X Factor 2014 song list and Taylor Swift doing Shake It Off – Week 1

Not long to go before the first Live Show and here's some news about what to expect. Look away now if you don't want any spoilers!

First, if you think it's just twelve acts then you've got another four to choose from. Although not yet officially confirmed, it is expected that Lola has been rescued for the Girls by Louis, Jack Walton for the Boys by Simon, Overload as the extra Group for Louis and, surely not, Cheryl brings back Stevi Dad Dancer for Simon. Oh dear. I had hoped there wouldn't be any Baloneys in this year's shows but I have a horrible feeling this likeable idiot will be around for a while if the rumours are true. Oh how I wish they're not. There were good alternatives in Lizzy and Helen.

As well as a possible 16 contestant performances and what's likely to be the usual dreadful sing-a-long with all of them the highlight could be Taylor Swift doing Skae It Off, possibly for the first time on UK TV. That'll be nice. Pharrell is also hoping for another commercial success with his latest catchy number. He looked like a kid in his spot at the start of God Only Knows for Children In Need. maybe he'll look older tonight.

The songs look good choices apart from Chloe's, as Britney's tracks are never as easy as people seem to think and seldom come across well. Earth Song will need to be cut down considerably! Some interestingly up-to-date stuff in the list too and all credit to Fleur for taking on the current #1. She could excel with that and establish herself very early on whereas I have a feeling that Lauren could fall flat with her #1 Happy cover. Favourites to go with the bookies are Blonde Electra which won't surprise anyone as Louis does a Louis by including them in the first place.

These are not in performance order! Acknowledgements to TellyMix who seems to have secret cameras and microphones installed in the X Factor studios and offices. No-one seems to know what the wild card acts will perform.

Andrea Faustini

Earth Song by Michael Jackson

Jake Quickenden

She’s The One by Robbie Williams

Paul Akister

Ghost by Ella Henderson

Chloe Jasmine

Toxic by Britney Spears

Lauren Platt

Happy by Pharrell Williams

Stephanie Nala

Everything I Own by Bread

Blonde Electra

Kids In America by Kim Wilde

Boyband

Roar by Katy Perry

Only The Young

Jailhouse Rock by Elivs Presley
Twist n Shout by The Beatles
(Mashup)

Ben Haenow

Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel

Fleur East

All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor

Jay James

Changing by Paloma Faith

Twelve acts for the 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.

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!

Mel B and Emma choose the three Boys

Mel B has Emma Bunton to help her. I always liked Emma.

Jack Walton is first of the Boys and gets stopped by Mel mid performance. I get the feeling that she wanted him to do a lot better than that, even after getting a second chance. He looks good and I wonder that they might put him through despite his obvious nerves on the occasion we see.

Andreas is the obvious one to get through, with his slightly broken English and Italian lovability. I really didn't like his performance there but I don't think it matters. He'll be through, one way or another. Both Spice Girls seem really taken with him too. Maybe they'll like everyone.

Danny Dearden has the high voice and is a good singer but he struggled with the notes this time.

Jordan made a much better song choice and should have secured himself a place with that.

Jake lost out at Judges' House last time. He is 25 but presumably isn't an Over 25. He's good and a bit too much like the guy he followed. In many ways it was a bit monochrome and I feel sad for the bloke as he may need a wild card to get through. I think he will get there but not sure how.

Paul is maybe the least 'attractive' of them but I think he has the strongest voice. He does a pretty good version of Bridge Over Troubled Water which I presume we don't get to see all of. I was not sure, though, that he nailed it, to use the expression many do on this programme, or used to at any rate. I was not that impressed and a bit disappointed. He may make it through but I don't see a winner amongst any of Mel's team. Sorry guys but it almost doesn't matter who goes through in some ways.

Andreas, Jake and Jordan, I think.

No, Jordan doesn't make it. So Jake is a certainty and maybe Paul takes his place? Andreas does, as I think anyone would have guessed. Paul gets through. Looking at Jake v Jack again I am thinking of changing my mind and putting Jack in the Top 3 Boys. Difficult. I guess that one or the other will get the wild card, though.

No, Jack loses out and Jake gets his second chance like Paul.

So it's Jake, Paul and Andreas,

Judges' 'Houses' Pt 1 Louis and Tulisa choose three groups.

The Groups are off to Bermuda - a nice change from Ireland for Louis! It must make getting through worthwhile even for those who don't make the Live Shows and, provided they don't make a complete mess of things, this is an experience of a lifetime.

Louis is a bit over the top with his welcome. He has Tulisa who does look pretty as she comes out of the water and makes the boys, at least, feel interested.

Only The Young are a band who have been around a little while and, according to some rumours, were 'persuaded' by producers to come on the show. So they really would be expected to make the Live Shows. Their sea side performance wasn't bad but it didn't sound like a band that was about to sell loads of albums. they improved as the went on and, of course, Louis will have seen several songs and got to know what they can and can't do.

Blonde Electric are next and they're individual and different but not to my liking. I am not sure why they're there apart from TV quirkiness - a sort of female JEdward maybe. I fear they'll get in but they really have no right to be on the Live Shows in place of one or other of the others, unless all but two make a complete mess of things, that is, which I don't see happening.

The Brooks do Jar Of Hearts and have performed well so far but are they really what the charts need? Better when they were taking risks rather than just singing ballads. They did OK ad people would vote for them but I don't see them making it.

Girl Band only just made it in to the final six. I like them but they're performance of Say Something was average.

Concept seemed much more together. But it was another uninspiring number. They're good, decent chaps but I can't see them making it either.

Boy Band has 8 members. That's a lot and I'm not sure that was such a good idea. Still, here they are. they would have been dropped as individuals so they're trying. The firls tried a bit too hard and missed the togetherness. The Boy Band make a good effort with Mirrors but I just feel there are too many opposing forces going on there. Some cool singers but I don't know. I say they'll be through.

For me it's Boy Band, Only the Young and, dare I say it, Blonde Electric! (Hey, not my choice, OK - just what I can see Louis and the producers choosing!) Remember there's a fourth act that another judge puts through too.

Blonde Electric get the first spot. Dermot gets wet as they hug him after jumping in the pool. Next we get Concept, Girl Band and Only The Young. You know only one will get through. It is Only The Young. Two out of three so far. The Brooks or the big Boy Band? Whichever don't make it of these two this time will, I reckon, still make it with a wild card vote.

All very emotional stuff. Hey. I got 3/3. The big Boy Band are in. And you can go on-line to name them.

The six Boys that Mel B has chosen

Andrea Faustini

Jordan Morris

Jack Walton

Jake Quickenden

Danny Dearden

Paul Akister