The Top 9 perform

We now get to choose the Top 8. Having got the Top 9 hopelessly wrong I have no idea what will happen tonight. Sean Miley Moore really should not be sitting at home watching this. It could have been his night with most of a film production on stage as well as a song to entertain us. That isn't to be, though, so let's see what the others can do.

Mason Noise

With Men In Black he seems to be on pretty safe ground. He knows the track well and presents it all very professionally. I just don't know if it was particularly special. Nice job but 'nice' may not be enough. The judges are very complimentary. To be honest, I am surprised he is there at all so from here on every week is a bonus for him. I do think that may have mostly rid him of the problems that have surrounded him since his Judges' House round outburst.

Max Stone

Someone else who is probably a surprise still to be here is Max. Perhaps this week we'll see a bit more of the real bloke rather than the packaged version. he does have some support out there in voting land, having escaped the bottom three twice now. I have no idea what the title of the track is. Movie Night can see all sorts of tracks included! I think it is Sectret Garden, a Bruce Springstein number. He does a cool job with this and matches Mason in my view. His supporters will like this and so it will be to his credit if he does survive rather than others doing badly. Best week so far for him but no guarantees for either of these guys.

Cheryl owns up to not knowing the movie or the song! That made me feel a bit better.

Louisa Johnson

Currently (and I can't see this changing) my favourite. Everybody's Free is a difficult ballad and Louisa is just there for the first half, on her own, slowly building up the lines. Pretty good but a lot better when the choir and orchestra come in and help lift the song. It could have been a bit boring but I am sure she was professional and competent enough to get through to whatever they throw at us next. She is adorable and is trying hard.

Lots of good compliments from the judges and Simon is in very gracious and generous mood. Louisa's mum is very attractive too, incidentally.

Monica Michael

I really did think she was gone last week. What Is Love should be a good choice for her and suit her voice and range. She is missing notes from the start, though, and seems nervous. The clothes and general appearance, however, are a great improvement on last week. The second half of her perfromance, however, is first class. It was as if a switch were turned and you felt you could be watching Adele. A good vocal, indeed.

We also learn that she changed that at the last moment - this morning - out of respect for the poor people suffering in Paris this weekend. So to deliver a virtually unrehearsed song individually in such a good way by the end is something she deserves votes for. I reckon that should see her through. It is difficult, though, as it is easy to drop into the bottom three when there are so few left.

Reggie & Bollie

I actually look forward to their performance each week. They are sort of guaranteed professional. They did Who Let The Dogs Out and almost brought the house down. Great stuff. they should sail through, even if it was a bit of a cover.

Anton Stephans

I am not looking forward to this. At least he's not doing the other 'Bodyguard' song by Whitney Houston. In a curious black and white set, with just his blue jacket coloured, Anton bashes out Don't Walk Away From Me or If I Don't Have You I can never remember which is the title. It was OK but not something I want to hear again. He seems popular in voting land from previous voting figures but this week may have a tougher job as, so far, no-one has done any worse.

4th Impact

These girls work so hard. We Work It Out or something is a crazy number that Cheryl dug out of some film and goodness knows how they remembered everything they had to do. Simon and Nick both said they were perfect and I think they had to put that together at short notice too. Selina was a bit unwell. I am not sure what went on before but Cheryl said they could have used a pre-recorded tape as some have had to do in the past series but the girls had insisted on doing it all live. Quite why that came up I don't know but all credit to them and if they don't get votes for the performance then they certainly should for professionalism.

They're going places for sure.

Lauren Murray

Another very late change. One Last Time is a classic movie song with a 90s feel. It suits her well and Lauren is one of those rare singers who can belt something out without shouting as so many do. I don't know how many people will be inclined to pick up the phone or use their app for her this week but she has no more reason to be in the bottom three than just bad luck that 6 were better this week.

Although she is very different to Monica, it is likely to be the case that one will ahve to go before long.

Tonight has been a good advertisement for the show, with each act genuinely worthy of being here.

Che Chesterman

Closing the show tonight, Che sings the classic When A Man Loves A Woman. This is pretty safe and ought to suit his voice as he has the range and tone that are just right for this. It is also a number that noone wants to hear messed up and he can be very reliable in terms of hitting the right notes,

I didn't find it that great, though, but a bit stodgy and lacking any real impact. Good, and something he could have brought out in a set at a concert but it seemed a bit lazy for a Top 8 survival song. I suppose he feels confident that he'll be safely Top 6 and so not in the bottom three anyway.

Very difficult predicting this week but I'll try Mason, Max and Anton in the bottom three.