The X Factor returns for Series 14. Fourteen years! That's quite an impressive run, with precious little change in the basic format, yet still seeming quite fresh this time.
One of the first sights is Dermot's trousers. He's putting on weight but seems to think he can manage with the same pairs as last year. Wrong.
I think I recognise one of the first people shown in the intro. Probably someone returning from a previous rejection. This intro, though, is mercifully short and within a matter of seconds rather than minutes we're into the audition area and the first audition is under way.
Rack Su (or something like that!) are a cool group of 21st Century style that'll go down well with the kids. I didn't like the rather staged switch of song at the very start of the show. But they get a decent length audition for the second track and that gets them very good reviews. Simon says "We haven't had a good group since Little Mix" which wouldn't be something Reggie & Bollie, 4th Impact or Five After Midnight would be too happy to hear but it's probably fair enough when you think about what's happened to them.
On the panel Simon is joined again by Louis, Nicole and Sharon - just like last year. Sharon and Louis do seem quite ancient now for this sort of thing and there isn't the edge to this show that it once had. You tend to feel that it may find a decent ballad singer, a possible temporary pop star or perhaps a significant future West End theatre star but that's about it. However, I have a feeling that the producers will be looking for a group this year, unless someone exceptional has come along.
Nicole is a great member of the panel and is the one that every chap, and even many girls, seem to be blown away by.
Sam Black does a great copy of Del Shannon's Runaround Sue. A nice guy but I wonder whether he can sing the range of commercial material needed.
Joanne Mason is the first obvious candidate put on screen for our amusement more than anything else. Luckily, that's the only one. Someone has taken notice of the comments about crap auditions being annoying.
Kayleigh has a great personality and she can sing. Nice voice - quite different. We may see more of her.
Jack Smith comes and goes. Another not so good one. Then we get 2 seconds of Ruanda or whatever her name might have been before Tony Russell comes along. He was there in 2007. An interesting performer. We've Got Issues certainly seemed to suit him although I'm not sure he's what people will be voting for in the Live Shows several weeks ahead.
A weird dancer called Elisangela shows us some extremely long legs. She can sort of sing but I doubt she'll be around for long. Jack & Joel do a brilliant mix of Ed Sheeran numbers. They're a talented pair. Odd but certainly talented.
Holly Tandy is 15 going on 35 in terms of how she performs and maturity when singing. She has a very difficult song and starts very nervously buts gets better as she goes and there's one of the first I'd say we could see again more than once.
Grace Davis is another who'll make it through Boot Camp. She seemed plain at first but sang a most impressive song she'd written herself. 1st Class talent in a good length audition of the whole song. That is so much better for us too.
Sunday continues along the same theme and pace. Now in Manchester, Alesha Dixon replaces Nicole on the panel.
Lloyd Macey has one of those traditional Welsh choir voices. His song is a big ballad and shows off his talents well. He's a bit boring, though, but it was good to get the whole song.
Jordan Rabjohn has a jolly number about Mexico that he wrote himself and it is seriously catchy! It sounds familiar and will probably turn out to be a combination of a few other tracks we already know. He's got an Olly Murs sort of feel. Great personality and good for TV.
Georgina Parton is GG and another good singer. She seems experienced too with strong control and good presence. She performs Rihanna's Love On The Brian which is not easy at all. She owned that. Sharon calls her 'fearless'. Impressed. Hope to see her again.
Now the scene moves to Edinburgh and we get ruddy bagpipes. I could have done without them. There are other things that Scotland is famous for. Alesha is still on the panel, replacing Sharon this time. The two younger girls get on well and make the panel feel slightly more exciting and more in tune with today.
Nicole Caldwell has sung in pubs and clubs but still seems very nervous. For Purple Rain she shows a rough edge to her voice and turns into a sort of rock chick. Very attractive and totally natural. That worked well on that song but I am not sure how well it would for some others she may have to tackle. I liked her and really hope to see more of her. Simon says that She is one of the special ones so I guess we shall.
Gaga Lord is a Filipino singer and you expect her to be disastrous but, actually, she's in tune and not so bad at all. She has a much deeper voice than we expect. A bit of a ballad singer and I don't think she'll go far unless Louis gets her category.
Shanaya Atkinson-Ford has a massive mop of black hair that you can't help noticing and it distracts one from her singing. After a weird start, though, she improves and you become more accustomed to her style. She's certainly different and deserves a place at Boot Camp.
That's the end of the first weekend and it has been a great relief to have had quite a few full length songs in the auditions and, apart fro the very first, no more of the Do you have another song? switches or lengthy stuff about their background, weeping mothers or babies. Precious few bad auditions too. Overall, not the most exciting show in the world - and I am not sure we saw more than one or two potential Live Show acts - so a modest, friendly and quite warm start to the series. It will not have brought them record-breaking audience figures but hopefully enough to last through to December!
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