Nick and Rita settle on the Top Girls and Boys

Nick reveals his choice of three Boys. It was dragged out so much, including two ad breaks.

Mason | Che | Seann

They certainly ramped up the pressure on that one, although my guess is that Seann was his natural first choice and most of that was all about entertainment. All three are good and will contribute to some good Live Shows. i don't see any going quickly.

In contrast, watching Simon with his three Overs reminded me of how silly Louis used to look with his Oldies, most of whom tended to go pretty quickly but some not as quickly as we might have liked.

Rita took the Girls to Los Angeles, the best gig of them all.  This is a good group this year but there are two who stand out for me: Louisa and Keira.

Havva is first up. She is a cheerful little thing, quite modern but she sounded as if she was struggling with the high notes in this audition. Her broken tone is fairly attractive but she just seems a bit amateur and in need of some training which could mean she'd struggle. Looks like she may not make it.

Monica Michael I don't like. Her hair style and big earrings are so annoying which, I know, have nothing to do with how she sings but it just puts me off. I feel she is here because of last year. She sings her own song about her brother which is quite a risk and may not have helped her chances, no matter how good it may be. It wasn't, to be honest. She isn't a songwriter. She sings well and has an interesting tone but I am not sure she'd be that popular. The story about her brother is sad but I wouldn't want her through just on that basis.

Chloe Paige is nicer all round. her slow version of Erasure's A Little Respect was great. Some crazy notes and the whole thing was virtually a capella and so impressive. I loved that and she did well but I am not sure Rita and Meghan Trainer will pick her. Pity, but I think she's not wanted.

Kiera has been consistently marvellous as the auditions and matched Whitney very well before. This was not so good this time but I am pretty sure she has Rita's vote anyway. It's odd how Chloe got put down and Kiera got put up.

Louisa is probably the prettiest contestant and has been the bookies' favourite for a while. She also does Respect but very different - the Aretha version is the one that comes through strongly. Quite a remarkable performance and easily beating the others into several cocked hats. Nice job. She's in. No question.

Lauren could get a place. It's her or Monica. I'd give it to her anyway. A good voice and nice personality and someone who I think could be relied on to perform well on Live Shows. That was a far better performance than Monica's and second best of the Girls by quite a margin.

So I'd pick Louisa, Chloe and Kiera but I think Rita will pick Louisa, Lauren and Monica.

If she drags it out as long as Nick did for the boys then it'll be a while.

She chooses:

Louisa | Lauren | Kiera

Well chosen! I did fear that Monica would have been put through because of the back story but I like the three Rita has gone for and they'll put on an excellent show, lasting well.

So that's it. We have the Top 12 for Live Shows.

Judges' Houses Pt 4

As I'd expected, and I'm sure you had too, Ben's in Simon's Top 3. That makes good sense. Next we hear which of Stevi, Fleur and Lizzi make it. I'd say Fleur was a certainty like Ben but Stevi surely should not be there in the Live Shows. Thank goodness. He didn't. Lizzi missed out too and, yes, Fleur made it through. I thought Lizzi might have been included but perhaps she lacks that something special. Jay could have that, despite a poor effort at this last stage. Helen is good but I am not sure she'd come over so well on the live shows. Both could do well but each has disappointed. I feel one may still get in as the wild card so this isn't that big a deal. Jay is the choice he makes. 'He's a good guy', says Simon.

Last to be selected are the Girls, with Cheryl and Tiny Tempah deciding which to put through.

Lauren Platt is first to perform. Just 16 but that was a professional and accurate job that she did on the beach with just a piano playing for her. Really good. The others need to go some to beat that. Far better than every one of the Over 25s.

Kerriannne doesn't quite look the part but has done well so far. Here she is a bit tinny and less impressive than Lauren by a long way. I'd say she didn't do enough.

Chloe Jasmine is the slightly strange one. How she nearly didn't get to Judges' Houses I can only put down to production team ideas to boost excitement. She has fabulous talent. She performs with every inch of her body and, as I have said before, the stage and camera love her. X Factor? Yes she has it but for these shows? I can't make my mind up.

Here's Stephanie. For some reason I had her as a certainty. That was a sweet audition. Cute girl, very attractive and different to many others. This is a difficult category to get through in!

Emily is confident and what a good performance she puts in with Story Of My Life. Puts in lots of effort and Tiny says she's his favourite.

Lola is looking a lot better than she was at the Boot Camp stage. She was lucky to get through so needs to do very well to survive. She came across extremely well to me. A perfect song for her. All Of Me is not necessarily that easy. Possibly the most emotional of all of them. Chloe sort of acted. Lola was real.

So, choosing will be hell. I'd choose Stephanie, Lola and Lauren. Chloe I would give a contract to and send her to the stage shows in the West End and an album or two. She'll do well regardless. Emily ought to be there too and either she or Lauren will get the wild card that no-one has officially told us about yet. I hope the rumours about that are true. Well, as long as that doesn't bring Stevi in at any rate!

This will be a tearful ride for the next quarter of an hour.

Chloe and Emily are first to hear the news. It's no to Emily and Cheryl makes a big decision and takes Chloe through. That's cool. Kerrianne and Lauren next. It'll be one of these and It's Lauren. That's good too. The problem is having to choose between Stephanie and Lola. I would want to see both in so it'll be a big disappointment for one of them. Stephanie makes it. You have to feel sorry for Lola.

But, maybe all is not lost as Peter Dickson announces that our 'Wild Cards' will be revealed next week in the first Live Show. Clearly someone out there knows already. But it's being kept secret well.