What were the TOP 12 finalists and wildcards doing this past week?
See the X Factor finalists backstage rehearsing ahead of Live Shows
The X Factor’s finalists have been pictured rehearsing backstage with their judges ahead of tomorrow night’s first Live Show (October 11).
The excited acts can be seen chatting and laughing with their mentors and choreographer Brian Friedman, who are also pictured advising the ITV show hopefuls and directing them on stage.
Read more: Digital Spy
The X Factor: Ten minutes with the Groups
Well, Louis has an awful lot of Groups to wrangle on The X Factor. Sure, Blonde Electra are a duo – but then he has four-piece Only the Young and, of course, the brand new eight-piece boyband! When we could squeeze everyone into the X Factor canteen, we sat down for a chat with the Groups ahead of tomorrow’s big Live Show…
Read more: Digital Spy
The X Factor: Ten minutes with the Boys – Andrea, Jake & Paul
Mel B is one lucky judge. She’s the one in charge of the X Factor Boys this year, and she’s got herself some good’uns. We headed over to the X Factor studios this week to get a bit of gossip from the Boys so read on to find out what they had to say for themselves ahead of Saturday’s big Live Show…
Read more: Digital Spy
The X Factor: Ten minutes with the Girls – Chloe, Lauren & Stephanie
The X Factor Live Shows kick off tomorrow – so when we headed backstage at the studios this week, unsurprisingly it smelt of hairspray and anxiety. In amid all the rehearsals and filming, we grabbed Cheryl’s Girls for a natter so we could get to know them a bit better before the big night…
Read more: Digital Spy
The X Factor: Ten minutes with the Overs – Ben, Fleur & Jay
Do you know what, we reckon the Overs category on The X Factor is pretty strong this year – but of course the proof is in the pudding (or, well, the singing). With the first Live Show fast approaching, we popped over to the studios to nab some chats with the Overs…
Read more: Digital Spy
It’s nearly show time! The X Factor contestants get treated to a glamorous A-list makeover… as they gear up for their first live show
They are set to perform their first live show on The X Factor on Saturday night.
But before the competition really kicks off, the 12 finalists have all been given a taste on what it’s like to have a glamorous A-list makeover.
One of the most drastic changes include over 25 hopeful Ben Haenow, who traded his rugged good looks for a handsome clean cut shave, while his hair was coiffed into a stylish quiff.
Read more: Daily Mail
Never off duty! Simon Cowell celebrates his 55th birthday at the X Factor house with Sinitta and this year’s contestants…before leaving with huge gift
He is a hardworking music svengali – and, to prove it, Simon Cowell spent his 55th birthday at his version of the office: the X Factor house.
The father-of-one, who was seen entering the London property alone, looked relaxed as he acknowledged onlookers and fans on his big day.
There, he was joined by close friend and colleague Sinitta, who was clearly in the party spirit – smiling and waving at photographers.
Read more: Daily Mail
‘If you choose the wrong song, you’re out’: Simon Cowell has stern words for Over 25s as the X Factor hopefuls head to live show rehearsals
He was less than impressed with the effort the over 25 contestants made at Judges House.
So Simon Cowell has given Jay James, Fleur East and Ben Haenow a stern warning about what he expects when it comes to The X Factor live shows.
According to The Sun TV Biz, the music mogul told his three to not be ‘puppets’: ‘If you choose the wrong song, you’re out.’
Read more: Daily Mail
X Factor: Cheryl’s wild card act Lola Saunders tries to hide her identity under blanket, fails miserably
Fishmonger Lola was spotted with the rest of the X Factor finalists in Hertfordshire today, seemingly confirming she’ll be Cheryl’s wild card act
Fishmonger Lola Saunders has been revealed as Cheryl’s wildcard act on The X Factor.
Viewers were outraged when judge Cheryl axed soulful Lola from her Girls category during the Judges’ Houses round on Sunday, but it seems the 20-year-old has been given a second chance.
The brunette singer was spotted with the other X Factor finalists leaving the contestants’ house in Hertfordshire earlier today and despite efforts to conceal her under a blanket, our pictures show Lola clear as day.
Read more: Daily Mirror
EXCLUSIVE: Overload ARE the Groups Wildcard after being spotted leaving the X Factor contestants’ house
X Factor rejects Overload have been seen leaving the X Factor house, hinting even more that they are are the Groups Wildcard entry.
MailOnline was told that they witnessed four out of the five members jumping into a car and leaving the contestants’ compound on Tuesday night.
‘They drove down the road and parked up down a side road near Cockfosters station,’ our source said.
Read more: Daily Mail
Final days of freedom: X Factor finalist Jake Quickenden hits the shops on his own while Blonde Electric work up a sweat with a jog
The chosen final 12 X Factor acts have been enjoying their last days of freedom before rehearsals for the live shows begin.
On Sunday a few of the wannabe stars were spotted doing mundane tasks, such as supermarket shopping and exercising outdoors in North London.
Jake Quickenden, 26, from Mel B’s team was spotted coming out of Marks and Spencer with a bagful of groceries as was Charlie George, 17, from Louis Walsh’s boyband Only The Young and Baarclay Beales from the unnamed eight-piece boyband.
Read more: Daily Mail
They’re George Osborne’s cousins, they were raised in a sex cult and they’re the X Factor’s maddest finalists ever!
They’ve been called a female Jedward, and Simon Cowell thinks they have the potential to be the most annoying girl band ever.
The X Factor boss likened the experience of listening to Blonde Electra to hearing fingernails being scraped down a blackboard — times eight. Then he promptly voted them through to the live shows.
So far so mad. Since the sisters Jazzy, 24, and Ruby, 22, are in the hairdresser’s when I catch up with them, getting purple splodges applied to their platinum locks, one can only assume the kookiness will continue.
But ten minutes into my interview all thoughts of whether or not they can actually sing have evaporated. For in the world of the reality talent show, these two must already be winners because out pours surely the most audacious back story in X Factor history.
And we all know how important a back story is in these things. At this stage in the competition — as the show goes live this weekend and the hopefuls are whittled down to the final few — it’s TV tradition to wheel out a supportive dad and weep over a dead granny or cancer-stricken sibling. If there is a bit of gun crime in the family, well, it never hurts.
Read more: Daily Mail
Mel B ditches her braids for demure sleek bob as she catches up with her X Factor finalists in London
During the Judges’ Houses phase of the X Factor Mel B sported braided hair extensions and she kept them in for a romantic holiday with her husband Stephen Belafonte in Mexico last month.
But on Thursday, the former Scary Spice had ditched her braids for a sleek cropped hairstyle as she caught up with the X Factor finalists in London.
Mel, 39, looked demure in a dress and stud earrings with her hair slicked back off her face.
Read more: Daily Mail
Already thinks she’s a diva! X Factor’s Chloe-Jasmine dons oversized sunglasses despite cloudy weather… as Little Mix’s Jesy Nelson gives advice to contestants
She is one of the most talked about contestants in this year’s series of The X Factor.
And it seems the fame may already be going to Chloe-Jasmine Whichello’s head as she put on a diva style display on Monday morning.
The 23-year-old looked like she loved the limelight as she joined her fellow contestants for their first studio rehearsals in London.
Read more: Daily Mail
X Factor star Chloe-Jasmine reveals her raunchy side in never before seen shoot… as she admits losing £40,000 in modelling work to pursue her pop dream
She’s the well-bred contestant whose weekly appearances on The X Factor have divided viewers, but fans and foes alike now have the opportunity to see controversial Chloe-Jasmine Whichello as they’ve never seen her before in a series of raunchy new modelling shots.
Staged before her initial appearance on the hit ITV1 talent show, the glossy images – taken in front of a stark white backdrop – find Chloe, 23, baring her impressive curves in various states of undress as she works her magic in front of the camera for sex toy retailer Lovehoney.
In one shot the divisive singer sports a black basque, matching knickers and fishnets as she gazes off camera, one arm arched above her head.
Read more: Daily Mail
She cried at her first audition and described heartbreaking split from boyfriend but X Factor star Chloe Whichello is in a secret relationship with ex-soldier
X Factor star Chloe Jasmine Whichello may have had a secret boyfriend since the start of the show, despite claims judges gave her preferential treatment because she was heartbroken and single.
The controversial singer was allowed to perform for judges twice after fluffing her first audition because of a break-up of a relationship.
But it has now emerged that she has been dating Craig Wiffen, a businessman and former soldier for several months, a source said today.
Mr Wiffen’s twitter account says that Miss Whichello is his girlfriend and he has posted a number of romantic messages and photographs of the singer.
Read more: Daily Mail
First class farce? X Factor contestants ‘booted back to economy after shooting scenes in premium seats’ while flying to Judges’ Houses
While the current crop of X Factor hopefuls anticipate a meteoric rise to fame, their early taste of the high life that they were shown experiencing last week has been called into question.
As the contestants jetted off to Bermuda, Mexico and Los Angeles for the Judges’ Houses stage of the competition, they were seen toasting each other from luxury first class seats.
But, according to the Daily Mirror, all was not exactly as it seemed, with sources claiming that the young singers only enjoyed a fleeting moment in the coveted British Airways cabins.
Read more: Daily Mail
