X Factor 1018 Week 2 Review: Preaching to the Choir

A general sense of confusion reigned in our comments section after the weekend’s live shows. We can only admit we’re as stumped as anyone. I’ve rarely been as shocked by an X Factor “last announced safe” reveal as when Dermot called Molly over Brendan and LMA Choir.

The most interesting moment on the shows occurred just seconds earlier, after Janice was sent home for finishing bottom of the vote. Simon admitted: “I didn’t even know what was happening on the show earlier on,” to which Dermot joked, “They’re in the room physically, anyway.” Simon had spent the first live show admitting many acts were “better than he expected”, which suggested I) he hadn’t known what was happening then either, and II) he thinks this year’s line-up isn’t inspiring.

LMA Choir at least provided some novelty and variety, which allied to Robbie’s repeated Liverpool shout-outs, is why we weren’t expecting them to leave this weekend. But in the opening slot, deadlock showed they had finished below Brendan.

Where does this leave those playing the betting markets?

First of all, caution is the order of the day: Simon Cowell has as good as admitted his hand is off the tiller. That helps explain an up-and-down second live show which saw the first two acts (LMA and Shan) receive praise, but the next four (Danny, Brendan, Misunderstood, Molly) halfhearted criticism in a flat middle section, before the following three (Dalton, Scarlett, Acacia + Aaliyah) were pimped to the skies. In the final section, the knives were deservedly out for United Vibe, but even Bella and Anthony – two acts pushed hard up till now – had some air let out of their balloons.

We say “pimp”, but on the whole, it doesn’t feel like there’s a premeditated attempt to manipulate viewers. The criticism and praise that comes from Robbie and Louis in particular, seems sincere.

Secondly, it means market volatility, based on the short-termism of what’s happened in the most recent live show. Dalton became a very short favourite having bossed the Saturday event and its stats, garnering a real moment with ‘I Have Nothing’. Previous short favourite Shan drifted after a misjudged appeal for love and world peace before singing ‘Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word.’

There’s plenty of yo-yo-ing among the also-rans too, though Ant Russell has come in for recent support, probably based on having the Liverpool vote to himself now. Let’s pray next week he’s not sent out unshaven in a jumper, looking like an off-duty coach driver.

In good news for all of us, the Halloween theme returns, which allows some great opportunities for red-and black zombie staging kills. We’re still clinging to the idea X Factor will return to its previous form, but then it’s the hope that dies last.

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145 comments to X Factor 1018 Week 2 Review: Preaching to the Choir

  • CornishGirl

    Thank you for the analysis – I feel the show picked up a bit this week as the judges relaxed a bit (or they were coached to be better – who knows!)

    I really wasn’t surprised that LMA were in the bottom.

    Little exposure ahead of judges houses and a lot of people didn’t expect them to get through that stage.

    Week one was good – but I feel week two was weaker, this coupled with the opening slot was always going to put them in danger.

    People I spoke to also thought that either they would be better off on something like bgt or the the choir was basically one great singer with a load of backing singers. Can anyone name the one good singer?

  • Question in my mind was: Who orchestrated that cringeworthy speech? Shan, or the producers?

    If it was Shan then it was misguided, if it was the producers then it can only have been intentional.

    We had Brendan very near the B3 last week, the same measures have Bella very near the B3 this week. I don’t think she escaped by much at all.

    • Boki

      Hi, there are several measures on the telly site, which ones you take as THE measures?

      • At this stage of the competition with so many people in and with less than 1% between contestants PV’s, the ‘elimination’ side of the stats should be considered a guideline (it gets better as the competition continues). However right now the stats very good at telling you who’s leading and the YouTube/App/Twitter Live stats are fairly unanimous too which is a strong sign. Should never consider one set of stats as THE measure – always look for trends across platforms.

        The X Factor mostly gave up on posting to FB, Twitter or Instagram during the live shows so it’ a shame we don’t get those numbers like last year.

  • Daniel

    That’s a good question. At the moment, the ones I look out for most are the YouTube views and iTunes chart placings.

  • Stoney

    Both of Which Anthony Russel performs well in. Will be interesting to see if they start trying to derail him now. I wouldnt be surpised if hes topped both weekends.

  • Sean

    Final 3 and winner predictions anyone? It’s so hard to know this year.

    I would say Dalton, Shan and and maybe Misunderstood in the final but not sure who they want to win this year.
    The final usually has a mix of acts, so the above would give you a boy, girl (best singers) and group that can do upbeat numbers and rap.

  • Piresistable

    I too was surprised to see the choir in the bottom three. I wonder if they were a victim of the “all of Liverpool is voting for you” message in their VT (i.e. the Scousers are voting for them, you don’t need to).

  • The Juan

    If there isnt a great deal between the acts votewise, vote transfer mamagement by tptb will be essential for the win.

    Wonder where lma votes have gone?

    And…who is getting the nan vote?

  • Alan

    I can’t see many people voting for Ant Russell. Do people really vote for someone from their home city even if they’re painfully average? I can’t see TPTB letting him win either, he’s way too ordinary. Neither a commercially viable nor feel good winner.

  • uzair sarfaraz

    if simon can have the girls clear the sing off again this week. id say this years girls could rival rita oras 2015 girls and kelly rowland 2011 girls for best girls catergory generally.
    Molly could very much do well this week aslike bella. shan and scarlett r far ahead of the pack.
    Boys were looking strong till brendans drop this week. daltons amazing and front runner and anthonys a terrible singer and looks trampy but ppl love him.
    overs r dying especially if they kill of danny next week. gio will only last another week or so.
    despite having 3 groups A and A and united vibe r on the lower quartile of the competition and misundestood have yet to wow.

    fright night after halloween will be fun. normally gamma girls and gamma group would be in danger but this is no normal year.
    looking forward to who gets Total eclispe of the heart
    could see any of the girls do it.
    any of the boys too
    and even gio or danny
    maybe united vibe too.

    • luciejones_robbed

      I never called Rita girl’s the best. I think the best category are Kelly’s girl and Cheryl’s (Alex, Diana n Laura). I’d say Simon hates Molly. Scarlet and Shan is typical shock exit.

      And never underestimate over guys and pantomime act (Danny and Gio)

      The rest i agree

  • JScouser2002

    Stoney,

    LMA Choir?

    • Stoney

      100 pound down the swanny. Had to re-morgage the house and sell the car yesterday. Harsh. But I was so sure they would win 🙁

      • Stoney

        If only I could have found and tipped a 5/1 elimination bet to counter act that call 😉

        • Sorry, I meant in response to this

          “Stoney
          October 29, 2018 at 9:23 pm · Reply

          Put it this way Jamie Carragher retweeted his voting tweet at the weekend. Never underestimate the scousers. They are a loyal bunch.”

          • Stoney

            Well Im kind of assuming the reason they didn’t get the scouse support is because Anthony is mopping up the bulk of it. Highly plausible id say. He’s gotta be pretty popular in that neck of the woods?

  • luciejones_robbed

    With Brendan vote rank #12 in the second week, im confuse who lead the vote for the last two weeks. At first i assume he was another Eoghan, Lloyd or Nick McDonald.

    In the old days, its easy to predict who’s topping the first live show (Grace/Raksu, Matt, Louisa, Andrea, Sam Bailey, Janet) because of the pimping and the finalist itself.

    Now, it’s hard to imagine Dalton, Shan and Scarlett topping the vote. Because historically they’re not the usual top voting block.

    All we know is from the treatment, running order and criticism.

    For now, i predict Anthony and Danny Teetly topping the last two weeks (or at least the top three). They also belong to “standard” x factor bland, lovable and safe finalist that get lot of regional votes.

    #1 Ant
    #2 Danny
    #3 Shan
    #4 Bella
    #5 Dalton

  • Phil smith

    I’ve opposed Anthony Russell heavily on betfair since his first audition! I find it cringeworthy watching his performances and Can only imagine a lot of the public do! We witnessed this weekend the scouse vote isn’t that strong and as per usual they will want to put on a good show in the final which for me means a boy , girl and a group final the trends indicate! That boy will be dalton for me so Anthony won’t finish in the top 3 unless a drastic turn of events! He would have to get pushed massively by the producers and so far the manipulation has been to much lesser extent than previous years!

    • Phil

      I do agree to an extent, but whilst I do think there will be many who are put off by his background, his appearance, even his accent, I think some others will find all that appealing. Not enough to win, but enough to keep him around a bit. He could be perceived as the “one of us” contestant in a sea of scouted professionals.

    • Stoney

      We havent witnessed anything about the scouse vote. All we know is they wernt supporting LMA.

  • Panos

    Isn’t having both Shan and Dalton in the final like having the same act, twice? Voice type, song choices, the whole shebang. I wonder if TPTB, who have been known to seek a varied final, are considering this.

    • Sean

      I also thought this. But I don’t think Anthony or Brendan deserve a final place instead of Dalton. Scarlett could be considered instead of Shan for the final but I think the best is yet to come for Shan?
      I don’t think the show will want a foreign male to win like Dalton?

  • The Juan

    I agree with sean. Which is where I cant put my finger on the potential winner. Working out vote transfer, if all the more urban and foreign acts are eliminated over the next 3/4 weeks, where do those votes go and who has/will corner the nan vote?

    Interesting to note when watching the episode back, scarlet had been put back to her pre makeover look for the sunday episode.

  • Alan

    I reckon Scarlett is hoovering up all the “one of us” votes. Infinitely more likable than Anthony. Outside of Liverpool do people root for scousers? Maybe it’s the company I keep but generally I’d say a lot of people aren’t fans.

  • The Juan

    Daniel

    If you were to put money down on an act now, where would the sofabet money be going?

  • James

    Agreed in regards to Simon. I’m not suggesting there’s mental illness going on, but I’ve often noticed he’s looked visibly confused in the live shows. Definitely seems like foot off the peddle and the other producers are mainly running things this time around.

    • Score

      Yes his foot is definitely off the gas. I don’t think he was even consulted on the new results format judging by his comments on Sunday. He only finished filming the America’s Got Talent Champions series 3 days before the first live show so he wasn’t around in the run up to them at all.

      I get the feeling he’s more invested in Got Talent than X Factor these days. He generally seems more engaged on it and obviously it’s much more successful at this point. His relative lack of involvement is definitely worth bearing in mind.

  • Joe Lemer

    Looking back over the weekend I wonder if we have missed a trick in our analysis. Dalton was good but was he really THAT good? It makes me wonder if the OTT praise was to push him closer to the top as someone riding high in the vote needs to be taken down.

    Christopher Maloney was a scouser that ran away with the vote for many many weeks. A desperate takedown every week stopped him winning the final.

    Anthony has a great backstory and a so called relationship with Louis. A feelgood winner maybe but a credible one probably not.

    Now I think he won week 1. But when I look back to the weekend just gone all I remember was the terrible jumper. That was a wardrobe decision to make him look naff and to weaken him. To me he is the one they are needing to nobble.

    So who wins from here? I have no idea. I was convinced it was the choir!

    • Jessica Hamby

      Now you’ve said Maloney I have to watch this one again.

      Can’t see it often enough. It still makes me laugh out loud.

      I wonder if he knew he had a 20 foot high distorted orange image of himself right behind him and it had a mad manic grin and laser beams coming out of its eyes.

      Turn around, every now and then I get a little bit terrified
      And then I see the look in your eyes
      Turn around bright eyes, every now and then I fall apart
      Turn around bright eyes, every now and then I fall apart.

      Well quite.

      https://youtu.be/lL–imNJzNA

      • Stoney

        The single greatest hatchet job ever on the show. They threw the kitchen sink at him on that. The devil eyes. The blue ring of death. The red and black. Endless shots of the judges looking bored. A full on massacre that was.

      • Anglia Chu

        oh Lord Jesus it’s a fire! looking back, the comments were not even subtle with the intent

    • Ben Cook

      Dalton IS that good and if he keeps on like this he is going to win.

  • Nick

    Agree with Joe, Dalton is good…but not that good 😉
    Discovered 8 years ago, and 3 albums later, it seems he’s not really made it outside of Jamaica .Can’t see how tptb would want him to win…whereas Shan for example, would fit more the usual winner mould.
    However the power of Louis votes, especially when down to one boy, might just get him there.

  • Callum

    What did Dermot mean when he said “they’re not in the room physically, anyway”?

  • Daniel

    He meant that the judges – and in this particular case “head judge” Cowell – were not paying attention to what was going on

  • 360

    Anthony reminds of Frankie Cocozza minus the scandalous exit and I’d expect him to finish similarly.

    Hate to say it but in today’s political climate in the UK not sure i can see an all-black final 3 being voted in.

    In other news this week Gary Barlow has released a book that reveals some aspects of TPTB including how the Misha Bully story was pushed by staff and a suspicion that judges’ dressing rooms are bugged! The plot thickens…

  • Martin

    i caught a bit of lorraine this morning (for my sins) and there seemed to be a story about the show being pre recorded this weekend, with one judge absent and nile rogers stepping in? i only just caught it, but if i’ve heard correctly, what a shambles.

    it seems to me as if the producers just don’t care about who wins this year. whilst there was criticism this week, it was nowhere near an attack on any of the acts and it all seemed justified. the most puzzling thing was LMA leaving – i had the sense that the show would have quite liked them to be around a little
    longer. perhaps tptb will up their game a little?

    the puzzling thing is, if their energy isn’t going into pushing acts and nobbling others, what the hell are they focusing on?! a lot of the song choices are as unimaginative as ever, the staging isn’t as interesting as it has been, aside from shan and dalton, the acts themselves aren’t that great. the whole thing is very lacklustre – the only thing they have got right so far is the judges, IMO, who have been really worked for the live shows.

  • Uzair Sarfaraz

    No Robbie this week.
    Bad news for him 2 of his acts could be in the bttm 2. I’m thinking of a 2011 week 4 scenario with Robbie phoning in to send off either A and A or United vibe.
    I think they could give misunderstood a chance this week especially with LAM choirs shock exit.
    Overs to survive. Brendan to bounce. Dalton Shan and Scarlett to carry on. Anthony and Bella could be in for surprised and I can’t quite call Molly

  • Nick

    “The X Factor is replacing Robbie Williams with Nile Rodgers on the live finals – and in a first for the ITV singing show Saturday’s episode will be pre-recorded.

    Chic guitarist Nile will step in for Robbie from Sunday while the former Take That star jets off to perform in Chile.

    Performances will be recorded earlier on Saturday evening and broadcast in its usual live slot at 8.35pm.

    Nile will appear on the Sunday night results show and the Saturday and Sunday shows the next weekend.”

  • Stoney

    Nice song choice for Anthony, last sang in the final by Ben Haenow when he won it I believe.
    Missunderstood look to be still not getting favorable treatment with that song choice.
    You would have to fear for United vibe also.

  • Stoney

    If the running order and song choice leaks are true then the 9/2 for Molly next out looks absolutely huge.

  • Uzair Sarfaraz

    Where r the song leaks

  • Uzair Sarfaraz

    01 Molly Scott – Toxic
    02 United Vibe – Bleeding Love
    03 Anthony Russell – Demons
    04 Bella Penfold – In My Blood
    05 Danny Tetley – Who Wants To Live Forever
    06 Dalton Harris – Creep
    07 Misunderstood – Thriller
    08 Scarlett Lee – I Put A Spell On You
    09 Acacia & Aaliyah – Jump
    10 Shan Ako – The Sound of Silence
    11 Giovanni Spano – Live And Let Die
    12 Brendan Murray – Young Blood

    • Fudd

      Youngblood
      Say you want me
      Say you want me
      Out of your life
      And I’m just a dead man walking tonight

      Of course lyrics can mean little, as proven by Creep, but they caught my ear they first time I heard the song – especially as he seems to be getting slot 12, meaning his performance won’t be aired until around about twenty past 10.

  • Alan

    Glass cage treatment for Anthony then.

    Think the bookies have got it all wrong with Giovanni favourite for next elimination.

  • 360

    Creep for Dalton? Isn’t that song a kiss of death?

    Who Wants To Live Forever for Danny also isn’t very subtle.

    Anthony Russell, this week a test of his vote perhaps. Demons plays to his backstory.

    Surely A&A have to drop at some point too?!

  • Uzair Sarfaraz

    When was creep a death sentence the last time it was performed it was the best performance of the night. Emily in 2016
    Molly and United’s vibe r dead with those songs. Could see Danny or a and A down there.
    Hopefully Anthony crashes
    Bella and Brendan should be interesting the most current song ‘t choices

  • Stoney

    Anthony is going absolutely nowhere. Ive topped up at 8/1 on the outright today.

  • Alan

    Anthony doesn’t win this in a million years.

  • BT

    Danny in a relatively early #5 position after performing in #3 for the first 2 weeks. It also looks likely he’ll be memory holed by Dalton, Creep was a massive pimping for Emily in 2016 and helped her win week 4. I wonder if Danny’s vote is a bit too strong for the producers’ liking and they’re trying to bring him down. He’s avoided the bottom 3 so far despite not having the best treatment.

    I’ll go for Molly, United Vibe and Brendan for bottom 3 this week, I still haven’t touched the winner market yet so hopefully any intentions become a little clearer this week. Gio in that spot with that song should be able to avoid bottom three in what is still a big field with fine margins.

  • Alan

    Creep could go either way. Emily’s version which I personally thought was hideous was pimped to the high heavens. But they also used it to get rid of Wagner and given a crap arrangement, dodgy staging and negative comments they could easily use it to try and deflate Dalton.

  • The Juan

    Agree with you stoney, the proce on molly is huge. Whether she is the first out though compared to united vibe…Im not sure.

    If the running order is right, then I say this could be brendan’s moment or build up to next week? If he nosedivea this week, hes done. Im sticking by it and saying his price on the outright is massive.

    Dalton doesnt win this.

  • Sean

    Had Molly for exit last weekend but she escaped, I would say this week Molly, A & A and either of the other groups could be in danger, any thoughts?
    Picking out the eventual winner is always frustrating, though there are lots of acts at the mo that have no chance of winning leaving 6 or 7 possible…

  • Martin

    song choice alone is never a great marker. is that the running order too?

    which ‘jump’ are a&a doing?

    not concerned about ‘creep’ – they can go either way with it, but we’ve no reason to suspect the show would want to wagner dalton. it probably worked well for emily last time and they may have decided to use it for similar effect.

    finally a suitable song for brendan, if he is in the pimp a lot with that song, it’s a positive marker and i’d expect a bounce, at least more of one than janice.

    • Phil

      Kriss Kross.

      Not gonna lie, I was excited at the prospect of an X Factor / Eurovision crossover tonight with The Sound of Silence for Shan, but it’s the more famous song of the same name.

  • Alan

    Lol. Mollly got Ben’s glass cage rather than Dalton.

  • Alan

    Lol. Mollly got Ben’s glass cage rather than Anthony.

  • Tom

    “We don’t do Halloween here”, red and black. Is this a de-ramp or applying the breaks a little?

  • Fudd

    They messed with Dalton’s hair and eyes (contacts) plus given him a cage of light and sent him out second… but I sense they’re playing silly beggars with us because his vocal and performance surely got him through that?

    • Ben Cook

      Well it IS Fright Night, and they put Shan on 2nd last week. Could again just be testing his vote.

      The comments could hardly be any nicer – Simon saying the competition needs him and “stunning”. I’m sure they would be thrilled for him to win. With the right material he will sell records.

  • Alan

    Dalton’s got to win this now surely?

  • Alan

    Dalton conveniently memory-holing Molly.

  • Fudd

    “Ashford you’re the main man…”

    Sorry, Blaze. Blaze.

  • Tom

    Is Robbie going off script?

  • Fudd

    OK, screwing up the sound is a new way of trying to eliminate someone. Well done producers!

    That’ll teach you for bad-mouthing song choices, Mr Tetley. 😉

  • Sagand

    I can’t believe they’re carrying on with a singing competition with the sound as it is. What a ridiculous state of affairs.

    Shouldn’t hurt Danny; does hurt the show.

  • BT

    Anthony’s hometown has had an upgrade!

  • Tom

    Chris Maloney’s clocks out for Anthony. Fire as well, just like the absolute forest fire the audio has been.

  • CornishGirl

    I would love to be a fly on the wall with the producers/Simon. They must be losing their minds over this.

    What are they going to do, seriously!

  • Fudd

    Could they pull the phone vote for this week and have a quadruple(???) next week instead? They can’t expect people to vote on this – Danny and Anthony are at such a disadvantage right now, and unusally not due to production’s best efforts.

  • CornishGirl

    The only sound I can hear clearly is the sound of millions of tvs being switched over.

  • Tom

    If Anthony or Danny were sent home there would be an outrage; sympathy votes should see them both through.

    The X Factor is getting some attention on Twitter at least,

  • Uzair Sarfaraz

    Sorry United vibe r goners. Hopefully Anthony hits the bttm. I think daddy should be safe

    • Tom

      Perhaps there’s a small chance Danny and Anthony could be given a bye?

      • Fudd

        The problem is they can’t get Dermot to change anything, unless they’re racing him in to record something now. It’s already been filmed – he’ll be standing reading out the numbers at the end of the show. They’ll have to do a messy cut and then switch to the programme introducer if they want to stop the phone vote.

      • Ben Cook

        They could show their performances in full tomorrow, if there’s nothing wrong with the actual recording

  • Nick Jenkins

    Voting is obviously not going to count this week….the nightmare of pre recording!!

  • Uzair Sarfaraz

    Scarlett Dalton and Shan r just leagues above the rest easily the strongest acts in the competition.
    I can’t call Danny and Anthony could see producers giving them a free pass.
    Molly and United vibe bttm 2 possibly. A and A to join them. Bella will be fine hopefully and Brendan will bounce. I think gio could be interesting

  • Tom

    Eurgh. This colour vomit.

  • Tom

    Bye-bye Brendan. Janice proved last week that a late RO slot won’t save you.

  • Tom

    No vote tonight. It’ll open tomorrow,

  • Fudd

    Tonight’s vote cancelled – will open in the results. In The X Factor USA they got all the acts to sing their Sing Off songs when there was a technical issue so I wonder if they’ll do the same thing with this?

  • CornishGirl

    If they show the two performances tomorrow then open the vote – surely those will be fresh in voters minds? And isn’t that a disadvantage to all the others?

    I don’t see how this will work at all…

    Timings going to be a bit issue too – extended show?

  • Martin

    LOLOLOL what a shambles. how can something like that go so wrong on a prerecorded show?! for that long, too. without being too tinfoil hat, they needed something to boost ratings. it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect that danny and anthony are amongst some of the highest polling acts at the moment – could they have pulled a stunt like this on two acts who probably wouldn’t be massively affected by it anyway, purely to get the show some attention?! tinfoil hat off, maybe one of the production people tripped over a wire or something and nobody realised. either way, a shambles.

    i thought the show itself was quite good! shan, dalton and scarlett were all wonderful. i’d put brendan as last and out with mollie and either a&a or misunderstood bottom two. highlight of the show was gio – the level of lunacy i expect from halloween week. shame there wasn’t more of it tonight.

  • Tpfkar

    Oh boy, the first Saturday evening I catch any of the series this year. I actually turned up when Danny was singing and wondered if it was a Muppets crossover.

    Has it all been that shambolic? Would never have happened back in the day – it felt like a lot less care was being taken across the show than it once was.

  • Gavin

    Dalton outstanding again. If he doesn’t win this then there is something wrong.

  • Andy

    Molly, UV and Brendan just going through the motions until the inevitable eviction, all 3 look totally broken. Their performances last were borderline painful to watch.
    Robbie may have come to the rescue of UV with his speech, ( He was excellent all round last night ) and there is always a possibility of a Brendan bounce, if one of the above survives then Misunderstood or Shan could be in for a shock bottom 3 appearance,
    Shan beautiful vocal but little else, 3 live shows so far and she is probably the least versatile of the lot. Same same week after week, Hardly any personality and sadly no motivation to vote for her.
    I’ll go for Molly – Rock bottom
    UV v Shan in shock sing off

  • Kevin

    Are we not going to talk about the producers not so subtle death red staging for Gio complete with ‘Freakshow’ centred on screen just above Gio?
    I suspect Gio is doing better in the public vote than TPTB expected him too and would suggest this as a first derail attempt.

    United Vibe getting ‘Bleeding Love’ also suggests they’re in the firing line as per Jack Walton a few years ago. Molly’s song choice felt a bit risqué for a 16 year old which complete with a bit of a deflation from last week might put her at risk. Brendan didn’t have a great performance, I’m not sure he has worked out as expected for the producers and suspect he has been usurped by Dalton. Whether he gets a slight bounce remains to be seen – either way he’ll probably be gone by Week 5. Danny I expect will get through mostly on sympathy for the sound issues, the same for Anthony (who might find himself getting the Maloney treatment if he is faring as well in the voting as some of us are speculating).
    Misunderstood and A&A will have done enough to get through to next week but neither have had a moment yet.
    Bella, Scarlett and Shan will all be safe I suspect though I think one of them will be the mid-competition ‘shock exit’. Scarlett feels like she most fits the bill as it currently stands.

  • The Juan

    I think the voting window will be very small tonight.

    Maybe 10 mins? This could throw up quite a shock….I think this has been engineered after testing the sunday vote last week.

    I agree with phil about brendan being saved in a singoff. Dalton shock exit at 200/1, because of the small vote window?

  • CornishGirl

    There’s a rumour there’s a slightly extended show and that all 12 performances will be shown before a ‘flash vote’.

    If that’s the case all assumptions can go out of the window.

  • Stoney

    Molly would have been an absolute dead cert to be rock bottom of the vote under a normal voting format, not sure if whatever they do tonight will get her off the hook though.

  • CornishGirl

    I really don’t know who to call for the bottom now. Will they still eliminate two? Dermot said in the pre-rec that after 10 minutes they’d eliminate someone and then the vote would reopen. I’m guessing with a flash vote that won’t happen. Who knows!

    Anyway assuming it’s two to go I’m saying:

    Bottom of vote: Molly
    Bottom two: Brendan and possibly a shock (Shan?)

    Let’s see!

  • Stoney

    Anthony was pretty decent last night. Louis calling him the man of the people was a good sign for me.

    • Fudd

      Speaking of Anthony (which I watched on the repeat today which didn’t have the sound issues), I think his VT was aiming for the world record of Liverpool mentions.

      Danny got a very sympathetic VT as well channelling his, and therefore the viewer’s, emotions.

      Certainly there was no sign of a deramp for either.

  • Starjey

    I want to think United Vibe will go this week but they obviously have a small fan base who keep them above the bottom 3. The only competition for cute boy votes is Brendan who is falling below even them in the vote so there is a chance they could stay afloat another week.

  • Fudd

    On a seperate issue, I can see three of the Girls being in the final four – Bella, Scarlett and Shan all seem to be getting Alpha treatment and understandably so as they offer somethig different. Will they look to throw one of them under the bus at a later stage?

    Dalton to presumably join them in the final and everyone else will be disposed of before then – I’m not whether they’re overly concerned about the order the other contestants leave though United Vibe and Molly seem to have been written off already.

  • Stoney

    Im struggling to find a way Molly doesn’t finish bottom tonight. You can make a case for any of her rivals to pull in more votes than her.

  • Nick

    From the horses mouth….

    Tune in tonight at 8.30pm on @itv & @wearestv to see all of last night’s #XFactor performances from our 12 amazing contestants, in full, before the new public vote opens. #decisiontime

  • Stoney

    Im saying

    Molly bottom
    United 5 to go out in the sing off against a&a

  • Uzair Sarfaraz

    Unites vibe for bttm.
    Molly vs A and A/Brendan with Molly going home
    If any1 would be a surprise tonight itll be misunderstood or Bella. If only Anthony could finish bttm

  • Gavin

    Not saying for one minute he is the worst or will go but Danny Tetley at 13/2 has to be the value. Thought that was his weakest week so far.
    Brendan has the potential bounce factor, plus he was better than last week.
    United 5/Vibe were shocking but appeal to young girls.
    Molly has been poor every week “but she’s only 16!!”.

  • Danyal352

    United Vibe last
    Molly vs Brendan – Molly out

  • Piresistable

    This is going to show just how little time is devoted to singing on the show.

    • Fudd

      To be fair, it’s exactly the same with dancing and Strictly. Last night’s show was 95 minutes in length; I got through the routines in less than 20 on Youtube.

      I think United Vibe will finish bottom of the vote; having the song recap without any comments or pre-performance VTs just exposes them even more.

  • Phil

    I think Anthony sounded better with the sound issues…

    Interesting to see how this goes when people will be judging solely on performance and without the influence of the judges. I’d say United Vibe might have been saved had the voting opened last night after Robbie’s passionate defence of them. That’s all forgotten about now, all people will be thinking about is how awful they actually sounded.

  • Tom

    I was thinking… Could Gio be a shock finalist like Fleur, RnB, Saara and Kevin?

    If not, maybe Danny? Both have a niche appeal that could see them to third place in the right conditions, many of the other acts will be fishing in the same voting pools.

    • Phil

      Definitely Gio. He’s getting better and better. And more and more nuts.

      • Tom

        There’s a celebrity call for Gio right there. He might need a sing-off save at one point but I believe there’s definitely a chance he could get to the final. I just don’t think both of Shan and Scarlett will make the final, they’re fishing in the same pools.

  • Fudd

    Pretty predictable sing off result here then – surely they’ll save A&A over Molly?

  • Tom

    Brendan has bounced, I expect him to come rock bottom next week.

    A&A reprising their JH song. Not entirely sure they’ll be saved. Deadlock?
    Or maybe the girls’ Fright Night curse will strike again.

  • Uzair Sarfaraz

    Molly was much much bttr in the sing off too bad they had to dump her for robbies sake and to keep 2 of his acts

    • Fudd

      Think A&A will be seen as a far more commercial than Molly as well. Plus, as I said, I think they seem to be looking to push the other three girls a long way so Molly was sacrificed on their alter.

  • Uzair Sarfaraz

    All 3 sing offs the bttr act has left. I mean a and A will be fine next week no way they make top 8 or 7

  • Gavin

    Where did that come from with Molly in the sing off? Best I had heard from her by a mile during the whole competition!

  • Uzair Sarfaraz

    Agree Molly was very good. Had Simon and Robbie had the same amount of acts it wouldv e been different. They kept a and A to keep robbies groups in tact.

  • Uzair Sarfaraz

    Can we finally have a good result and can A and A and Anthony leave the competition. I even prefer gio to both of them.
    Bella could be in danger aswell as Brendan coming down from his bounce.
    Think they should give Shan a proper moment next week alongside misunderstood

  • Gavin

    Ufair, I actually think Rio is quite good. Maybe not white for the x factor but I like his intensity. There are far worse than Anthony too. Not a fan of Bella or A and A. Danny is karoake.

    Dalton is the best by a mile for me. Followed by Shan and Scarlett.

  • Anglia Chu

    My favourite song is Nile Rodgers defending his decision to send Molly home to disgruntled Twitter users.

  • Uzair Sarfaraz

    Watching it back. Her high notes r very nice but everything else is a bit lacklustr. Still bttr then the other 2 stuckup teens

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