X Factor UK 2018 Recap – Auditions 2 – Live Blog and VIDEOS

X Factor UK 2018 Auditions continue tonight with judges Simon Cowell, ex-One Direction member Louis Tomlinson, and the husband and wife team Robbie Williams and Ayda Williams. Dermot O’Leary is back as host. The hopefuls audition in front of a live audience at Wembley Arena.

Spoiler talk goes here:

X Factor UK 2018 Spoilers: Top 24 Contestants (Six Chair Challenge) VIDEOS

You can watch The X Factor UK live online. ITV streams the show through the ITV Hub. However, ITV blocks viewers from outside of the UK. To get around that, you need to use a VPN connection. If Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is your preferred browser, install Hola extension and set them to UK server. Then open the ITV Player, make a free account and pick the right channel. The player will ask you for a ZIP code. Find an active UK ZIP code HERE. Make sure you have the cookies enabled. You can also try to find a working ITV stream on MyiPlayer.com, TVPC.com or FilmON.com.

Olatunji Yearwood – Bodyline (Original song) –  He’s from Trinadad and Tobago. He’s here to represent calypso and soca music. The tech people play the wrong track at first. It doesn’t fluster him, however. He brings along a couple of dancers. He dances too. He’s full of energy–a fun performance. “You are a superstar,” says Ayda. “If only I had some of those moves,” says Robbie. “Most fun I’ve had sat here,” says Louis. “This is exactly the kind of act I love finding on a show like this,” says Simon. He’s got the personality Simon loves. But only for a bit, I suspect. – 4 yeses

Brendan Murray – We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off by Ella Eyre’s/Woman’s Work/Kate Bush – He’s a 21-year-old plumber from Galway, Ireland. He was in a boyband at 16, but it didn’t work out. His first song is a bit nasally and boring. Simon doesn’t like the song choice. Robbie calls his voice “impossibly perfect” for pop. But he agrees with Simon. Wrong song. Simon orders him backstage to learn “Woman’s Work.” 

While Brendan “learns” his song,  we see clips of three hopefuls singing the wrong song–Samuel Lamour, Scarlett Townley and Aaron Denham.

Eventually, Brendan comes back with “Woman’s Work.” He’s still nasally and pitchy. He stops in the middle and apologizes. “Think about the words. Make sure you hit the note at the right time,” says Simon. He begins again. Still nasally and pitchy! Still stopping. He’s a regular Brooke White! On his third try, he pulls out a lyric sheet. With the lyrics he improves a little. Still nasally and pitchy, though. Before the big note (which wasn’t all that big), he crinkles up the lyrics and tosses them aside. Robbie congratulates him on having his “moment.” Louis calls his voice “special.” Ayda says “incredible.” Simon has a feeling the song will change his life. Sending a hopeful away to learn a “new” song, only to come back and “kill” it, is a Simon Cowell cliche classic.- 4 yeses

Marc Higgins – Careless Whisper by George Michael – 36 year old Marc is a figherfighter at Southampton Airport. In 2010 he appeared on the show alongside Louis as part of The Reason. One Direction advanced to the live shows, The Reason did not. After the group got cut at bootcamp, they eventually broke up. When One Direction hit it big he thought “That could have been us!” Hm. Simon turns to Louis and says, “This is the absolute opposite of what I’m looking for.” It was pretty bad. pitchy and boring. Louis says no. “It just didn’t do it for me,” he says. Simon is brutally honest. At his age, and level of talent, it will never happen, he says. – 4 nos.

Jacqueline Faye – You’re My World by Cilla Black –  53-year-old Jaqueline is from Wales and now lives on a farm in Oxfordshire. She seems to have a little crush on Robbie. She’s an old fashioned singer, but her alto is pleasant and she can belt out the high notes, more or less. The audience eats it right up. Simon blows her a kiss. “You remind me of everything that’s great about my home,” says Robbie, “There’s something really special about you.” Ayda says she fell in love with her and her husband (She gives Robbie a peck). “I think you are incredibe.”  Louis says her performance is exactly what the show is about. Simon thought at first it “wouldn’t be great,” but “there you were.” He adds, “You’re a little tiger aren’t you?” Simon kicks off thr voting with a “no.” He’s kidding – 4 yeses

Anthony Russell –  Wake Me Up by Avvicci – Remember this guy? He sang Julia Micheals “Issues.” for his audition, last year. He made it past the Six Chair Challenge, but mysteriously withdrew from the show before Judges Houses. Sam Black took his place. Rumor had it that Anthony was caught doing drugs and was kicked out of the competition. Simon shares the story of how Louis contacted him after the show and “gave him the help that he needed.”  Namely, Anthony entered rehab and is now in recovery. He’s thankful to be back, he says. “I’m clean, fresh out of the toaster!” Anthony quips. This year, he seems humbled and so much calmer. It’s a very good audition–better than last year. His phrasing is terrific. An emotional Louis runs up on stage for a hug. Robbie says he has the X Factor, and that having battle scars is not a bad thing. Ayda calls the performance “truly aunthentic.” She adds, “You completely surrendered to that moment.” Simon says, “It was sensational.” He thinks Louis changed Anthony’s life. A super emotional Louis calls it a “big moment.” 

About mj santilli 34833 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!