Fleur and Ben v Andrea

For some totally inexplicable reason Dermot appears suspended on cables and gradually descends to do his usual sort of exaggerated half-twirl, introduces the judges and finalists and then gets hoisted up and away again. His departure looked most odd and I could have sworn that he had been detached from the device so may be that was a crafty bit of CGI. Anyway, the first half of the final is under way.

Tulisa seems to have been fortunate in getting back into people's good books and substitutes for Mel B who must be pretty ill to miss this event.

Take That, or what's left of them, start with an interesting but safe set of duets - I don't know the correct word for three singing with three but they paired off and Fleur was first to sing of the finalists - a pleasure to hear her going straight in with perfect tuning. No-one really did all that well but it was just a sing-a-long. I did notice the odds between Fleur and Ben swap, though, with Fleur becoming favourite!

We get shown bits from Ben visiting Croydon and various other cold-looking places where, of course, there are lots and lots of fans all promising to vote for him. Eventually he starts singing. Demons is exactly right for him and he makes a super job of performing this. Nice start, Ben. he also gets a lift device but the problem is that it stops in the air and he ends the song looking a bit odd stranded in mid-air.

Ben started just behind Fleur in the betting odds. He stays there despite that. Feedback from the judges was good but no-one really went out of their way on his behalf. All very nice.

Andrea next. Now he's starting at over 20-1. He can surely only improve on that. The producers had a bit of a problem as they could hardly take the Faustini battle bus to Rome or wherever he lives. So we get a restaurant scene and then a pile of people driving around London, hoping to catch some Italians on the streets here and there. He gets The Royal Albert Hall, though, which is far more impressive than some bandstand in Croydon which was Ben's venue. Interesting. he certainly 'looked' the bigger star in that comparison.

On to his performance. It's his excellent version of I'm Feeling Good. I say 'excellent' as he managed to stay more in control than he usually does and produced quite a classy act. The camera didn't linger on his front teeth as it normally does. That helped a lot. All in all he did really well and looked so much more professional in a smart suit and well presented. Despite all his best efforts, though, his odds didn't move at all. If anything, they widened to 23-1. I've said in a previous post that he isn't the right person to represent UK chart material around the world as people like One Direction, Little Mix, Olly, Leona and lots more X Factor successes have. As a quality performer of a certain type of ballad, however, he deserves respect and good luck to the fellow. Just how many Italians are there watching this show? If they can vote on apps abroad then anything is possible!

None of the buses had far to go. Fleur's turn. Walthamstow! Her fans seemed to fill the streets and looked most impressive. She performed in a sort of cinema. We didn't hear anything and it wouldn't have matched Andrea's venue.

She arrives on stage in a sidecar. I've no idea why but it looked good. The song I don't know. The City Can't Hold Us might have been its title. A big, fast, chunky performance of a dance tune with rapping and lots of good moves. She did look impressive and completely owned the stage and led the whole thing. Not my choice of music but there was real star quality for sure. Marvellous, even for a modestly uninteresting track. Louis says Simon has found an international star. Tulisa lays it down clearly that Fleur has it. Cheryl regards it as 'criminal' if she doesn't make the final. Compared with the reviews of the other two, that was quite remarkable. Simon says that if she isn't there tomorrow 'something will have gone very wrong'.

For all that, her and Ben's odds grew together, hers actually widening slightly and his staying about the same, Andrea's going towards 25.

We get Meghan Trainor doing her classic All About The Bass. It's the first time I've seen this girl. At the end she is joined by the three finalists. Of course, it's Fleur who looks the most comfortable!

Ben is very lucky to get to sing with Ed Sheeran and does a nice job of starting the song off. Ed is fresh from a very successful week on TV already so this can only help Ben. They sound pretty good together. Ben is reliable and this was an inspired choice. Ben's relaxed on the outside but you sense he is a bit overawed still. Another very nice job, though. He was so delighted to have been there.

Andrea is singing with Ella Henderson Ghost. It is much too fast and he is squawking a bit. I don't like this as much. Ella is very strong. She must be amazed to be on that stage just two years after being voted off the same programme in what I think was just 6th place. They get it together as the track ends and that was OK and not as bad as it could have been. Dermot says that she is the first contestant ever to be invited back for a duet in the final. That's interesting. It's also a reminder - as if, with One Direction and Olly Murs on the programme we need it - that the real winners are often the contestants that don't win!

Fleur is also very lucky and Simon tells her that Labrinth actually asked to perform with her. That's quite something and he introduces her. That's a first. It says a lot too. A fabulous performance that has the judges and almost everyone on their feet. They work well together. She is so good.

Oddly, the bookies have her going out to 2-1 and Ben back as clear favourite, very clear at the moment. I don't understand that. Looking at another betting site, though, I see that they went the other way so clearly it is anyone's guess. All that appears certain is that Andrea is not expected to stay.

Ed Sheeran is back and debuts his latest track. Nice. A good programme tonight.

Finally, Dermot brings us the results of the first decision - which two make it through to the Final Part 2 tomorrow? First through is Fleur. Excellent. And second is Ben. That seems right to me. Andrea gets plenty of appreciation. It was his time to go and he'll be looked after, I'm sure.

Apparently one of the Stones will be joining One Direction tomorrow night and we'll have Olly and the delightful Demi Lovato. And we'll have a winner for X Factor 2014.

One of these will represent UK's pop music industry. And there's Ben. Mustn't forget Ben.

This picture from the Daily Star says it all. Seriously, who would be the natural choice for a career in the UK's pop charts? Someone to represent what the UK mainstream is all about at the end of 2014?

Andrea is a nice fellow, from what we've been told, but it's time to bid him farewell and leave Sunday to Fleur and Ben. Some papers, however, are saying that Andrea will win. This seems to be based on the number of people mentioning him in tweets or updates or searching for his name on-line. Sorry, I'm not convinced. I have probably referred to him far more times than either of the other two finalists but usually because of something that has annoyed or amused me and that certainly shouldn't be taken as a guide to who I reckon should or will win.

Crazy but some reporters just don't understand data and if you mention Google too they think no-one will argue. There is also the small matter of a massive difference between the population likely to vote and the population who may have wondered who this chap is or mentioned him in some post somewhere.

At the time of writing with just a few hours to go, Ben is actually favourite. Andrea is at 20-1. Nice odds if someone really does feel confident about the Italian!!

I have heard the Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars version of Uptown Funk that Fleur performed last week and it simply doesn't stand comparison. The guys are good but there was something about Fleur's interpretation that made theirs pretty forgettable. They have now brought forward the release of their track from mid-January to cash in on the publicity but I would have been inclined to suggest they let Fleur and Syco get on with it and happily collect the royalties.

Fleur really ought to be the winner of this year's competition and I can see her putting the win to effective use. She may not be an act that I am going to download or rush to see or hear but she's got it - that X Factor - and is very likely to match some of the best contestants from previous years when we look back and see what ever happened to so-and-so in 2018.

The only reason she won't will be if the audience doesn't get her songs. That is possible. They have, after all, kept Andrea in this far and took a while to get rid of Stevi Ritchie, despite all his best efforts to annoy people.

Then there's Ben. Oh, yes, nearly forgot about Ben. The favourite, no less. I don't see it, other than as a purely 'X Factory' type thing where the little old ladies and odd people vote in their hundreds of thousands (it used to be millions but not so many bother nowadays) vote for the nice boy or the one with the sweet story and, apart from buying the Christmas album, don't really do a great deal afterwards. Ben does look good and sounds pretty good too. He's a nice chap and tries hard. He'll get upset on the stage and Dermot will give him a cuddle. We'll wish him well as he rasps through one track, belts out another and, well, I have no idea what he'll do with the 'winner's track' as it's not something I know. Rumour has it that it suits him far better than Fleur which may be the main reason he's favourite.

I just don't see Ben making much headway after the tinsel has been taken down and the tickertape has been swept off the stage. The charts are full of new male acts, many with fabulously different voices, some writing their own material and lads like Olly Murs have got all the running when it comes to getting on to programmes and promoting more 'average' chart stuff of the sort he's likely to be competing with. Just as the excellent Matt Cardle got swallowed up and is seldom seen now, I fear Ben will just be around for a while and then fade away. Much better off and not exactly despondent but he won't be getting two or three album deals or doing duets with attractive female stars from the States.

So Ben can win. Fleur should win and will probably get the better contracts in the end whatever the case. Andrea really shouldn't win but I may put a fiver on him just in case.

The Top 4 Perform

Cheryl's dress is what gets all the attention at the start. Once we remember this is a singing competition and have got over Dermot''s well-rehearsed dance at the start and the fact that Peter Dickson introduced him as Santa's Little Helper, Fleur opens the show.

Fleur East

All I Want For Christmas by Mariah CareyThis is a classic, of course, and she gets every note right and performs well too. She is pretty accomplished and the only thing about that was that it was just a bit ordinary. Mel was expecting it to be 'cooler' which is a fair point but she decided to play it very straight and did look good in the tight red leather outfit. I do believe she deserves to be in the final and hope the public votes to see that happen. In many ways she is the most accomplished performer by a long way and someone you feel could be completely relied upon to deliver on a show or in the studio. Whilst she does have a 'modern' repertoire I am yet to be convinced that she would be a chart success for long. So much would depend on who write for her and whether she gets to be a little wild.

Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars & Mark Ronson

Even Simon hadn't heard this song before so that makes me feel better. Obviously it is one that someone reckons suits her and will achieve this crucial vote for her. She had a change, apparently, from All About The Bass, at the last moment. This, Simon says, is what she would be all about in the real world. Wow. That was impressive. She could have been an established guest act with a new release. Not something I would rush out and buy but I can well see that making the charts easily. That surely has to see her through to the final. She can dance and act and is totally reliable. Well done. Simon puts that in his Top 3 best ever X Factor performances. That single performance really ought to put someone out tomorrow. The thing is, though; you never can tell. Some weeks the public do weird things or the maths just don't work for a particular act. Are there enough people who both support Fleur's material and vote on X Factor? 

Lauren Platt

Stay Another Day by East 17/Girls Aloud

Lauren could easily have been a Girls Aloud girl so she should do well with this. It is one of those awkward start songs and those few seconds are wasted. The low register does not suit her voice at all. The main chorus section works well and she tries hard to make the most of the sections that match her voice. I wasn't impressed, though, with that song choice for her. It didn't work after all. That may not have helped her so, at the moment, she is going to have to hope someone else is less popular and that her second song is something special. That was a bit disappointing.

Story Of My Life by One Direction

Nice song. She needs this to be very very good. It was quite good but not stunning. She was accurate but the low register doesn't give us the kick that we get from the middle bits. She had a go at making 'a moment' but I do feel, unfortunately, that she will be lucky to get through. Will she get the public votes? She needs more than Fleur or Ben or Andrea. It is still possible.

Ben Haenow

Please Come Home For Christmas by The Eagles

Slightly cheating, with two Christmas linked singles. Alexandra Burke made Christmas No.1 with it. Anyway, it's a game and Simon knows how to win! This is a simple affair. Ben does his raspy thing, looks pretty good and even has a choir in a sleigh on stage. Quite a nice job done. Sugary and not what I would expect to see him do but that'll be popular I am sure. Lightweight but probably all that he needed to do.

He gets a really nice compliment from Cheryl. A warm and cuddly programme tonight.

Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen

You just know that Ben will make a super job of this. For a moment at the start I did wonder and it may not be my favourite version of it but that was pretty good. It was a bit of a risk. His story about his mum and general 'niceness' should carry him through. It won't be his performances that get him through this week when compared with the others. He is still the bookies' favourite to win at the time of writing - just ahead of Fleur. 

Andrea Faustini

O Holy Night by Mariah Carey

Oh holy sh*t. This was quite painfully tinny to listen too and not easy to watch. Very wobbly and he might have been better singing in his own language too. The judges were very good to him. I didn't get it at all but I suppose I will have to accept that all those people in the audience and, indeed, many of you readers here, love this guy and will be voting for him.

Will it be enough? I guess he and Lauren are very firmly in the bottom two after round 1.

Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus

I am sort of dreading this. It is a superb song. What on Earth is he wearing? This was actually one of his best performances in my book. The song suited him, strangely enough. That was pretty good and that may have sealed Lauren's fate. There is a chance that there won't be enough Italian votes and that Ben gets the girls' votes and the grannies just don't like anything to do with Miley Cyrus. Mel is begging people to vote but I think it was Fleur who deserved the real plaudits tonight.

It is pretty open. Fleur would win on songs and Lauren might do well on that too. Both girls match what we expect from X Factor. Fleur may have frightened off some voters with that dancing so it's not that easy to choose between them as I feel there are more natural Lauren voters there. Of the boys, Andrea didn't do badly but didn't do that well either. he just wasn't quite as annoying this week. Ben was a little weak but was very appealing. So they sort of end fairly evenly too. It could be anyone that goes. Fleur or Ben would be a shock. Rule them out and it's between Lauren and Andrea. Another passionate and effective performance by Lauren would be needed to make it 2-2 and I couldn't predict which gets the lowest. I fear it would be Lauren. I can't imagine her being 1st or 2nd and so, by definition, she is up against someone and likely to go.

Anything else will be a surprise. Or a shock.

I so hope Andrea does just the song, not the video...

Tonight's song list:

Andrea Faustini

O Holy Night by Mariah Carey
Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus

Oh boy! Or I should say Oh Girl. Whilst the Christmas Song could go down well, I can already see the enormous gnashers biting the other side of the telly screen for the Miley Cyrus hit. Please, please, don't put him nude on some big ball, though, guys.

I am not at all sure these will keep him in. But the granny vote might.

Lauren Platt

Stay Another Day by East 17/Girls Aloud
Story Of My Life by One Direction

After Sunday's remarkable performance, when we finally saw just how capable Lauren can be, and there was genuine emotion that we all felt, I wonder whether she will now get back into the race. She is the bookies' favourite to go by a long way but I still have my doubts and hope she puts on as good a performance as Sunday's. Both songs suit her well and should encourage people to see her as a potential little star.

Ben Haenow

Please Come Home For Christmas by The Eagles
Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen

I really have doubts about the Christmas song and how many more versions of the otherwise wonderful Hallelujah do we have to hear? He is favourite to win but I am wondering whether his luck might run out tonight? He ought to stay and would win a sing-off against Andrea but against the girls? I am not at all sure.

Fleur East

All I Want For Christmas by Mariah Carey
Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars & Mark Ronson

Well, everything depends on yet another lesser known track but the writers are very cool and maybe I will recognise it when she starts. You have to admire this lady. Every week she has taken a risk and so far it has worked well for her. In fact, she has also been favourite to win, changing places almost by the hour with Ben. If she drops in the votes and has to sing off against anyone, she should win and stay. I would not want to see Fleur v Lauren, though.

Sunday is a long way off. let's see how they do tonight before any more by way of prediction!

The Not Yet Famous Five

With two songs each tonight each of the remaining five contestants has a chance really to show what they can do. The public, in the shape of visitors to the X Factor web site that is, have chosen one and a current recording artist has chosen the other. Having said that, I should imagine that the production team and judges will have a bit to say too.

Ben gets a song chosen by One Direction. Nice for him to have support of the current No. 1 band and he also, of course, has Simon Cowell. Come Together is the first track for him. A very weird and slightly dodgy set but a good performance and plenty of raspy stuff from Ben. A likeable chap and he didn't do anything wrong but I am not so sure he did that much that was exceptional either. The judges are really complimentary! I was pleased with the way he looked and performed but just feel there was something missing. The song itself actually doesn't go anywhere so it would be unreasonable to expect him to improve on a Beatles number but eh didn't let them down either.

Little Mix, another big X Factor success (they won in 2011), chose Clarity, not a track that I immediately recognise for Lauren. It looks and sounds like an Ariana Grande type number. I understand that it was a track by Zepp featuring Foxes. Nice and current but it was far from perfect. I still see her making it through to the last four. She is also the more likely to succeed in a Ben v Lauren final which is what, at the moment, I am predicting. That is definitely not what the bookies are predicting, though, with Fleur as a very, very clear favourite. So, logically, they also have Lauren as a similarly short odds favourite to go tomorrow.

Tulisa is someone ITV are allowed to mention again by the seems of it and she has chosen their track. Bruno Mars Just The Way You Are is a nice track that should please everyone watching. A fabulous song, really well-written. It works well for them and they put on the sort of show that makes you think that they might just steal this thing after all. If they were to do that consistently then they ought to make the final themselves. Mel disagreed and thought they'd not done well. Cheryl too criticised the way they stood and sang. Simon didn't think it worked well and reckoned a last-minute switch in routine didn't help. So much for what I thought then.

So Fleur is the new predicted winner. Emile Sande chooses a song. Fall In Love by Tina Turner is not a song she knew. Or me. I hope Emile knew what she was doing. I didn't like it much, nor the white trousers, and I didn't find it a natural performance either. However, it was accurate and more or less faultless, just a bit unexceptional. Louis loved it. Neither Mel nor Cheryl were that enthusiastic but they did recognise that she was very competent. Simon says it can't be her that goes home tomorrow.

Andrea gets Alexandra Burke's vote. That was quite surprising. Sam Smith chooses a song for him. He didn't have much to do to survive against Stevi last week but would have a tougher job against any of the others. The song is a Sia number Chandelier that even Sam says is hard to sing. I guess that that means if he does it well then that will keep him in. I found too many painful sounding and looking efforts to reach notes that were not familiar or natural for this fellow. If he'd written the song then maybe he'd have got it but I didn't think a great deal of that. I am also not at all sure that the production matched the sense of the track either. Someone missed the point. Simon says Round One to Ben.

Viewers' choices now. Lauren has a really nice modern track. At last, one that those likely to vote for her will enjoy and they need to vote too to ensure she doesn't go home as predicted. She's slowed it right down and I am hoping for the rhythm to kick in. Will it? Or will she just carry on with the nice ballad approach? That works but it isn't as satisfying as it might have been. A good job but will that keep her in? If she stays then who goes? Simon thinks that may have saved her.

Ben gets Ed Sheeran's very cool number, one of the best songs of the year. Quite easy to sing but he also needs to get the message across. Just rasping away won't work. He needs to be gentle and starts well. He continues well too with a really nice and controlled performance that must, surely, send him flying through. Nice job, Ben.

Stereo Kicks get Run. It's quite a classic and can sound fabulous. It was a good effort but I just felt there were too many and it slowed it and muffled it a bit. The main lead, Diva Kicks, was excellent and maybe should have been left to carry them all through, which I do believe he could have done. This requirement to try and feature each of their voices doesn't work for me but that pleased Mel. Cheryl was politely impressed but was secretly thinking that she'd want them up against Andrea in the bottom two. I must have missed Louis' and Simon's comments.

Luckily, Fleur knows her song. She also ditched the white trousers. A very good performance. I don't feel the song was one we'll want to dive onto YouTube to play again although she did do it justice. She certainly deserves to get through and the bookies reckon she has to be there. I would have thought she could be at risk this week but I guess I am in the minority on that one. I want to see her make it through, for sure, and Simon has it right in that she genuinely wants to be there and to sing. Nice, I still think she's at risk but hope she makes it.

Andrea closes the show. I'm actually not looking forward to watching him chew and wail his way through the huge classic and would much prefer Mariah Carey to watch. He's a nice enough chap. He decides, or someone decided, to do some of this in Italian which could well help him. Almost anyone can make this song sound impressive has it has an anthemic quality and there can be a big choir and lots of sweeping instruments in the background to make sure it sounds good. So it wasn't surprising that he gets a good reaction but if you listen carefully it wasn't that great and he certainly doesn't sound like someone I would rush out to buy. I think he could go if he's up against anyone except Lauren or Stereo Kicks. If it's one of them and the judges go to deadlock then he could well get through. Of course, he may well not be in the bottom two this week. In that case it really is anyone's guess.

All I can say is that it won't be Ben.

Saturday Night's All Right.

Here's the track list for tonight at the remaining 7 acts fight it out to find the Top 5. Yes, 5, as two acts go this week.

I got the Bottom Two correct last week but really did think Jay would have performed better and dismissed Stevi on Judges' votes. My calculations had Mel voting Stevi off as she'd been pretty down on him. Louis has always been a Jay supporter and, of course, Cheryl had dumped Stevi on Simon in the first place so would probably have to save him. Simon would vote for Jay to stay so that would see Stevi go home at last. However, mel changed her mind and that took it to the public vote which Stevi won. So he's still standing,..

Surely not for another week though?

Andrea Faustini - I Have Nothing

It's a powerful ballad, not often performed on the show. I can imagine it going down well with the grannies. He was weak last week and didn't sing well or in a way that I would imagine record producers would be rubbing their hands with glee at - the prospect of sales of that type of thing being comparatively insignificant. I can see him redeeming himself somewhat although I still fear he'll be wailing. Not as much as Jahwene did but enough to be annoying.

Lauren Platt - How Will I Know?

Not the best of choices. It could work if she slows it down and puts on her best voice but an average job won't work. I reckon she'll be saved come what may, though. She has 'finalist' stamped all over her contract papers now.

Only The Young - Something About The Way You Look Tonight

Nice song but it sounds like the boys will get the lead again. The girls are better. I love this group and really would like them to stay in this competition. This could be the first 'normal' track they've got to do so it is very much a make or break performance for them.

Stereo Kicks - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

Not sure about this one. Pretty iconic song. They've not been getting massive votes so far but do have some appeal as we're slowly getting to know some of the characters. More so than Only The Young, actually, whose names I would struggle to recall and there are only half as many. I don't know what to predict for these guys. I feel the end is coming.

Ben Haenow - I Will Always Love You

Well, talking of iconic numbers, this is the one. Quite a brave choice and he is not someone I would have identified with the Dolly Parton original or the Whitney hit. His voice is pretty gravelly and he's got a rock edge so goodness only knows what Simon has planned for him with this. Whatever it is, though, as second favourite to win with the bookies you'll get 66-1 if you want to bet on him going tonight!

Fleur East - I'm Every Woman

So far she hasn't had one simple track to perform. They've all been tricky or very modern and a bit difficult. Once more she attempts something that you would really only expect Chaka Khan to do. In fact, I can't think of anyone else doing this at all. So she is either mad or very determined to be confident and make us sit up and take notice. I have always thought that she's a contestant who could just go any week, however well or not so well she performs. Maybe now she is beginning to show that there is a route for her through to a final. If she gets this right she'll be there.

Stevi Ritchie - I'm Still Standing

He sure is and, once again, Simon has picked probably the best possible track for him to do. He'll put his heart and soul into this and make a crap job of singing and look dreadful on the stage and we'll all wonder how his eyes have that strange shape that is a bit alien and whether he ever closes his mouth and he really should be the one to depart on Saturday night with the lowest votes. It was fairly encouraging to see that he got fewer votes last week than all the others he's up against this week and that he hasn't been pulling in vast numbers like Baloney did. It's time he went. He has to be one of the two so if he makes it off the bottom of the pile due to a poor job by one of the groups, whoever he's up against on Sunday must surely find more favour with Mel this time.

Big Band Night

Andrea

Andrea starts with Summertime, a wonderful song but it needs careful handling and kept simple. His facial expressions and style didn't natch the words and I didn't like his interpretation that much. It wasn't at all bad, though, for all that, and in tune as most of what this guy does always is. He deserves to be in an X Factor but I am still not sure it should be the UK one. the ending was awful but no doubt it will impress the grannies. He'll be around for another week.

Simon also makes a comment about his expression and has some criticism too which is good to hear as Andrea has been very much shown as the winner so far.

Lauren

I like Lauren and her attitude. She has been well-mentored by Cheryl and is mostly presented in a nice, pretty natural way. Smile just trundles along and, whilst she sang well and it was in tune and nice to watch, it was just 'nice' and not exactly stunning or something I want to rush out and share with everyone. Once again, Simon says it absolutely right - it was good but not fantastic. I would hope that she stays and she really ought to. She's taken a risk but I am pretty sure that there will be several with many fewer votes tomorrow evening.

Jay

Jay was pretty disappointed with his 8th placing last week and was fortunate that Paul simply didn't have the looks to match the voice. He really should outlast Stevi, at least. He starts with New York Frame Of Mind but after just two lines at most switches to New York New York in good old fashioned belt-it-out style. You sort of wait for it to return but it doesn't. That was pretty good but Louis calls it karaoke. Mel B is miserable but Cheryl is much more positive and quite complimentary. Jay was certainly a lot more 'in' with the band and interacted with them but I wasn't convinced that was memorable enough to keep him in the competition.

He should, as I said, outlast Stevi but from an entertainment point of view, and attracting people to vote for the act, I have a suspicion that Stevi will do much better and may even escape the bottom two again with 7th and 8th places being shared by Jay with someone. That makes him vulnerable. there are also two other good male acts for people to vote for so that splits things in a way that can't help Jay.

Stereo Kicks

Stereo Kicks changed their song at a very late stage indeed and presented Mack The Knife. That was great. Not my choice of a song for many different people but this was actually quite good. Everyone performed well and I was impressed. I'd like to see them stay due to that. Mel B pretends that she didn't know they had changed the day before. Nonsense. It was in all the papers. Playing with Louis about the group members' names was a bit unfair.

Ben

Ben should be the winning guy this year although that may not mean he wins overall. His song is the classic Cry Me A River which has had extra legs given it with Michael Buble's release. Comparisons, of course, are bound to be made. Ben does a good job but there is something missing. He has the voice, adds more rasp than most, but I am not sure the meaning of the words gets across as it should. For all that, nit at all bad and he vertainly beats both Jay and Andrea this week in my view. Definitely safe this week.

Only the Young

Yet another risky week as obviously Big Band Night doesn't suit them at all. They've chosen a popular little tune from Jungle Book - I Want To be Like You oo oo. They were really very professional and that was a pretty faultless performance. They danced and entertained. The first to dance so far tonight. I like them a lot and would so much like to see them survive and win this thing. However, they haven't been getting the votes so far. I can't see them getting any extra votes for this but so much hope they do get enough to get through to next week. That was a difficult routine too. Well done. Fingers crossed for them.

Stevi

I don't know what to make of this. I do think it is time to go now. Simon even says of his own act that this was the worst act on X Factor! There are many worse than that was but I get the point. So, maybe this could be the week that Stevi does leave? That would be great news for the others. Louis makes the point that good acts are now falling because he is there and that's why Stevi needs to go, as Jay or even Only The Young could suffer.

Fleur

Closing the show tonight is this different and impressive girl. She looks glamorous and seems to get better each week. She is trying to do a really modern track to an old style band backing. Maybe it could have worked but it needed a much stronger lead than she was able to provide. The rap was good and she gradually started to pull the performance back. Her voice just wasn't up to it. She put an awful lot into that and deserves credit for the effort. How that will gain her votes enough to survive I don't know because I feel that was well out of the typical audience zone.

People were very complimentary. It's all about the votes.

My feeling is that Jay is in trouble but that he could be up against Stevi after all and will, therefore, survive.