Groups and Overs decided. Six out of Twelve for the Live Shows.

Olly and Caroline in Dermott's spot on the stage as we start a live show in which recordings of the acts at Judges' houses will be played and then tomorrow the six in each category will be narrowed down to three.

During the introductions you get the feeling that some people have already written themselves off but I doubt that anyone knows really.

They are all much better presented than they were at auditions so have benefitted from the make-over team's efforts.

First are the groups with their new names.

4th Impact are the first to perform in Rome. It's a slow number in complete contrast to their previous antics. It does show how together they can be and they blend pretty well. they took a chance with that but I reckon it paid off as that was very professionally done.

Alien Uncovered have a dramatic look, everyone different. They do a sexy number and move and harmonise really well. they have certainly upped their game and that was impressive, matching 4th Impact.

Melody Stone seem nice enough ladies and sing well but I don't see then getting through after seeing the other two female groups they are competing with. All good stuff but, as Jess Glynne said at the time, it isn't clear where they'd fit in. Good, but not stand-out and even f they got through they wouldn't do a great deal from there.

Bekln Mile are five lads who blend well. Very good singers but this performance wasn't that great. In fact it was something I wanted to turn down and not bother listening to. I don't know why but it just didn't work for me and, despite a decent end, I think they could be at risk.

Reggie & Bollie have always struck me as a professional act and their hits in Africa stand them in good stead, with a good catalogue to choose from. they do a great version of Twist And Shout, more or less perfect Maybe just a little 1990s though. Great fun. I'd be happy to see them through and I reckon they deserve a place in preference to Melody Stone and Bekln Mile. The only thing might be the fact that they've had previous success and contracts.

New Kings Order harmonise beautifully and, even with one guy down without much of a voice, they made a super job of a great song choice. Nice job. So difficult to choose between them and Reggie & Bollie but they reaily are in the Top 4. Jess isn't sure and Cheryl and Jess refer to them as borderline cheesy! I would guess that Cheryl will choose 4th Impact, Alien Uncovered and New Kings Order. She might be persuaded to take Reggie & Ollie (which I'd prefer).

I thought they'd decide tomorrow but it looks like Cheryl gets to choose now. Each group says their own thing. I could do without that bit as she will have already made her mind up. Alien get lots of cheers, so do Bekln Mile. 4th Impact don't get do many, strangely enough. Reggie & Bollie get a few cheers but not so many. Difficult to tell really from that.

So, she chooses:

4th Impact | Alien Uncovered | Reggie & Bollie

Great. That would have been my choice too. All three will provide good entertainment.

Next it's Simon's turn. He really hasn't got much to choose from. Jennifer is by far and away the best singer / performer but the camera doesn't like her much. She will be a certainty, though, unless she does something very odd this evening. Anton is so tv friendly in contrast - and he can also sing - and I feel he'll get a spot. After that it really is anyone's guess. Ebru is probably my choice from the auditions. Kerri-Anne is attractive and may be his choice if she performs particularly well. Bupsi is a bit wild and, whilst experienced on stage, she's a bit past it for this competition, or, should be. Max Stone has a good voice and may still surprise us. So there are spaces left for everyone.

Jennifer performs a 1D song in front of Louis Tomlinson from 1D. It was a strange choice and I am not sure it worked that well. She sounded a bit strained at times and, whilst looking quite a bit better, the cropped hair and chunky skirt don't do much for me. I still think she'll get through.

Ebru chooses a difficult song that takes a while to get going but once she's in the song she's good. She's pretty passionate and seemed to be putting everything into that performance to try and impress Simon and, ultimately, us.

Bupsi has definitely got the confidence to match the Live Shows and I reckon Simon likes her as an individual. Bupsi enjoys her act and knows what she's doing. A bit cabaret perhaps?

Max Stone puts on a good show with his guitar, gravelly voice and his version of Gangsters' Paradise. He certainly went for it but he still looks a bit dead. It's the eyes. I still can't see him doing a great deal in the Live Shows and Simon wonders whether he has the charisma to keep the public entertained and last more than the first week. Of the four we've seen then I really can't rate him in the Top 3 as an X Factor performer and I do feel that more entertaining people. and possibly more likely to score hit records, are still to come which would almost certainly push him out even if we did 'give him a chair' now.

Kerrie-Anne looks very good and she can sing. She sprts very high heels and seems very comfortable doing an otherwise uninspiring version of The Best Of My Love. Simon thinks she's old-fashioned and he has a point. She really should get a spot but I am not sure.

Someone who really must is Anton. he does the Carpenters' track so well. He'd fit well on the shows.

I have a feeling Simon will pick Jennifer, Bupsi and Anton. I would like to see Kerrie Anne in there and Ebru getting a chance, dropping Jennifer and Bupsi so his choice and mine are rather different. Only Max is out on both our lists. Maybe.

Jennifer is one of those people who wear very, very large earrings. Max gets a big cheer. Could that make all the difference after all!? A tough choice indeed.

So, Simon chooses:

Bupsi | Anton | Max!

That was quite a surprise but it makes some sense. Kerrie Anne and Ebru could well have been lost when viewed against the girls in Rita's team whereas the two he has chosen do stand out and will entertain. I can actually imagine Anton going a long way. Jennifer could have held her own as a singer but I doubt that she would have proved very popular and, to be honest, her performance wasn't as good as the previous ones had been. Max is someone who, with some assistance from the makeover team, could stand his ground against Nick's Boys, for a few weeks, at least.

In a very long programme tonight, probably spread over three days when they show it in the States, we now get to see who Nick chooses too.

You kinda feel sorry for the Boys as they get taken to a chilly house of average size in England somewhere.

Seann Miley Moore is first up and sings This Woman's Work, a Kate Bush song. He is amazing in how he can perform and sing across a huge range and remain in tune. He is a definite in my book and a potential winner. He is quite different and that was a truly excellent audition. I can't see him not making it through.

Simon Lynch is not an autimatic shoe-in for the Live Shows. A good singer but maybe a bit last decade. A likeable guy and someone who could be relied upon but, unless the others screw up, I feel this is as far as he'll get this year.

Mason Noise is back. I would change his name. He has performed well at previous auditions although we didn't get much at the last stage. Nick recognises his talent and he is modern, too, which is a good thing in this category. I can see him getting through. His performance was almost flawless, extremely good and definite competition for Seann in some ways. Mark Ronson will like him too which will influence Nick and ensure he gets through.

That leaves just one place.

Ben Clark is unlikely to get it, despite having a cool voice and plenty of mood and emotion. A nice chap, but unlucky this year to be up against such other talent.

Che Chesterton has a super range and, like Ben, would be a natural Live Show entrant in a normal year. I Don't Know Much is a nice song and he does well, although he doesn't seem to try as hard as he has before. This was a bit boring as I had expected it to soar far more than it did. He put more in towards the end but I am not totally sure it was as great as we'd expected.

Josh Daniels does Taylor Swift! Interesting. I like this fellow and I feel he'd get a lot of public support too. he can sing well, maybe not as extreme as the others but he has a pop mould almost ready-made and can do the falsetto as well as most if he has to. I'd give him the third place but I feel he won't get it.

Nick's turn to choose. I'd expect Seann, Mason and Che to be his three. He may choose Ben in place of Che. I'd take a chance on Josh.

His choice gets made tomorrow.

As well as Overs X Factor needs an Odds category

A large young girl with red hair starts off the second audition for Week 2. She's OK but the makeover team will have their work cut out for them if she makes the later stages. Jasmine Leigh is reasonably in tune but really nothing exceptional and is followed by a few more contenders who all seem to be a little odd in some way.

Now there's nothing wrong in being a little odd. Indeed, it can even be a useful marketing tool for the record companies but I just don't see any of these people getting that far. Max Stone plays a guitar. He looks about 45 but is in his twenties. Add the fact that he's singing Bob Marley and that's different if nothing else. Quite a good performance overall and obviously through to Boot Camp with Jasmine.

Joining them is Ebru who describes herself as a freelance singer. She does seem to know what she's doing and her strained sort of voice sort of works. She'd look good on an album sleeve too,

So too would Sharon Rose who has a Diana Ross look about her but actually performs in much more soulful a way and comes across as quite naturally talented and a pleasant sort but still not someone I'd expect to make the Live Shows.

This year's really odd ball, and the sort to make a Live Show if the producers were going for the 'we need a weird entrant' route to improve TV ratings, could be Joselito, a 51 year old hairdresser who may be good at hairdressing but is rubbish at singing. He ruined Copa Cabana and took his time doing it too. How on Earth he got through I do not know.

If you were hoping that things might now start settling down and some normally pretty impressive acts would be coming on stage you'd have been disappointed as next come two dreadful acts I won't even bother name-checking.

A chap called Che Chesterman comes from Essex. Does everyone come from Essex this year? Apart from the Filipino band, that is. He's got a baseball cap on back to front and looks a bit strange but he puts in a strong audition and is in with a chance of a Live Show place f only because there are very few decent blokes so far. He needs some work, appearance-wise, but that may be feasible.

Karen is one of the big gospel girls. We haven't had many of them this year. She belts out a track fairly well but has a tinny sound. A bit forgettable.

Laura is getting on and comes from Ireland. She looks like she has just grabbed the first clothes she had lying around and wandered on to the stage. Almost zero presence but she does sing very well and in tune too which is nice. she might surprise us but I doubt it.

Jordan is possibly the first good-looking young chap to make a reasonable audition this year and we'll be seeing more of him I'm sure. Not a winner but he might get dragged into a composite group if there's one needed again this year.

Tonatha has a name that takes a bit of getting your tongue around but certainly has a nice red dress and moves exceptionally well in it. A cheerful girl who is actually a teacher and comes across as very confident with some disco-soul type track. Nice enough but that's all really.

As the evening drags to a close we've seen a good number of auditions but they are all pretty average really when you look back at them and, whilst many get through to Boot Camp and one or two might even get further, I simply don't see anyone who straightaway makes you think that they're a Live Show contender. That is, after all, what all this about. Make the Top 12 or whatever it will be this year and you have the chance of a lifetime, performing with lots of support and good advice, made up, hopefully, to look your best (although that hasn't always been the case!) and out there to win a few more votes than whoever gets the lowest and thus get a further week on our screens.

Perhaps one who might make at least the Top 24 is Hannah Marie, the last up tonight. She makes a good job of Freddie Mercury's Somebody To Love and provides the panel with that long-awaited Wow! moment. She shows signs of lots of classical training and seems very strong, with an impressive audition. On listening again, though, I am not so sure she made as good a job of hitting the notes as well as I thought she did when watching the programme on TV. She's 30 so would be a good candidate for the Overs category and I reckon she will be in the running for a position there. With her Gloucestershire Farm Girl background and nice personality she definitely comes across well on the screen.



Switching over to The Xtra Factor, there was another Overs act worth mentioning. A really very good performance by Anton Stephens (or maybe Stephans?) should see him safely through to the same group as Hannah-Marie, and both seem TV-friendly too. Anton has the slight advantage of experience, having been a backing singer with several famous names in the past and you can see he is comfortable on stage and also why he got that job in the first place. Now he may be a little past his best and there is a certain panic in his eyes but that may settle as he gets restored faith in himself.

Judges' Houses Pt 3 Simon and Sinitta nearly choose three Over 25s

Jay starts off as the stand-out from previous auditions. Fleur is someone we need reminding about and then there's Ben, Helen, Lizzie and, er, Stevi.

Stevi. Why is he here? Nonsense. I thought had worn off when he got past Bootcamp but to get into the last six made no sense whatsoever and I feel sorry for some guys that he left out. So let's see what he can do when he's seriously trying.

Jeez. I'm A Believer never sounded so bad. Awful and he does that awful dancing too. it would be criminal to put him through. OK, Louis could have him as one of those weird acts that get us all talking. Please, Simon, do not put him though. How did this happen? asks Sinitta, being the sensible one of the two for the first year. She is very much saying No to Stevi. I do hope she gets listened to or has Simon got some plan?

Lizzie Pattinson is pretty in an old-fashioned way. Now she needs a 'moment'. She's got a Country slant which no-one else has and I would say she should stand a chance but I can't see her winning this thing, just being a bit entertaining but not a lot. Neither seem to be voting for her. Oh dear. Maybe Stevi has one more vote than she does!

Helen is a nice young lady who has a very good voice and so far has performed fabulously. She does her version of I'd Rather Go Blind fairly well but not brilliantly. Maybe not that good in the camera lens yet but I would give her the 'best place so far' award. Neither Simon nor Sinitta were impressed.

That leaves everything to play for for the last three. I'd like to see Fleur make it as she has personality and is different. Jay will definitely get through. Ben? Looks like he could.

So here's Jay James. Everybody Hurts is a true classic and he makes a reasonable effort but not as good as he has been. Everyone is suffering this time. I felt he picked it up a bit as he went on and it was a lot better and, at least, something you wanted to work Disappointing, though, but maybe he did enough. I can see Simon getting everyone to do something else.

Fleur. She looks young. She's got experience and I am hoping that that helps her. so many others have suffered though nerves or not getting it right on the 'night'. Simon admits that he can't really remember her. No idea what she was singing. I think it was Bang Bang and, yes, she was cool and modern and can rap and also that was not an easy track but she remembered everything. Impressed, at last, even if it wasn't my sort of song. She's through.

Ben's a likeable chap. He was the van driver with the gravelly voice and he also has experience in pubs and clubs which will stand him in good stead. With A Little Help From My Friends is a great song for him and he is only a few bars in when it's obvious that he is #1 in this category. Maybe a bit old-fashioned and I don't know that everyone will want to buy his records but he is good, A definite Live Show act.

So my votes are Ben, Fleur and I fear that Stevi will get in for the ratings-fun thing. Hoping that he doesn't, I give it to Lizzie and Jay will get the wild card.

As the programme ends we're left not knowing who makes it, with Helen getting medical attention.

Update tomorrow night!