two groups, Times Red and Union J, who thought they had been dropped from The X Factor found themselves through to the judges’ houses as Rough Copy were eliminated from the show. It was revealed a band member, Kazeem Ajobo, had a visa application that was being considered by the UK Border Agency and there were fears that if he travelled abroad he may not be able to re-enter the UK.
Along with five other groups and six acts from each of the girls, boys and the older “overs” categories, they were put through to the next stage amid tears, drama and a multitude of hugs.
The successful acts will be hoping to be among the three acts which each of the judges will take through to the live finals.
The contestants through to judges’ houses are:
The ‘Overs’ will join Barlow at a stately home in Northamptonshire with guest mentor Cheryl Cole:
- Christopher Maloney, 34, a customer services adviser from Liverpool.
- Brad Shackleton, 37, a motivational speaker from London
- Melanie Masson, 44, a full-time mum who also runs an under-fives singing class, from Glasgow
- Kye Sones, 30, a chimney sweep from London.
- Carolynne Poole, 32, a casino singer and furniture restorer from Huddersfield
- Nicola-Marie Bloor, 35, an Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga tribute act from Derbyshire
The ‘Boys’ will join Scherzinger at a luxury resort in Dubai with guest mentor Ne-yo
- Jake Quickenden, 23, a lifeguard from Scunthorpe
- Jahmene Douglas, 21, a supermarket worker from Swindon
- Rylan Clark, 23, a model from EssexJames Arthur, 24, a singer-songwriter from Middlesbrough
- Adam Burridge, 23, an admin assistant from Middlesex
- Nathan Fagan-Gayle, 25, a singer-songwriter from London
- James Arthur, 24, a singer-songwriter from Middlesbrough
The ‘Girls’ will join Tulisa on the island of St Lucia with guest mentor Tinie Tempah
- Amy Mottram, 16, a student from Essex
- Leanne Robinson, 22, a sales assistant from London
- Jade Collins, 17, a student from Belfast
- Lucy Spraggan, 20, a portrait seller from Sheffield
- Ella Henderson, 16, a student from Lincolnshire
- Jade Ellis, 25, a bike mechanic from London
The ‘Groups’ will join Walsh in Las Vegas with guest mentor Sharon Osbourne
- Poisonous Twin (Sophie, 21 and Hattie, 23) from Liverpool
- Mitsotu (Jimmy, 23, Holly, 22, James, 22) from Harrow, north London, and Kent
- MK1 (Simeon, Lotte) from London
- Duke (Marko, 26, Ed, 39, Flynn, 31) from Gloucestershire
- Union J (JJ ,23, George, 18, Josh, 19, Jaymi, 22)
- GMD3 (Greg, 17, Dan, 19, Mickey, 17) from Windsor
- Times Red (Staz, 20, Scott, 25, Luke, 24) from Essex
Stay tuned in next Saturday night at 20:00 on UTV to see the X-Factor judges whittle their groups down to 12 for this year’s live shows.
