Shock: Brooks Way AXED from the show!
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 Hola extension and set them to UK server. Then open the ITV Player, make a free acounnt 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.
The X Factor airs tonight at 8:00pm BST (9:00pm CEST, 3:00pm EDT, 12:00am PDT) on ITV 1 (120min).
BREAKING: Brooks Way were removed from the show!
For the first time this year, the X Factor goes live! Not without controversy – The Brooks – now named Brooks Way – were removed from the competition hours before the show. So we are starting the live shows with only 11 acts. The intro still features the twins as Louis’ acts. But perhaps the show had no time to remove them?
Dermot walks on stage dancing! He introduces the judges. Tonight’s theme is “Express Yourself”. Louis still talks about his three groups – was the report of axing false?
The judges talk about why they are going to win this season. Oh, now Dermot says Brooks Way won’t be appearing tonight. So perhaps the removal isn’t permanent … YET.
5 after Midnight (5am) – Can’t Stop the Feeling (Justin Timberlake)
Choreographer Brian Friedman is back and he is coaching 5 after Midnight! They start the perfomance way back behind DJ’s booth. Those vocals are questionable at the start, but they improve. Overall, the performance was pretty uneventful.
Sharon calls the performance “fantastic”, says the energy was amazing, etc. Nicole says they “blew her away” and says they didn’t jeopardise their vocals. Simon says he didn’t like it … he loved it. He says they set the bar. Louis says they are going all the way to the final. One of them, Jordan, is celebrating his birthday today.
Samantha Lavery – Impossible (Shontelle/James Arthur)
Sam plans a stripped down performance. Then we see her thanking Simon for telling to remove make up at judges’ houses.
She is doing James Arthur’s winner’s song. Strong vocals, but shout-y at times.
Louis says it seems like the song was made for her, he calls the performance absolutely amazing. Sharon mentions her progress on the show and compliments her voice. Nicole compliments her powerful presence. Simon says she was shouting the song at times. He mentions her massive potential and says that taking everything into account it was a brilliant performance.
Saara Aalto – Let it Go (Demi Lovato/Idina Menzel)
She is from the north of Finland and wants to be a popstar. She is singing a Disney song – the song from Frozen, “Let it Go”. Saara gets a throne on the stage and the song gets a bombastic rearrangement. Saara delivers some big notes.
Louis said she made it her own. Nicole compliments the dramatic performance. Simon says the performance was visually and vocally incredible. Sharon continues with the compliments.
Ryan Lawrie – Perfect (One Direction)
We see him with his girlfriend, Emily Middlemas. He still can’t believe he made it to the live shows. He meets Brian Friedman and confirms his relationship with Emily.
During the first verse it seems like his voice is breathy and just isn’t strong enough to project in the studio. The chorus goes well, before he goes to bridge. Overall, I now think his voice just isn’t strong enough and his stage presence isn’t very good either.
Louis says he loves the Scottish twang and says he is a popstar. Sharon loved the performance, she wants to “squeeze” him with her claws. Simon thinks the performance was slightly theatrical, but also speaks highly of him. Nicole defends him as being a “down to earth” kind of guy.
It looks like the judges won’t be too hard to the contestants tonight.
Gifty Louise – That’s My Girl (Fifth Harmony)
She was born in Ghana and moved to the UK at the age of 10. She really wants to be a popstar. She also gets to work with Brian.
Oh, she is covering Fifth Harmony. Her vocals are all over the place. Oh my … Massive backing tracks somehow keeps everything together. That was really underwhelming.
Louis calls the performance “amazing” and “faultless”. Sharon calls her “gorgeous” and Nicole calls her “absolutely stunning”. Nicole also wants her to “blossom more”. Simon says the song choice “worked” even though the song has yet to be released in the UK.
Relley C – Shackles (Praise You) (Mary Mary)
This season’s ultimate fodder contestant is being sold as “soul queen”. She reminds us she works as a housemaid in a hotel.
Relley delivers a strong vocal performance – she really couldn’t do more with that song. If she continues to perform like that, I expect her to stick around for quite a while.
Louis says she is the real deal. Nicole says there could not be a more deserving person tonight. Simon says she successfully revealed who she is as an artist tonight. Sharon says she is very proud of Relley.
Matt Terry – You Don’t Own Me (Grace)
Matt reminds us that he used to work as a waiter. Brian Friedman says he is not selling the performance well.
The backing track is too strong for him, too, even though his vocals are pretty good.
Louis calls the song choice “brave”, compliments his voice, calls the performance the best of the night. Sharon calls the song choice “brilliant”. Simon says he now loves Matt again, but also says Nicole is mentoring into being too dramatic. Nicole says he came out like a laser and says he “knocked it out”.
Freddy Parker – Killing Me Softly (Perry Como)
We see Freddy at work with dogs – adorable. His original song choice was “I Want to Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston
He sits behind the piano and accompanies himself. Then the heavy backing track kicks in and later he leaves the piano. Strong vocal performance.
Louis says it was right to chance the song and calls him a perfect popstar. Simon says it the song was not a good idea – it worked at the beginning but stopped when he left the piano. Nicole defends him. I have to agree with Simon – the beginning was strong, but then it all went down the drain.
Bratavio – Boom, Boom, Boom (Vengaboys) / Barbie Girl (Aqua)
Ottavio and Bradley have a new name. They recall how they first met at the UNI. Brian Friedman says they are doing a “vogue, fashion, safari photoshoot”. Louis is on board, Simon thinks the performance is going to be a disaster.
This is a classic joke act performance, from the song choice to execution. I doubt people will love this – they are a joke act, but not entertaining and likable. We will see it these two become this year’s Blond Electra or Diva Fever (out in week 1).
Sharon doesn’t understand their name, says that if she and Louis had children, it would be them. She calls them “brave and creative”. Nicole isn’t coherent. Simon calls the performance “musical horror movie” and blames Louis for it. Louis says they are different and fun. Ottavio says this horror movie is “typical Simon Cowell”.
Dermot introduces the X Factor Jukebox – a new way to select the theme weeks. One of the options is “Louis Loves”.
Emily Middlemas – Closer (The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey)
Her original song choice was “Toxic” by Britney Spears. She turned 18 about a week ago.
She is not playing her guitar tonight, instead she is standing on a platform and trying to sing over the loud backing track. She starts shouting at the second chorus and finally wins the war with the backing track right before the end.
Louis says she has a great recording voice. Sharon says she loved the song choice. Nicole questions the song choice and the songs’ key. Simon thinks it was right to change the song and drop the guitar.
Honey G – California Love (Tupac)
in her VT, Honey G behaves so full of herself like a true rapper, but unfortunately she comes across as a poser. Sharon instructs her to grab her crotch.
Honey G delivers a polished performance.
Louis is happy to see Honey G in the live shows. Nicole loved the jump suit. Simon loved the performance.
The voting is now open! There is a new voting twist, read more about that HERE.
James Arthur is performing on the show tomorrow!
