X Factor UK S12E01 – The Auditions

The X Factor is back!

Back in December, Ben Haenow won season 11 of X Factor UK with Fleur East coming in second and Andrea Faustini in third place. Ben’s winner’s single “Something I Need” went to #1 in the UK and a few months later the TOP 8 finalists toured the country. Since then, some even released some music.
“Only The Young” released a single independently. It bombed. Stereo Kicks also released a single independently. It bombed and the band split up. Andrea Faustini signed with RCA UK and released a 10 tracks album. The single and the album bombed in the charts. That was very predictable – his musical style is too old fashioned for him to get support from BBC Radio 1 and Capital FM, radio stations that break the new acts. That’s why Simon wasn’t a fan of his last season. Ben Haenow and Fleur East both signed to Syco, but haven’t released anything yet.

Now let’s move from last season’s contestants to the show. Back in March Dan Wootton revealed host Dermot O’Leary was leaving the show and a month later Olly Murs and Caroline Flack took over his X Factor job as presenters. A month later was Dan Wootton revealed/confirmed the departure of the original judge Louis Walsh. Right after the end of season 11 the tabloids were reporting that Mel B was a sure bet to return as a judge, but then everything turned around and no one made a big deal out of her being replaced. Popstar (and former The Voice UK coach) Rita Ora and BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show host Nick Grimshaw joined Simon Cowell and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini on the panel. Cheryl was also promoted: she is now one of X Factor’s executive producers. Rochelle Humes and Melvin Odoom took over the Xtra Factor hosting duties from Sarah-Jane Crawford, who moved to E! Network. Oh and X Factor’s announcer Peter Dickson was also given the boot.

All these cast changes brought down the average age of X Factor’s cast. Now Simon Cowell is the only person on the show over 40 years old. Let’s see how old are the previous and current cast members today.

S11 Cast
Simon Cowell – 55
Cheryl Fernandez-Versini – 32
Mel B – 40
Louis Walsh – 63
Dermot O’Leary – 42
Sarah-Jane Crawford – 34
Average Age: 44,333

S12 Cast
Simon Cowell – 55
Cheryl Fernandez-Versini – 32
Rita Ora – 24
Nick Grimshaw – 31
Olly Murs – 31
Caroline Flack – 35
Rochelle Humes – 26
Melvin Odoom – 35
Average Age: 33,625

As you can see, the average age of the X Factor’s cast went down significantly. Perhaps next year, Simon Cowell will let Louis Tomlinson take his seat at the table? Is the show aiming to attract younger audiences? The Over 25s won the last two seasons and last year the TOP 2 acts were Overs. That category is by far the hardest for SYCO to market post show. Will the show push the younger contestants hard this year? The show’s last relevant winner is Little Mix (S8, 2011).

The X Factor airs tonight at 8pm BST (9pm CEST, 3pm EDT, 12 noon PDT) on ITV 1 (90min). The Xtra Factor starts at 9:30 pm BST on ITV 2 (55min).


How to watch X Factor UK from outside the UK?

You can watch X Factor live, online. ITV streams the show through the ITV Player. However, ITV blocks viewers from outside of the UK. To get around that, you need to use VPN connection. If Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is your preferred browser, install ZenMate or Hola extensions and set them to UK server. Then open the ITV Player and pick the right channel. The player will ask you for a ZIP code Find an active UK ZIP code HERE. Don’t let the browser send any information about your location. You can also try to find a working ITV stream on MyiPlayer.com, TVPC.com or FilmON.com.


SPOILERS & PREVIEWS

X Factor 2015 spoilers: Meet the contestants on tonight’s show
The X Factor 2015 has arrived and we’ve got all the gossip from tonight’s opening show.

Here’s a spoiler-filled preview of this evening’s auditions as the new panel made up of Simon Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw hit Wembley Arena for the start of try outs.

This year acts have been told to go all out with their performances and most oblige with some of the biggest and best auditions The X Factor has ever seen.

Then of course there are the ‘others’ who seem to have taken a wrong turn somewhere to end up on the stage.
Read more: TellyMix

PICTURES! All the pictures from tonight’s first X Factor show
The X Factor 2015 bursts back onto our screens on ITV tonight with a bumper packed audition show.

There’s the good, the bad and the absolutely awful on display as the new look judging line up head to Wembley Arena for the first round of try outs.
Read more: TellyMix

FIRST LOOK: X Factor 2015 kicks off with a twerking grandmother and Olly Murs’ former bandmate… but it’s an Essex receptionist who steals the judges’ hearts
Saturday night marks the long-awaited return of The X Factor with a brand new judging panel.

Pop princess Rita Ora, 24, and Radio One DJ Nick Grimshaw, 31, join returnees Simon Cowell, 55, and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, 32, for ITV’s top talent show.

But aside from the famous judges, a whole new host of talent will be vying for the chance to win a money-can’t-buy recording contract with Simon’s Syco record label – including a twerking grandmother, an Essex receptionist and Olly Murs’ former bandmate.
Read more: Daily Mail

Meet our new X Factor family! | The X Factor UK 2015

Preview: Can Lauren overcome her nerves? | Auditions Week 1 | The X Factor UK 2015

Preview: Are there no limits for Techno Susan? | Auditions Week 1 | The X Factor UK 2015

Preview: Will 4th Power go out with a bang? | Auditions Week 1 | The X Factor UK 2015

EXCLUSIVE LOOK: Brand new Xtra Factor is back with Melvin and Rochelle


INTRO: X Factor’s secret mansion with WAGNER as cleaner. Olly and Caroline are sent on a mission by the judges to find talent all over the UK. The judges then drive to auditions in a vintage car.

Susan Pryce – Techno Susan, 60 year old retired grandmother from Brighton. She has a pet … bird.
Oh my, joke audition. She sings performs 2 Unilimited’s “No Limit”. The judges love her, audience also. She gets YESes from Rita, Cheryl and Nick. Simon stays quiet. Through to the next round.

Lauren Murray – 25 year old dental receptionist from Essex. Heavy fake tan.
She wants to sing Whitney Houston, but then Jocelyn Brown’s “Somebody Else’s Guy”. False start. She does have the pipes. 4 YESes

Man and Woman – Cyprian Anyanga Ndah (36) and Ruth Botwe (30), a couple
Another joke act. They murder Michael Jackson’s “You Are Not Alone”. Simon asks for another song. He is just kidding.

Jennifer Phillips – 49 year old part time carer from London
Loves big songs, Celine, Whitney. She wants to sing Beyonce’s “Halo”. Then Celine. Then Cheryl asks for Mary Mary’s “Shackles”. Looks like the judges aren’t here for the predictable and stale song choices. She is good. Bootcamp bound!

Tom Davies – 25 year old gym receptionist from London
He wants to be a male version of Cheryl. He brings a troupe of female dancers with him and performs Justin Bieber’s “As Long As You Love Me”. 4 YESes.

Mason Noise – 21 year old waiter from Birmingham
He performs Justin Timberlake’s “Senorita”. Flirts and dances with Rita Ora. 4 YESes.

Tom Bleasby – 19 year old politics student from Leeds, famous for virtual duet with Jessie J
Sings Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love”. Sounds kinda feminine. To be honest, I preferred the two guys shown before him. Simon thinks he is polarizing, but he gets 4 YESes.

4th Power – Mylene, Celina, Irene and Almira Cercado (19-27), sisters from The Philippines
They traveled all the way from The Philippines to audition. I guess foreign auditioners are now a thing?
The girls perform Jessie J’s “Bang Bang. They absolutely kill it. In a good way. The judges give them a standing ovation. 4 YESes

Dani Clay – 33, teacher
“Heard It Through The Grapewine” – 4 YESes

Jon Goodey – 27 year old IT salesman from Essex, previously sung with Olly Murs in a band called The Small Town Blaggers
Jon sings George Ezra’s “Budapest”. It’s not a good fit for him, so they ask him for another song – OneRepublic’s “Counting Stars”. Nick says it was uncomfortable to watch him. Rita says he is lacking star quality. Simon says there is a reason why he isn’t in a group now. Cheryl says he sang well, but will be remembered as Olly’s friend. 4 NOes.

Kelly Kiernan – 18 year old student from Mullingar, Ireland (Niall Horan’s hometown), studies science at University
She sings Ariana Grande’s “Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart”. Shaky and weak.
Jamie Mitchell – Another nervous dude.

Louisa Johnson – 17 year old student from Essex
Sings Michael Jackson’s “Who’s Loving You”. She is amazing. 4 YESes

Twitter category vote – everything you need to know!
https://youtu.be/JCNu2LUyciw

That’s it for tonight. Se ya tomorrow!


Viral video sensation Tom Bleasby who dueted with Jessie J blows judges’ minds with mesmerising X Factor audition
The all-new X Factor made its highly-anticipated return to screens on Saturday night and viewers were entertained silly as a fresh batch of singing hopefuls fancied their chances in front of the new-look judging panel.

Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw joined returnees Simon Cowell and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini as Wembley Arena opened its doors to hundreds of auditionees.

Student Tom Bleasby was the stand-out star of the night, leaving the panel stunned and bringing the entire arena to their feet with his powerful version of Adele’s Make You Feel My Love.
Read more: Daily Mail

Simon Cowell proudly unveils his new X Factor panel as his re-vamped show concentrates on the music, by Jim Shelley
It was all change on The X Factor with the difference being immediately clear.

Some of the acts were quite good! No really they were – at least compared to last year.

Admittedly it was the first episode but to at least five of them were better than 2014’s winner. (You know, what’s his face…Ben Haenow or as I call him Ben Whereisnow?

Yes realising that the show had become a laughing stock, Kaiser Cowell had belatedly taken drastic action to revamp it. Presenter Dermot O’Dreary, ancient mentor/court jester Louis Walsh, and Mel B had gone. Even the programme’s booming iconic announcer Peter Dickson HAD BEEN SILENCED.

Instead, re-casting himself as the musical Charlie in Charlie’s Angels, Cowell had surrounded himself with pretty young things Cheryl Tweedy-Cole-Fernandez-Versini (32), Nick ‘Grimmy’ Grimshaw (31) and irritating Olly Murs (31), all of whom should take a line out of Prince’s songbook and start acting their age not their shoe-size. You’re all a bit old to be doing High Fives and using words like ‘sick’ and ‘awesome.’

Caroline Flack (“35”) was hanging around too – mostly to flutter her eyelashes at any boy singers and hug their mums when they went through or went home.
Read more: Daily Mail

Truth about X Factor’s thrillers from Manila: Philippines sisters who wowed the judges have been on four talent shows – and won THREE
Giggling sisters Fourth Power wowed X Factor last night, appearing to surprise the judges with a polished performance that had Simon Cowell gushing about ‘the biggest four yeses we’ve ever given’.

But The Mail on Sunday can reveal the talented Cercado sisters – Almira, 27, Irene, 25, Enemy, 23, and Celina, 19 – are far from being starry-eyed newcomers to the music industry.

In fact, they have entered a string of global talent shows – winning three of them in recent years.

And an X Factor spokesman last night denied that the sisters had been asked to audition on the show.
Read more: Daily Mail

‘When you bring your mate to 5-a-side but forget how bad he is’: X Factor viewers cringe as Olly Murs’ old pal Jon Goodey is rejected by all four judges at the auditions
Olly Murs may be the new co-host of the X Factor, but being his old pal won’t help you win the talent show.

That’s exactly what Jon Goodey found on Saturday night when he was shot down by all four judges during the early auditions for the show.

Viewers of the returning talent competition cringed as the hopeful – who was previously in a band with international star Olly – was told he might just be remembered as ‘Olly’s friend’.
Read more: Daily Mail

‘I really like working with you three’: Simon Cowell hails new X Factor judges Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora as they bring a new lease of life to the panel
He’s notoriously tough to win over but the new judges have made light work of it.

As The X Factor returned for a new series on Saturday evening, Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora proved they were the perfect additions to the panel, even by Simon Cowell’s standards.

The BBC Radio 1 DJ’s and the Body On Me hit-maker’s judging prowess was hailed by the music mogul who hinted the panel – which was of course completed by Cheryl Fernandez-Versini – was his favourite yet in the show’s 11-year history.
Read more: Daily Mail

About Mateja Praznik 1060 Articles
I recently graduated from the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In my free time I like to read books, watch TV and listen to music. I'm also a huge cat lover. I cover X Factor UK for MJsBigBlog.com.